Many of us have been watching the Paris Olympics for the past two weeks. It has been so enjoyable to witness both a fun and inspiring global event. It was a special world celebration of sports and competition and yet it felt like so much more.
As I watched these athletes compete, I consistently saw an impressive quality of character. There seemed to be an instantaneous positive spirit and energy that permeated the Olympic environment and was so refreshing and inspiring. As I witnessed all this positive affect, I felt a strong desire for us all to emulate what we saw at the Olympics. I think we have a lot to learn from these young competitors.
First of all, I saw a global community come together. There seemed to be an open acceptance of individuals from other countries, other races, other styles and other backgrounds. The attitudes were respectful no matter what diversity was present, and that sent the message of peace and common understanding among all those who attended.
Secondly, I recognized the amazing amount of hard work and discipline that each athlete poured into their event or events. It was clear that they were extremely focused on their goals and had been working for years to qualify for their event. Relative to that was also such a commitment of loyalty to their country and palpable national pride.
Thirdly, I saw the character of good sportsmanship. There was so much support for fellow athletes amid intense competition. Not only did we see athletes being supportive of their teammates but also of the competitors from other countries. It was obvious that there was deep respect, and even affection, for those that one had just competed against despite the public hype, intense levels of competition, and outcomes. The athletes were clearly accepting of the results and still positive even if they lost their competition.
Additionally, there were constant reminders that the athletes were prioritizing their mental health. The mental health aspects of many competitors’ lives were referred to by the athletes, coaches, family members, and announcers. I even heard references to regulating behavior and strategies for stress reduction. These issues did not used to be a public part of the perspective about the athletes’ lives while in competition, but in reality, they are vital to good performance.
Finally, I appreciated that from beginning to end there was a positive and dynamic focus on the arts. The beautiful setting of Paris and the music, technology, staging, themes, environments, and overall flow had so much beautiful art and quality that was absolutely inspirational. It was the perfect blend of quality events featuring exquisite artistic expressions.
Positivity, character, acceptance, goal-directed discipline, national pride, sportsmanship, mental health and artistry were a part of a two-week series of events that involved thousands of competitors and spectators in a global competition. Imagine what could happen in our world of global power struggles, politics, systems of care and international relationships if we were to adopt these same values in how we function and treat each other. Capturing this same Olympic spirit internationally could set us on a course towards a much more cooperative and accepting global community. If we could do it in Paris, I think it is possible almost anywhere.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
