Olympics

Why do I love the Olympics so much? It is full of events that I typically never watch except once every four years when the games comes around. When was the last time you watched swimming or ice dancing? See what I mean. I don't even know the names of the athletes until I turn on the games. What I am trying to say is that I am completely disinterested most of the time in these sports and yet I love the Olympics. My first clear memory of the Olympics was watching Bruce Jenner in 1976 win the decathlon. I had never heard of Bruce Jenner or the decathlon (I was only nine at the time), but after watching him compete, I was ready to try Wheaties. Then came the 1980 Winter Olympics and the "Miracle on Ice." That is still the most powerful sports memory in my life (even better than KU winning the NCAA basketball crown). I would even argue that it was spiritual. I could name other moments like Mary Lou Retton winning gold or Kerri Strug vaulting on a sprained ankle to win the team gold or the Jamaican Bob Sled Team (Okay, I don't remember watching them but I loved "Cool Runnings").

So why do I love the Olympics so much? That was my original question. I don't think it is all about winning. I enjoy winning, don't get me wrong, but that is not it. It is probably a combination of things. It is watching these amazing athletes doing things I could never imagine and it is seeing thousands of people from all over the world coming together to compete in this incredible event. If we can come together for the Olympics every four years, why can't we figure out how to solve our differences and live together without resorting to violence and war. The Olympics remind me of how much we have in common rather than how different we are. I am not naive, I know we aren't going to just lay down our weapons and say "can't we all just get along." However the Olympics give me hope. It brings out the best in humanity and reminds me that we can do better.