Amateur Love

The stories of Olympic athletes have inspired me since I was a child. I have been motivated by other sporting events but, like many people, the Olympics have a special place in my heart. Part of the inspiration is the very notion the Olympics - the best amateur athletes from around the world come together in a series of contests to foster "sound mind in a sound body" and to promote friendship among nations.

Because of their very nature - the gathering of people from across the world and the consequent attention globally - the Olympics encapsulate the times in which they are held. I like to think that the Olympics are non-political but issues are been present since the modern international event was conceived in 1896. Race issues were prevalent early on. Jim Thorpe and Jesse Owen are almost always identified by race.

War prevented the games from occuring in 1916, 1940, and 1944 but war has been waged in the world during many other Olympic years. Eleven Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists in 1972 in Munich. To protest the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan more than 60 countries, led by the United States, withdrew from the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. The Soviet Union withdrew from the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. War is going on today in many parts of the world but the Bejing Olympics are still scheduled.

Boycotts have also occured for political reasons. The 1956 Olympics were boycotted by Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland because of the repression of the Hungarian Uprising by the Soviet Union. In a protest against a New Zealand rugby tour of South Africa about 30 African nations boycotted the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, To counter the U.S. boycott in 1980, the Soviet Union withdrew from the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

From a small beginning of less than 250 athletes (which was still one of the largest sporting events ever held) to over 11,000 athletes and 16,000 broadcasters and journalists (and more countries participating than in the United Nations), the Olympics has opened itself to the world.

I want to believe in the indomitable spirit of the athletes and the demonstration of grace that athletes, engaging in what they love, convey. I want to believe the Olympics are non-political and at an individual level, I think most athletes do represent the Olympic spirit. I am troubled by this year's torch relay. Protests have plagued the torch run, and I am sad that the Chinese have chosen to carry the torch to the summit of Everest.

To make the climb possible, China relied on technology, and Nepal to close key routes to other climbers. The torch was carried up the southern side of Everest from Nepal to the summit while the descent was down the north face through Tibet. The fact that most of the climbers representing China are Tibetan is small solace. China and the IOC were aware of the political impact and, indeed, shrouded the timing of the summit with secrecy and did not incorporate the climb into the on-going route of the torch. I understand the imagery -the torch, representing the peak of amateur athleticism, sparking the sky above the earth's pinnacle. The two should not have been twinned. The gesture is not grand. The gesture is that of a bully.

My hope is that all the individuals involved in this year's Olympics participate ,and participate as "amateurs", whether they are athletes, officials, volunteers, journalists, broadcasters, or spectators. Love is global and grand.

Namaste,
Ginny