Dialogue of the Day - 8.8.08

It’s not the triumph but the struggle.

-- NBC Olympic Coverage narration

I live for these 17 days every two years.

I’ve never been an athletic person, nor was I a sports fan growing up. But for some reason, the Olympic Games have always been an obsession of mine. Maybe it’s the incredible sense of nationalism or the purity of amateur athletic competition or the sheer enormity of the spectacle. Maybe it’s just the serious bling or the hot guys in unitards and speedos. I can’t really say for sure. All I know is that I love it, and every two years when the new Olympiad rolls around, I cannot get enough.

The games aren’t perfect. You have to look beyond the growing commercialism, from corporate sponsorships to the inclusion of professional athletes in what should be the pinnacle of amateur sport. And in order to enjoy the actual competition, you have to ignore NBC’s mammoth amount of filler and frustrating broadcasting choices. Occasionally, you’ll get a whiney athlete who cannot accept failure. But for the most part, the strength of the human condition prevails regardless of the result.

For so many of the athletes about to compete in the next two weeks or so, this is their Super Bowl. In sport, it is their finish line. For most, the honor is in participating, in representing their country on a global stage. Perseverance, determination, pride. More than a few underdogs will prevail, overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve the unthinkable. Most will go home without a medal around their neck, but with an experience more precious than gold, silver, or bronze.

The Olympic Spirit, in its truest sense, is about unity through peaceful competition. The world converges in one place and borders disappear. Cultural, ethnic, religious and political differences are forgotten. Sport becomes the common denominator, bringing everyone together. The Olympic movement is an ideal made into reality, and with that comes hope and optimism. In this respect, it’s easy to see the appeal of the Games.

During tonight’s opening ceremonies, harmony was prevalent theme. The message was powerful, and I found my cynicism dissipating. This seems to happen each time the Olympics roll around, and I find myself looking forward to it. For a brief moment, the Olympics give us a glimpse at the possibilities. Peace and harmony, in our lives, in our nations, in our world. It’s not about triumph, but the struggle. We all have the struggle in common, and once we find that common ground, the possibilities can be achieved.