The Olympics are in full swing!

I have to admit it. I am an Olympics junkie. I started getting excited about this summer’s games during a trip to Paris in March 2023. That was more than a year ago! And the anticipation has been building ever since.

I was quite excited to see the television replays of the opening ceremonies on the Seine. And I have eagerly looked forward to the nightly TV highlights of all the different sports. Fortunately, my work on the paper does not allow much extra time to watch the hours of competition during the day or I would be hooked on that, too.

Watching the boats filled with athletes, often from several countries on one boat, I couldn’t help but think how really amazing it is to see competitors from many different backgrounds come together and support each other on the playing field.

The athletes are generally competing in an environment that is peaceful and respectful. And perhaps that helps the athletes look at one another as the people they really are. In a world with too much hatred and conflict, the Olympics provide a hopeful, optimistic tone.

Sometimes, the Games are not so peaceful, especially in Munich in 1972. Even this year, we hear about protests outside the venues and extra security surrounding the Israeli delegation. And there have been protests before specific events and reportedly the national anthem was jeered before Israel’s first soccer match

This year’s Israeli delegation is 88 strong (54 men and 34 women). They will be competing in 16 sports and 66 events throughout the games, including soccer, gymnastics, swimming and archery. Yes, they have added security and reportedly there have been threats against both the athletes and even the Israeli spectators who come to cheer them on.

But it’s a delegation that we can be proud of even as we watch the United States with its more than 500 athletes and whatever other country you may be cheering on (Ukraine, perhaps?).

In addition to watching my favorite sport – gymnastics – I’ll be trying to get a glimpse of some of the sports I don’t usually see and perhaps some of the brand-new sports at this year’s Olympics. I especially like to watch the camaraderie and reactions of the teammates in the team sports and between the countries in the individual sports, like swimming.

I’ve been watching the Games for many years now. I remember the awe I felt as a young girl for some of the athletes and I know that while I am watching these games there are children around the world who will be so touched by what they see that they will drive themselves to become the Olympians of the future. Almost every athlete interviewed mentions how they themselves once watched the Games and were inspired by them.

The world could learn a lot from the Olympic model of competition, diversity, peace, teamwork and a shared commitment to winning with grace and respect. It’s refreshing to see.

Fran Ostendorf,
Editor