EDITORIAL
What drives an athlete on? Is it a multi-million dollar contract and limitless fame?
And what images do we summon up when we think of sports? Some would say the images entail foul-mouthed millionaires spitting on referees, crowds pelting athletes with ice-packed snowballs or infantile coaches throwing chairs across basketball courts.
Right now, on television, a different kind of athlete is taking prominence. Most of them will never be heard from again. Most will never place in the top of their chosen fields. They will never be rich or have their faces on boxes of cereal or be in McDonald’s ads.
And it’s a different kind of audience. An international mix with a host of flags, they cheer obviously the loudest for their own countries, and yet delight when a new record is broken by anyone in the competition.
The Olympics are not outdated. As long as people are still excited by 199 nations coming together in the spirit of friendly competition, there will be an audience.
We’ve heard many people who aren’t into American organized sports actually watch the Olympics. It’s easy to see why. Some of us are into the spirit of competition and personal best without all the additional garbage.
Encourage your children to see the hearts of true athletes. Show them the significance of a rich gathering of nations. Anyone who watched both North Koreans and South Koreans march together in opening ceremonies, something one couldn’t imagine just a year ago, without being moved just doesn’t get the point.
While it’s not a utopia, and problems can exist during some of the competitions, there’s a universality we can all understand. Seeing those from other countries go through the same success, setbacks, sob stories and sensations make foreign countries seems a little less, well, foreign.
The Olympics also make it easy to empathize with other nations. You don’t have to be Australian to understand and appreciate that country’s fascination with teenage swimming sensation Ian Thorpe. And you didn’t have to be Canadian to appreciate triathlon gold medalist Simon Whitfield weeping openly with joy into his bouquet of flowers at the sound of his national anthem, "O, Canada."
Our country also has been blessed with athletes who are special inside as well as outside. For example, swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg, who came to this country from the Soviet Union in 1989 and became a citizen five years ago, has a gentle, peaceful humility that is the true sign of a high-quality athlete. He won gold this week.
We’ve seen athletes from all over the world, from every corner. Who’s to say a future Olympian, and for that matter, a future medalist, couldn’t come from Lawrence? Any portion of the country could be touched by Olympic fever if it involves their city or their golden boy or girl directly.
We don’t know if or when that could happen, so for now, just let the games continue.