Despite the drama and controversy of the Olympics this year, I am seeing the greatness of it all. My daughters leave the Olympics on all day to see what ever sport is on. I join them on and off depending on what I need to complete that day. When I am watching I see not only good sportsmanship (on the most part) of the participants, but I see other teams cheering each other on. During gymnastics, coaches and challengers alike give hive fives and hugs to the opponent. They feel for the those who may have made mistakes and support them. They also congratulate each other on a good routine. The comaraderie wasn’t just in gymnastics, it was in a lot of the sports I watched.
When the men’s pole vault world record was broken, this was such a great moment. The silver and bronze winners stood by their competitor and supported him during his three attempts to break the record. When he succeeded, they celebrated with him on the field. They wanted him to break the record as much as he did. The comaraderie shown among those three is how we all should be with each other every day.
I don’t cheer for a team when I am watching. I cheer for close matches. There is nothing better than watching a volleyball game when the ball stays in the air. Two teams working hard with their teammates trying to score the next point. Then there are events I watch just for the beauty of it. Diving, synchronized swimming, and surfing. (Yes, I said surfing is beautiful to watch.) The strength of all of the participants going against not just others but the water- entering the water without a splash, the pressure of the water against their bodies versus just air, and the power of a great wave trying to take them down when they float across it.
I feel people hold the negative and don’t enjoy the greatness of that same thing. Just close your eyes, empty your mind, and watch a sport just for the sport for the beauty and companionship of it. If you hold on to the negative, you will be missing a lot of great teamwork and joy in this world.
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