The Olympics
The Olympics have been part of my sports world my entire life. There’s nothing like rooting for the Good Ol’ USA against everybody else. I remember feeling goosebumps the first time I heard our national anthem being played for a medalist. I have to admit that as I’ve grown older, some of the excitement of The Olympics has faded. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a fan. However, the politics, the amateur vs professional athletes debate, and especially athlete entitlement is a killjoy to me.
The Olympic Charter stresses the separation of politics and sports. When you look back at history, there have been boycotts, protests, demonstrations, and sadly, even murders. There has also been corruption and scandals involving the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The amateur vs professional athletes debate has been a sticky subject for a long time. Here are some key points on both sides of the argument:
Historically, The Olympics was intended for amateur athletes. These athletes participated for the love of their particular sport and not for economic gain. As the years have gone by, more and more professional athletes are now competing.
From an ethical standpoint, critics of using professional athletes argue that it undermines the spirit of the games. They also believe that this causes less economically developed countries to be at a disadvantage. They don’t have access to the same training resources or native professional athletes in some cases.
Some believe that including professional athletes makes The Olympics much more exciting to watch. As the level of competition rises, so do the high quality record-breaking performances. Sports like basketball, soccer, and tennis routinely feature professional athletes.
Many people are of the belief that a country should bring its best athletes period. Whether they are of amateur or professional status is a moot point in their eyes.
I believe that entitlement has reached a rampant status. I will add that this is certainly not limited to just olympic athletes. Many of these athletes demand special treatment, privileges, perks, and attention. Not to mention expecting substantial financial rewards for their achievements.
The Olympics, officially known as the Olympic Games, is a major international sporting event. There are summer and winter versions and they used to be held every 4 years. In 1994, the decision was made to alternate them every 2 years in even numbered years.
Ancient Olympics
The ancient Olympic Games originated in Olympia, Greece, around 776 BCE. The Games were held every four years in honor of the Greek god Zeus. There were no team events, and athletes represented their individual city-states. Only freeborn Greek men were allowed to compete, and they did so in the nude. The ancient Olympics were part of a religious festival and featured various athletic events, including running, wrestling, boxing, and chariot racing. They had a strong cultural and religious significance, and a truce was declared during the Games to allow safe passage for athletes and spectators.
Modern Olympics
The modern Olympic Games were revived by Pierre de Coubertin in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Coubertin aimed to promote international understanding, peace, and unity through sport. The modern Olympics include a wide range of sports and events. The program has evolved over time to reflect changing interests and athletic achievements. Athletes from around the world, regardless of gender, race, or nationality, are eligible to participate. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was established to oversee and organize the Games.
Olympic Rings
The Olympic rings were designed in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin. These rings are definitely the most recognizable symbols of The Olympics. The 5 rings represent the 5 continents. Blue represents Europe, Yellow represents Asia, Black represents Africa, Green represents Oceania, and red represents the Americas. The rings interlock to symbolize athletes coming together from all over the world.
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympics is a major international sporting event that features a wide variety of sports and disciplines. The specific events included may vary from one edition to another. There are some core sports that are traditionally a part of the Summer Games. Here is an overview of the typical events and categories you can expect to see at the Summer Olympics:
Athletics (Track and Field): Athletics is one of the centerpiece sports of the Summer Olympics. It includes a wide range of track and field events such as sprints, middle and long-distance races, hurdles, relays, pole vault, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin, and more.
Swimming: Swimming events include freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, individual medley, and relay races in various distances.
Gymnastics: Gymnastics includes artistic gymnastics (with events like the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise), rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline gymnastics.
Team Sports: These include team events like basketball, soccer, volleyball, handball, and water polo.
Individual and Team Sports: These events consist of sports like tennis, table tennis, badminton, archery, fencing, and boxing.
Combat Sports: Combat sports like judo, wrestling, taekwondo, and karate are also part of the Summer Olympics.
Aquatics: In addition to swimming, the aquatics category includes diving, synchronized swimming, and open water swimming.
Cycling: Cycling events include road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking, and BMX.
Rowing: Rowing competitions take place on a rowing course with different types of boats and races.
Sailing: Sailing events occur in various classes of boats and include different types of races.
Canoeing and Kayaking: These events involve paddling in various boat categories and types.
Equestrian: Equestrian events include dressage, eventing, and show jumping, where athletes compete with horses.
Shooting: Shooting events involve marksmanship with various firearms in disciplines like rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
Weightlifting: Weightlifting features competitions in which athletes lift barbells with the maximum weight possible in various weight categories.
Modern Pentathlon: Modern pentathlon combines five events: fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, cross-country running, and pistol shooting.
Decathlon and Heptathlon: The decathlon is a men’s event consisting of ten track and field events, while the heptathlon is a women’s event that includes seven such events.
Various Forms of Wrestling: Wrestling events, including freestyle and Greco-Roman, are part of the Summer Olympics.
Golf and Rugby Sevens: Golf and rugby sevens have been reintroduced as Olympic sports in recent editions of the Summer Games.
Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics is a major international sporting event that showcases a variety of cold-weather sports and disciplines. The specific events included in the Winter Olympics may vary from one edition to another. There are some core sports that are traditionally a part of the Winter Games. Here is an overview of the typical events and categories you can expect to see at the Winter Olympics:
Alpine Skiing: Alpine skiing includes various downhill events like the downhill, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom, as well as combined events that combine two of these disciplines.
Cross-Country Skiing: Cross-country skiing features long-distance races, individual sprints, and team relays, as well as various techniques such as classic and freestyle (or skate).
Ski Jumping: Ski jumping consists of athletes launching themselves off a specially designed ski jump and competing for distance and style.
Nordic Combined: Nordic combined combines cross-country skiing and ski jumping, and athletes compete in both disciplines to earn a combined score.
Biathlon: The biathlon involves cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, with athletes required to stop and shoot at targets during the race.
Snowboarding: Snowboarding events include snowboard cross, parallel giant slalom, halfpipe, and slopestyle.
Freestyle Skiing: Freestyle skiing consists of events like moguls, aerials, cross, halfpipe, and slopestyle.
Speed Skating: Speed skating takes place on an oval track, with events like the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and longer distances.
Short Track Speed Skating: Short track speed skating features races on an indoor track with tight corners, including various distances and relays.
Figure Skating: Figure skating includes individual and pairs competitions, as well as ice dance and synchronized skating.
Ice Hockey: Ice hockey is a team sport with both men’s and women’s competitions, where teams compete on ice to score goals.
Curling: Curling is a team sport where players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area that is segmented into concentric circles.
Bobsleigh: Bobsleigh involves teams of two or four making timed runs down narrow, twisting, and banked, ice tracks in a gravity-powered sled.
Luge: Luge athletes lie on their backs on a small, one- or two-person sled and slide down an ice track feet first.
Skeleton: Similar to luge, skeleton athletes slide down an ice track, but they do so headfirst on a small sled.
Biathlon: Biathlon involves cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, with athletes required to stop and shoot at targets during the race.
Nordic Combined: Nordic combined combines cross-country skiing and ski jumping, and athletes compete in both disciplines to earn a combined score.
Cross-Country Skiing: Cross-country skiing features long-distance races, individual sprints, and team relays, as well as various techniques such as classic and freestyle (or skate).
Summary
There is still a lot of good in our Olympic Games. It brings athletes from all over the world together to compete. It promotes peace and global unity and allows for the sharing of different cultures, traditions and values. I believe this fosters tolerance, respect, and understanding.
There are billions of viewers world-wide and it brings national pride and recognition to smaller countries. All countries. It’s a unique event that transcends national boundaries and requires international cooperation.
Lastly, it encourages people of all ages to participate in sports and lead active, healthy lifestyles. This is my favorite part and my hope is that everyone will get out there and play!
