I love, love, love the Olympics! Like many of you, I’ve been both inside and outside of my passport country during the Olympics. I’ve gotten to experience how different cultures and countries both cover, experience, and celebrate them. Even ignore them.
One particularly painful taxi ride in Beijing comes to mind. I was stuck in traffic and the taxi driver was listening to an Olympic summary show on the radio.
Announcer: This is the national anthem when So-and-so won the gold for such-and-such event.
The national anthem was played. It was inspiring and fun to relive that moment.
Announcer: This is the national anthem when THIS athlete won the gold for this other event.
The national anthem was played. It was inspiring and but less fun to relive that moment. Why is the traffic not moving?!
Announcer: This is the national anthem when So-and-so won the gold for yet another event.
The national anthem was played. And I realized that I was going to be trapped, listening to the national anthem on repeat until Jesus came back or the traffic finally started moving.
Did that dampen my enthusiasm for the Olympics? No :)! Here are 7 reasons I love the Olympics:
1. The many flags and countries — Watching the boats with the various countries during the opening ceremony warmed my heart!
2. The athletes and teams who get to showcase their talents and hard work.
3. The inspiring stories and humanizing of the athletes and the obstacles they’ve faced.
4. The inspiring of what I could do with my own body. (As a young child I distributed trashcans around the family room and “hurdled.” Every single Olympics I come away marveling at how God has made the human body. Amazing, amazing, amazing.)
5. The taste of different cultures. In this case, the food in Paris looks delicious and I can almost smell the bread through my screen!
6. Let’s not forget the playing of the national anthems. Though annoying on repeat in a taxi cab, they reflect an athlete playing for something greater than just him or herself. As the athletes stand on the podium and watch the three flags flutter, the athletes look up to a flag that represents more than just them.
7. The surprises! The heartbreak of those who thought they’d win and didn’t. Those who experienced injury or illness at such an inopportune time. And the lesser known athletes who succeed far beyond their wildest dreams.
To my fellow Olympics Lovers, I raise my metaphorical glass to you and say, “To the games and to the many countries we love! May God remind the world how very much He loves it.”
