Sunday, 8 June 2014

The Exuberance of the Elite

     In a beautiful and secluded corner of Greece, in the north-west of Peloponnese, there is a congregation of tumbled columns and marble blocks on a little plain at the junction of two rivers. It is difficult to imagine that this broken-down sight is Olympia, which gave its name to the Olympic Games where 2,500 years ago the Greeks gathered to see their best athletes contend for the most coveted prize of all - a crown of wild olive leaves. I chose the Olympics because it’s one of the most sought out and looked forward to event in human history. It goes way back to the ancient times with Greece, Rome, and all the other participating nations. Hercules was thought to be the Greek man who started it all. A wonderful thing seems to happen as people from all over the world gather to compete in the Olympics. It brings people from all over the world together; from different countries, races, languages, and skin color. It gives people a sense of other cultures in the world, brings people together by being forced to interact with each other by competing, showing sportsmanship, and cheering for those inspirational moments like Usain Bolt and when India won its first gold. It gives people a sense of how big the world is and how different all of its cultures are. The Olympics is a time when everybody realizes this and develops interest in other countries.

There’s nothing sweeter and more thrilling than marching into the Olympic stadium alongside your fellow brothers and sisters, all bound together by the name we call our home- Canada. There’s only one spot that every single competitor in the games is looking forward to and will do whatever in their power to reach that.  The power and influence that the games have on the athletes and on the spectators is so surreal and phenomenal. People commit hours and hours, trying to get a little better each time so they can keep up with the elite. They one hundred and ten dedicate their time and lives to train and work out, specifically for the Olympics. Winning a gold medal in the games is a very significant and very honorable award for the individual and his or her family.  The top of the podium is where every single person dreams to be and it symbolizes victory and accomplishment. Knowing that everyone else has the same goal in mind and will do whatever it takes to accomplishing it; makes it that much more exciting in which we love. The bar has been set numerous times in past years which mean athletes have to work that much harder if they want their name forever in the book of greatness. Records dating back to the ancient times haven’t been broken yet and even to this day, people are striving towards that level of superiority and paragon.

The Olympics allows the participants to focus on the life changing experience of representing their country and people at the games. People can socialize with other people from other foreign nations. They can learn about other people’s way of life and their way of viewing the world. You don’t have to be an athlete to participate and have the same feeling that athletes feel. We are all bound and sewn together infinitely by the greatness of the Olympic Games. The families of the athletes can share in the excitement and take part in all the fun activities that are offered. No one gets left out regardless if you’re in attendance or not. Every single part of the games gets recorded and aired live on national television for everyone to watch and be a part of. People get tuned in on the events and have a solid idea of what’s taking place on the other side of the world. During the Olympics, countries that normally would be enemies toward each other raise their white flags and call truce until the games conclude. Every person who attends or watches the games are protected from the nations who don’t share our ideas. In the big picture our nations may be at war or in a nuclear race, but when the games start, all that seems to go away. No one cares or is worried about the things that occur outside in the real world. The only thing that matters is concentrating and getting into the zone; therefor so you can carry out what you’ve been training and preparing your body for. We may have human rights issues with them or think they are not good neighbours because of past events.  In the big scheme of things, the Olympics are a safe place for everybody, regardless of gender or ethnicity. During the games, we can sit back, relax, and watch participating competitors and our countrymen/ countrywomen trying to achieve their wildest dream. We can enjoy each other’s company and soak in all the great languages and cultural background. There is plenty of time to disagree and fight amongst ourselves back in the real world. For now, let’s savour the opportunity and experience that only happens every four years. The Olympics give us a few days of peace and security and an opportunity to compete with the best athletes in the world.

When it’s that time of the year as the winter Olympics come around, my family and I usually only focus our attention and time around certain events that we can relate to, such as ice hockey. Throughout my upbringing as a child, my father has encouraged and insisted that I play hockey because he and I had a deep love for the sport.  When I was 7, he put me into minor hockey as a goaltender. I really liked playing and actually being part a team. It felt very good and secure to have people are around me that will do anything for the better of the team and has the same goal in mind. When you are in a team, it doesn’t matter what color skin you have or what language you speak. We are all equal in body and physical capabilities. No one feels left out because we all won or lost as a team. Not him, or I, or me but a team.  I had the one in a lifetime opportunity   to attend the winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010. I didn’t expect it at all. My dad and mom surprised when me one day with the plane tickets. My mood and spirits were lifted sky-high just thinking about it. We watched many events such as bobsledding, skeleton, skiing and snowboarding. The main reason why we went was to see the men’s Canadian team win and bring back gold, and they did which made it that much sweeter. During my time there, I paid close attention to every little detail about the scenery and its people. There were many different ethnic backgrounds which was amazing because I have never seen that much variety. The games most definitely bring people together and are one of the biggest traditions that we as people have continued ever since the ancient times. Something great and special happens when people all over the world come together and participate in the Olympic games. It’s a great time and feeling to have this sort of human connection and human bonds. These bonds will continue on even when we all pass on. The Olympic Games is a symbol of strength and integrity that we as people possess when we come together at this magnitude.   
-Skylar First Rider
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cihUhR8EPDU

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