For the last week, eyes and ears worldwide have turned their attention towards Brazil as the 2016 Olympic Games are well underway in Rio de Janeiro. Everywhere we look, the media is flooded with celebration over the latest Gold medal, highlight reels from the day’s competition, and an overall sense of pride for what our country is doing in the 31st Olympiad. This shift in the media is certainly welcomed. In a time where the news is clouded with the latest terror attacks, controversial politics, and depressing headlines, it is refreshing to see a positive light spread like wildfire over today’s media. All over the world, Athletes, coaches, families, and their countries give so much to make the Olympics happen. So, what does the Olympics give back to us?
1. It revitalizes our Patriotism.
At this point in my life, I would consider myself to be a very seasoned traveler. No matter what adventure I find myself in or what country is next to visit on my bucket list, America will always be home. Between winning gold medals left and right, and having well over 500 athletes representing us (the largest team in the games), it is hard NOT to be proud of our country right now. Our Olympians are holding themselves to a higher standard in the way they compete, as well as how they interact with their competitors and the media. Right now, these athletes are America’s representatives to the world, and their attitudes and work ethics are, in a word, inspiring. Watching them, and how the world is taking notice of them, reminds me once again that I am still proud to be an American.
2. It gives us a higher respect for other people.
Beyond the hype over what our own country is doing, I can’t help but notice all the amazing things that the rest of the world is doing at these games. The way that these people hold such discipline over their lifestyles, the way they keep their eyes on the prize, and how they won’t give up, gives me such a huge respect for what people can achieve. I cannot think of any team that I respect any higher than the Refugee Team. Regardless of what hardships they had to overcome, they ALL overcame them. Now, these people have their own team; the first ever Refugee Team in Olympic history (www.olympic.org). They represent a new type of team; they are a people who took their lives back and wrote themselves a new story, with its earliest chapters set within the colors of the Olympic Rings. If that does not give you a sense of respect for how hard these people work, I don’t know what will.
3. It is a scene where differences are not scrutinized, they are celebrated.
My all-time favorite part of every Olympic Games are the opening ceremonies. My friends and I joke around that we “discover” a new country (or 10) that we never knew existed during each new Olympiad. In all truthfulness, I am floored by just how big our world is. As a traveler, I absolutely love to see the world from new points of view, and each time I return I take with me a new appreciation for that culture, as well as my own. It might be a little cliché, but in the end it really does not matter to me what color your skin is, your orientation, your political stance or whether you are low to middle class or wealthy. The Olympic Games is a worldwide celebration of diversity; the greatest melting pot I have ever seen.
4. It shows us that the world can still come together in harmony for a common purpose,
And I certainly hope it stays that way after the Games are over.
5. It motivates us to do our very best.
Take a look at athletes like Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Usain Bolt, Simone Biles, Refugee Team swimmer Yusra Mardini, etc. The list goes on and on, and it is filled with people who have worked unimaginably hard to achieve their best and make their dreams a reality. Their stories are all so different, yet none of their stories are without struggles or obstacles to overcome. Each one of them worked their hardest to achieve their goals, and now these people are world icons for striving to reach new potentials. Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas once told NBC that "Hard days are the best because that's when champions are made." To the aspiring youth (and adults, too) who want to achieve their best, look towards the gold, silver, and bronze upon these Olympians chests. Nothing is impossible, and these athletes can be the very best inspiration to work towards our ultimate goals. Determination is key, and with it we can delete the word impossible from our dictionaries, just like these Olympians are doing right now.
The Olympics are kind of like the reset button for the world. We get a chance to take our minds off of the terror and grief-stricken headlines, refresh our news feeds and TV screens, and celebrate the world for the good it can do. Hopefully, the world will not forget these thoughts too soon before the next Olympic Games.
