My takeaway from Tokyo: Summon the heroes, let the better angels of our nature prevail, but leave the contemptuous hubris behind.
Dar, the Tokyo Olympic Games are over already. After witnessing the remarkable performances of such heroic athletes, it’s now back to the drudgery of the commonplace … at least until the Seahawks take the field in earnest.
In Tokyo, ratings languished at first and sparse crowds were masked, but records and personal bests were also unmasked.
Once again, the Olympic spirit soared, and how appropriate that the modified Olympic Games motto is, Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together. Emphasis is on together for the collective joy of winning and individual pride. Witness the camaraderie of the mixed medley swimming events and the astonishing esprit de corps of the mixed triathlon teams. This togetherness is also reflected in running relay events wherein participants often exceeded their performance in individual events.
It is only because of the heartwarming commiserations and tender compassion exhibited by the vast majority of competitors that we should shame those who sulked over a bronze, thereby -eschewing the creed that the most important thing is to take part.
Most medalists won with grace, standing tall on a pedestal above the malcontented performers who eschewed the values of Olympiciaism. But….
Unsurprisingly, several athletes from the land down under let themselves down. Not known for good sportsmanship–remember Ian “Torpedo” Thorpe mocking the defeated U.S. freestyle relay team in the 2000 Summer Olympics–Australian athletes damaged beds and walls in their Olympic village hotel rooms. Some also misbehaved on flights home. The swimming coach also went barmy, losing all sense of proportion and decorum when his swimmer won the 400-meter freestyle event.
These Aussie antics are typical. After all, their bad sportsmanship is endemic in a “chip on the shoulder” culture of a win at all costs. Even John Coates, the previous head of the Australia Olympic Committee, asserted that Great Britain is a “country that has no swimming pools and very little soap.” Not bad for a nation that, according to an Australian coach, only excels in “sitting-down sports” Fair dinkum?! Umm, please take a look at the medal table now.
Courtesy Insider.
At least no Aussie athlete punched a horse in the Tokyo Olympics. That cruel deed was left to a German coach who mistreated the equine for having a mind of his own. The beautiful horse Saint Boy received an unsaintly right hook for not jumping or trotting during the women’s Modern Pentathlon. Such a shame because the Germans are generally superb in equestrian events. I’m looking forward to seeing PETA’s condemnation.
Haughty Macron would have been proud of the French boxer who refused to leave the boxing ring after disqualification. Contrast that with the British sprinters who, despite having their Olympic dreams ravaged by disqualification nightmares–after a hair-trigger false start–excited the cauldron despondent, but with a degree of dignity.
I anticipate Paris will do a great job hosting the next Summer Olympics in 2024. Summon the heroes, let the better angels of our nature prevail, but leave the contemptuous hubris behind. Ultimately, there’s interconnectedness — we’re all in this together.
