olympics

Cartoon Pen & Watercolour Copyright 2008 Jean Burman

It’s hard to believe it’s all over.

Over the past two weeks we have borne witness to too many awe inspiring record breaking achievements to mention individually here. What has struck me the most has been not so much the Gold medals won… but the individual struggle in the attempt to capture one.

The stories of “almost getting there… but not quite” have been compelling. And the loss wasn’t because the athlete didn’t try hard enough… or wasn’t good enough (sometimes there was just a hair’s breadth between the times or performances)… but because someone has to win. And needless to say… the winner takes all… even if by only a fraction of a millisecond… or by the placement of one foot… deemed to be just millimetres out of line.

Saturday’s synchronised swimming was nothing short of “amazing”. As was the rhythmic gmnastics (with rope apparatus). I didn’t necessarily agree with the judges and believe with all my heart that Belarus did far better than Russia… but so what… it was nonetheless absolutely “wonderful” to see such dedication, discipline, cooperation and commitment to the task at hand.

But these are the traits that must surely be the hallmark of all Olympic achievement.

So did Michael Phelps’ size 14 feet really propel him to greatness? No… not without his years of dedicated training and the will to do it.

Did Kerry Walsh’s height give her an advantage in getting the ball so effectively across the net in the beach volleyball? Sure… but not without her commitment to purpose.

And physical advantage doesn’t explain how little Kristi Harrower… the formidable number 10 with the Opals Australian Women’s Basketball Team… manages to do what she does so well from below the level of everyone else’s armpit!

There was success against the odds… with Anna Meares winning silver… after her massive claw back from a C2 spinal injury endured in a crash during competition just 8 months ago.

And there was terrible loss… with Liu Xiang’s dramatic withdrawal from competition bringing shock and disappointment to billions. Nonetheless… the athlete courageously lined up on the blocks in an attempt to fearlessly carry on… despite a catastrophic achilles heel injury that was set to prevent him from doing the job. Yet… incredibly… the will was still there.

My only small disappointment was Stephanie Rice’s acceptance of Seven network’s $700,000 enticement not to appear on rival network Nine’s 60 minutes program last night along with the rest of the Aussie contingent. And Michael Phelps absence from the closing ceremony due to endorsement commitments elsewhere. Seems that money gets in the way of everything. Shame that.

But all medals and prospective endorsements aside… the Games of the 29th Olympiad have (in my opinion) been a huge success in human terms.

They have given insight into the immense human struggle to reach an individual’s top form. They have given courage and inspiration to those who witnessed that struggle against the odds. They have brought peace and co-operation between countries unheard of through diplomatic or political process. They have shown us how to win with courage… and how to lose with grace… (and in some cases without it!) (grin)

The Olympic Games has brought a country that had previously been little understood out into the spotlight for all to see. We may not agree with all that she does… but China’s entry on to the world stage through the hosting of these Olympics has… in my view… been a complete success. The world’s cultural and ethical differences can only be resolved through openness and understanding… compromise and co-operation.

The Olympic Games… despite the nationalistic emphasis… has gone a very long way toward bridging the gulf that unnecessarily divides us.

One World – One Dream… is no longer a dream.

It really happened.

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