Is it the Spirit… Or the Material Rewards?

Maybe a bit oversimplified but believe me there are moments when this question comes to mind… and very strongly.

During these past two weeks we have had the chance to watch many athletes who, from most of the world countries, come to a central place being this time the city of London, in order to compete their hearts out … not to mention their bodies.

Most have worked feverishly to get here; long hours (very) of training, special nutrition (to those who have this extra item available) and constant supervision brings them to what they hope is the apex of their physical conditioning, so as to do their best in the limelight of international competition.

So far, so good. So then, what is this entry about? As a long time ago athlete (yes Virginia, inside this somewhat mature and at times tired body, there rest the remnants of a once fierce (well OK, intensive) competitor) who spent many hours training and doing less socializing than others my age because of this, there is a “kinship” felt with these modern warriors, albeit from afar.

There is also the understanding that for most of them, the sacrifices have been very real in money, time and efforts. In most cases, unless the athlete hails form a country with a centralized government where funds are made available, these are mostly private efforts. And in many poor countries, training is done in ridiculously underprepared venues. Yet, they come and they do so to proudly represent their respective colors and with the intent to give their all.

The giant marketing machines, spearheaded and amply fueled by mass media communicators that have spent enormous amounts of funds (funds which, if put to meet basic needs in some of those very countries where most folks cannot afford the equipment to watch their message, would save an incredible number of lives and futures) for the rights to send their signal to those markets which can afford to buy the products that sponsor them at a cost of millions of Dollars per minute, create a hysterical feeding frenzy; their food? those medals and the count which builds up or down… As if this was the real reason for the games.

Unfortunately, if an athlete comes in second or third place and not with the golden prize, he or she is deemed to have failed; especially when the “failed” athlete comes from one of the major markets. I guess whenever the maximum prize is not won, the anticipated earnings go down the golden drain.

I am not sure where it all may eventually lead, but the spirits of the Olympics mean -or should mean- much more than just the financial aspects and the medal count… the gathering of hopes, the interminable hours of trying, the hard work and the long days, the constant sacrifices made by athletes and their families, for in many instances even jobs are postponed in order to give their all to training…

Olympic frenzy… even the sight of the “eternal” flame is being kept only for those who can pay for the ticket to get into the stadium where it lights up the empty and waiting seats…

I know… this entry will not change anything, nor will it inflame the spirit of the Games into what it has ceased to be for many… I guess there will always those who will be honestly ecstatic for the privilege of having made it there and there will be those who sacrifice some years of their lives in exchange for the possibility at the ultimate golden prize… the marketing dollars… Is this wrong? I do not have an answer...

Enjoy the competition… in the end, it is the pinnacle of sporting events (yes, I know… FIFA will not agree with this) and these are the prize athletes of their respective countries… their performances are a joy to behold.

Be Well … Be Back!!!

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