For the next two weeks I'm going to discuss The Olympics and reminisce about some of my observations and experiences over the years... For the sake of organizing my thoughts more coherently I'll be writing about the Summer Games today and the winter events next week. But first a little background....
The Olympic flag, with the five interlocking rings represents the unity of the five inhabited continents who participate in The Olympics, the colors of blue, yellow, black, green and red were used because every nation who participates has at least one of those colors in it's national flag and was raised for the first time at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, and the Olympic oath...
"In the name of all the competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." was first spoken by the Belgian fencer Victor Boin.
"Faster, Higher, Stronger" has been the official motto of the Olympics since 1924. The Olympic flame first blazed at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam and in 1936, at the Berlin Olympics, it was first carried hand to hand from Olympia in Greece by relay to honor the ceremonial torch races of the ancient Hellas.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin established the International Olympic Committee in Paris in 1894 with the goal of encouraging an understanding between nations through sport, education , art and culture. The modern Olympics has elevated from the ideals of the ancient Greeks who devoted themselves through the harmonious pursuit of physical, moral, cultural and artistic excellence nearly 3000 years ago in 776 B.C. until they were banned in A.D. 394 by the Christians.
The first Modern Olympic games were played in Athens Greece in 1896 with the tradition of the games offering the youth of the world the opportunity to gather in the spirit of friendship and learn the importance of values that transcend the differences in nationality, geography and culture. The Olympic Games as with almost all rituals and organizations has had tremendous friction between the ideals in which they were created and the realities of the world.
Now over 11,000 athletes are competing in the Summer Olympic games in Rio in the 28 sports venues with 306 events, the only five that have been constantly contested since 1896 are Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics and Swimming.
The Olympics in Rome in 1960 were the first to be televised in Europe and the events in Tokyo in 1964 were the first time they were seen on television world wide.... and it was during these games I became addicted to watching and learning from them and that I decided I wanted to attend and eventually participate... but more about my participation next week.
The Olympics served as a guide and touchstone for me and the athletes role models... since I began participating in competitive athletics I wanted to go for the gold. I started with gymnastics and ultimately found the springboard and high dive developing a strong competitive spirit coupled with strength, stamina guided by determination and discipline.... but more about me later...
I've had several heros and role models (too many to list) historically starting with...
Jim Thorpe 1912 Stockholm
Jim Thorpe won gold in the pentathlon and decathlon events and was declared "the greatest athlete in the world" by King Gustov V of Sweeden and was stripped of all of his Olympic medals six months later when it was discovered he had played minor-league baseball. His record was reinstated compassionately in 1982 nearly 30 years after his death.
Duke Kahanamoku 1912 Stockholm
1920 Antwerp
1924 Paris
1932 Los Angeles
As a five time Olympic medalist in swimming he travelled extensively to give swimming demonstrations to promote surfing and helped to elevate the sport to world wide recognition. Although he was a celebrated athlete in Europe and White Australian policies did not apply to Mr. Kahanamoku he did experience racism and negativity on the US mainland. In spite of all this he as was the first person inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame and The Surfing Hall of Fame and is a member of The Olympic Hall of Fame.
Mildred "Babe" Didrikson 1932 Los Angeles
Hands down the queen of the games who embodied the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher. Stronger" she swept the gold medals in hurdles and the javelin and took silver in the high jump. Because of the Olympic rules for woman at the time she was only allowed to participate in these three events even though she qualified for five. She earned the nickname Babe because of her ability to hit a baseball like Babe Ruth. She went on to a phenomenally successful career as a professional golfer winning the world championship four times under her married name, Babe Zaharias.
Jesse Owens 1936 Berlin
At the age of 22 he infuriated the Nazi organizers of the Berlin Games with his swift and skilled performance in track and field. Contrary to the Nazi claims that black athletes were inferior to Arian competitors... Owens was able to outshine everyone winning four gold medals and set a record in the 200- meter dash, broad jump and 400-meter relay.
There are many others but these select few in addition to the sacrifices made and endured for their sport they were also targets of prejudice because of their skin color, or background or sex and overcame the obstacles resulting from discrimination to become not only Olympic winners but true champions in life.
I have to include in this list...
Greg Louganis 1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
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| If it were up to me the Summer Games would still be played nude! |
I feel a certain bond with Mr. Louganis because I spent years training on diving boards with the hope of eventually qualifying for the Summer Games but while competing during college regional preliminaries I came down on the board (hard) and hit my head much like he did during the Seoul game preliminaries--- he went on to win the springboard and platform just as he had done four years before in LA. I on the other hand dragged my body bleeding from the pool and decided to devote my attention and training to Alpine Skiing that I'll discuss in more detail next week. But I ultimately I learned or was reminded of an important and lasting life lesson from him.
It's important to be open to having new heros and role models and I would have to pick Michael Phelps... not only has he set new records but he has redefined for me some of the meanings and actions of a hero and role model... by taking the necessary steps to turn his life and destiny around despite tremendous setbacks and by talking full responsibility for everything in his present and past by proactive plans and actions to determine a brighter, happier tomorrow!
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I'll leave you with a few observations and memories I have of the events I've attended.
First and foremost if you want to go to The Olympics... plan ahead and save money because it's very expensive. You can buy packages for hotel and events but make sure you buy everything especially tickets to events from a designated distributor or vendor. Make sure you buy a map of the Olympic Village and know how long it takes to get from point A to (sometimes) point Z and anticipate lines and delays at all points in between. Be realistic about time... you really can only attend one or two events in a single day. I'm speaking for myself because I love the pageantry and spectacle of the opening ceremony and it's likely to be the most expensive ticket of the trip but the magic of the moment and the memories of the experience will last a lifetime.(When a friend and I went to the opening in LA we got the higher priced tickets at $600.00 each... I heard the opening price for the Rio tickets were about $2,000.00 each.
I've been to eight opening ceremonies over the years and each has been as splendid as the others that were celebrated before... Here is a brief rundown of how it goes...
The host country raises it's flag and there is a performance of the national anthem, followed by performances and artistic displays of music, singing, dancing as well as theatrical representations of the host countries culture... the athletes are paraded into the stadium; Greece is typically first to honor the origin of The Olympics and the remaining nations enter alphabetically.
The Munich Olympics were the first Summer Games I attended that unfortunately ended in tragedy for eleven Israeli athletes who were beaten, tortured and ultimately murdered and a German police officer killed during the events; the details of the horrendous torture are subsequently the foundation of my feelings about the Israeli and Palestinian conflict and how I still regard terrorists and terrorism.
The International Olympic Committee finally honored those eleven athletes and the German police officer at a ceremony in Munich on 3, August 2016. I was extremely disappointed when they refused to offer a moment of silence for the 40th anniversary of the event at the London Games in 2012... A disappointment in the committee that had grown since the ejection of Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Peter Norman who were ejected and banned from the 1965 Mexico Games that stemmed from support for the Olympic Project For Human Rights.
I did not attend the Summer Games again until 1984 in Los Angeles... This was the first time and only time I worked as a lifeguard for a few of the water sport events.
I decided at the last minute to attend The Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 partly because I had friends living in Madrid at the time and another friend suggested we live by the seat of our pants and try to get a place to stay and tickets at the last minute (both are possible) We saw the Olympic Torch lit by Antonio Rabollo by shooting a burning arrow over the cauldron.
Another friend wanted to go to Atlanta in 1996 and her mother made me an offer I could not refuse... If I acted as the guide from my past experience attending the whole nine yards was going to be her treat... We really had a great time and seeing Muhammad Ali officiate the start will be etched in my memory forever...
The Olympic Torch is ignited several months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at the site of of the ancient Olympics in Olympia Greece, eleven woman representing the Vestal Virgins perform the ceremony at the Temple of Hera it then travels briefly through Greece before it is transferred to the host city. The Relay ends on the day of the opening ceremony in the central stadium of the Games and continues to burn until the closing ceremony.
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| The Seoul ceremony was the last time doves were released representing Peace. |
The Olympic games have grown from the dreams of Courbertin to a modern spectacle due partly from the revenues generated from the sale of broadcast rights and international global partnerships from sponsors and benefactors--- Which leads me to my final point this week... if you are going to the Olympics and you actually want to meet athletes... dress in your countries colors and look for the hospitality suites, and promotional destinations of the networks and sponsors... also leave a little extra room in your suitcase as there is always something cool to buy that you will want to bring home with you.
See you next week when I'l explain in more detail my decision to train exclusively for the Winter Games... in addition to the fact that ski clothes are extremely flattering.
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