Are you watching the Olympics? When I was a kid, I remember sitting in front of the television watching my favorite events. I never really got into track and field, but I loved watching basketball, probably because I played it in high school. Gymnastics fascinated me and still does. How in the world do they do all those flips without breaking their necks? In recent years, I’ve started following soccer. I just watched the women’s team beat Germany. I enjoy learning about sports that I don’t see any other time. Handball has caught my attention this year.
I watched most of the opening ceremony. It was a little choppy for my taste, jumping from one place to another, but the Celine Dion song made me cry. Not because of the words, which I didn’t understand, but because in June I had watched her documentary and was stunned that she was able to perform like that again.
There is a lot going on during the Olympics, and things move quickly. Frankly, keeping up with all the different stations covering various sports is an event in itself. Here is what I love about the Olympics:
- I’ve learned about sports I have never tried, or maybe even seen before. For some reason, I had never seen handball before.
- The games are bursting with patriotism, not just from athletes in my country but from people all over the world. It is important to remember that they love their country as much as we love ours.
- The athletes show great sportsmanship. They respect each other’s abilities and hard work, no matter where they are from. Wouldn’t it be great if that mutual respect spilled over to other parts of our lives?
- It is hard to watch and not be motivated to get moving. Now, I won’t be trying the newest event, break dancing, but I might shoot some hoops or pick up a tennis racket.
So, take a peek at the Olympics before they are over. Watch your favorite events, but also pick a few to learn about. Let it motivate you to value hard work and perseverance.
Be a light