Thank You World!
A wonderful thing happened to my country over the last 17 days. The Olympic cauldron lit a fire of patriotism that stretched from coast to coast to coast. Not the chest thumping – we’re better than you – type of patriotism. Canadians were proud to show the flag, proud to sing the anthem, and we showed our passion for this great land we call home. It was always there. The Olympics didn’t give birth to this national pride. The Olympics just gave it a stage on which to play out.
Stephen Brunt, a columnist for the Globe and Mail, beautifully summarized the impact the Olympics have had on this great country in two video essays (video 1 link, video 2 link) he put together for CTV.
I said it in a previous post but I’ll say it again… I love the Olympics. The stories that unfold over 17 days are not only entertaining but they are also great life lessons – hard work is the basis for results, expect the unexpected, success is a combination of preparation and belief in yourself, plan for the future but live in the moment and seize opportunity. The Olympics are 17 days that tell the story that in life you have to deal with adversity and challenges. I believe that the life of a perfectionist is one of the sadest of all. Being human means being imperfect. The Olympics showcase the capacity of the human spirit in dealing with that reality. They are a 17 day example of something I like I like to tell my kids – not every day is sunshine and roses but it’s how you respond to the tougher ones that define who you really are. Athletes don’t show up bright eyed and bushy tailed to every training session on the long road of preparation for the Games. At the moment of competition for their event they face challenges such as weather, pressure, fitness, equipment failure, noise, and occasionally life intrudes on the Games and they have to deal with personal tragedy. It’s how you deal with all of life’s challenges that defines who you are. That’s why I think Olympic athletes can be great role models. The Olympics teach us all, but especially the youth of the world, to dream big and try your best. That’s a good thing in my opinion.
I believe the legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games is best summarized by Nancy Greene Raine – “Canada has hosted the world in a truly remarkable way – we have changed the way the world looks at us, and more importantly, we have a new level of pride and appreciation for the wonderful country we call home”. The Games will undoubtedly influence some of the youth of our nation to follow in the footsteps of the athletes they witnessed compete for the the past two weeks. Some will find themselves walking in their national colours at the opening ceremonies of the 2012,2014,2016… Games thanks to the efforts of those who proudly competed in Vancouver. But the greater legacy of the Games is the impact on all who believe in the ideals of the Olympics and make fair play, hard work and trying one’s best a part of our everyday lives. I’m looking forward to London in 2012…
