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A Noble Tradition
By SugarMagnolia in Touch of Grey
August 23, 2008

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How many of you have been enjoying the Olympics? I have been watching as much as possible, and still feel like I can't get enough this year. Besides the fact that the U.S.A. is doing very well overall, with a few pleasant surprises, the underlying theme of sportsmanship and unity as one world that seems to be the spirit of this year's games has been a real inspiration to me these last couple of weeks.

It is too bad that we have these games only every four years (every two, if you count the Winter Olympics) during which countries largely put aside their political and cultural differences to compete in friendly rivalry for all the world to see and enjoy. Sure, I know there is a serious aspect in the race toward gold, silver, and bronze, and that China is under fire for their heavy-handed control over their populace, their athletes, Tibet, and, well, just about everything they touch. Still, they have proven themselves to be splendid hosts, if for no other event than these Olympics, and it is good to see that most people recognize that this is all about the games.

There are serious questions about the age of the Chinese gymnasts, the U.S.A. track and field athletes and diving teams have run into some serious competition, and we watch with our hearts breaking for Yao Ming, Manu Ginobli, Chellsie Memmel, and Laura Wilkinson as their injuries contribute to the dissipation of their dreams. We rejoiced when the U.S.A. men's gymnastics team, against all odd, snatched the bronze medal, but despaired when the women's team of our country had to settle for silver. We protested when He Kexin took the gold in a hotly contested tie against American darling Nastia Liukin on the uneven bars in women's individuals. We cried tears of joy and triumph when Michael Phelps bested Mark Spitz's seven gold medals for swimming by winning 8 of his own, 7 of those obtained in  world-record style.

 In years past, I have always tuned into the Olympics to watch women's gymnastics, my favorite event. The earliest gymnast that made an impression on me was Olga Korbut. She captured my imagination as a youngster, and I remember having a poster of her on the balance beam hanging on my wall. Then along came Nadia. No last name needed, no. She will be forever known by that single name and her perfect tens. Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strug, now Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, the list goes on. I have truly enjoyed the gymnastics this year, as I always have. But here's the surprise: I have loved watching nearly all the other events that I had given short shrift to in years past. The biggest surprise this year?  Beach volleyball, particularly the women's team (although, along with the women's team, the men's beach volleyball team also attained gold, a first double gold for any country in this event). The enthusiasm and teamwork of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh has been a thrill to watch. It was over with too soon.

Blue, yellow, black, green, red. You may have noticed these are the colors I have been typing in. These are also the official colors of the Olympic Rings. The colors, and the rings themselves, represent all that is right with the world right now and hold the possibility of what we could be and do if we but persevere and live our lives with purpose. These are the thoughts, scattered with wonderful moments from games past that are foremost in my mind as I watch the 2008 Olympics, a modern version of a noble tradition born so many centuries ago. The best of humankind is exemplified in these five rings, and our greatest hope for the future is personified in these young athletes who have shown us what greatness truly looks like on the world stage. I can't wait until 2012.