First held in 776 BC, the Olympics is one of the world’s most popular sporting events ever. Held once every four years, the Olympics brings together sports veterans and promising newcomers to represent their countries in sporting activities in an atmosphere promoting respect, excellence, and friendship—three themes that have become known as the Olympic values.
In the twentieth century, the meaning of the Olympic values took on a far greater dimension, one that challenged not only the vortex of mediocrity into which so many are drawn, but the growing impression that excellence is attained by meeting standards defined by the society instead of individual objectives. In the twenty-first century, the values of the Olympics inspire us to not only hope for the best, but to actually demand it from ourselves, acknowledging the risk of failure but believing in the magnitude of our potential to overcome every hurdle in our path to reaching our set goals. We are constantly forming synergetic relationships with those we meet on this journey, acknowledging their efforts to meet their own personal goals and celebrating their determination and courage.
More than any set of conceivable themes, the values of the Olympics bring to life the words of Maryanne Williamson when she said,
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
By having a course promoting the Olympic values incorporated in the learning curriculum of children age five through eight all across the world, we can promote the values worldwide. This initiative would teach children to overcome the desire to place limits on their potentials or to allow others determine their interpretation of success. It would help them conquer the fear of failure and embarrassment and build strong bonds with each other. By teaching children to determine their own standards of success in proportion to the best of their ability, teaching them to dare to fail, and to encourage each other at all times irrespective of the nature of the activity in which they are engaged, we can create a world where every endeavor is to its participant an Olympic event where respect for self, unflinching desire for excellence, and appreciation of friendships is promoted.
More than any set of conceivable themes, the values of the Olympics bring to life the words of Maryanne Williamson when she said,
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
By having a course promoting the Olympic values incorporated in the learning curriculum of children age five through eight all across the world, we can promote the values worldwide. This initiative would teach children to overcome the desire to place limits on their potentials or to allow others determine their interpretation of success. It would help them conquer the fear of failure and embarrassment and build strong bonds with each other. By teaching children to determine their own standards of success in proportion to the best of their ability, teaching them to dare to fail, and to encourage each other at all times irrespective of the nature of the activity in which they are engaged, we can create a world where every endeavor is to its participant an Olympic event where respect for self, unflinching desire for excellence, and appreciation of friendships is promoted.
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