Is Controversy Overshadowing the 2008 Olympics?
Posted by Peter James | Posted in Balanced Life, Current Events | Posted on 21-08-2008
Tagged Under : 2008 Olypic medal winners, athletes, gold medal winners, Michael Phelps, olympians, olympic gold, olympic scandals, olympics 2008, self improvement, sportsmanship
I can not say I have been paying close, close attention, but I have been intrigued by this year’s Olympics. Obviously, the Michael Phelps story and the entire Men’s swimming team was very inspirational, as were many of the celebrated winners. However, something about the 2008 Olympics continues to bother me. As records continue to be broken, and athletes surpass their predecessors in physical feats, it seems something is being left behind:
Sportsmanship.
What happened to honesty? Sportsmanship? Grace? Class? I am appalled at what the Olympics has become. No longer is it a celebration of competition. It is more a conspiracy breeding ground, where even when someone wins a gold medal, you have to wonder if they cheated. Not only that, but you have numerous frustrated athletes, and their bitter supporters, defiantly disputing losses and the integrity of the games. I have no problem with competitors naturally being upset or disappointed after a loss, but even if the result was questionable, isn’t it better to let the public speak rather than disrespect the entire competition?
I feel the Olympics has become a giant personal competition for many of these athletes. However, I am not blaming them. I am blaming society, I think 
. That is because the only celebrated athletes seem to be the ones who win the Gold. I feel that is a poor way to judge the Olympians. Winning a medal is just the icing on the cake. The fact that they are in the Olympics is the true celebration.
The real Olympic Gold Medal winners are all of the athletes who understand what a gift it is to be a part of something like this. They get an opportunity of a lifetime, to represent their entire country, whether it is their first, 2nd, or even 3rd time at the Olympics. It is something to be treasured for the rest of their life. It is an accomplishment they will always hold dear in their heart.
Being an Olympian is not about winning, it is about giving it your all.
While winning the gold medal is the #1 desire of each Olympian, it is not what the Athletes should be judged on. The Olympics is a celebration of the competitive spirit. In my opinion, it is supposed to be about honor, grace, dedication, and pride. It should not be just about who wins the gold. It is should be about the journey, not the goal. Only one person can win the gold medal. That does not make the rest of the athletes losers. They all played a part in the games, and that makes them all winners. Without their efforts, there could never be a ‘winner’.
So here is my little tribute to all of the athletes who competed fairly, counting on no one or nothing except themselves & their support. What an honor it is to represent your country in the Olympic games and compete in front of the whole world. I hope that future athletes learn from the mistakes of today, and realize what the Olympics, and sports in general, should really be all about: giving it your all.
Winning and losing are just a part of the game. After all, even if you cheat to win & nobody ever finds out, you will still have to deal with your reflection in the mirror for the rest of your life. You will still have to sleep every night knowing the biggest accomplishment in your life is a lie. I think that is a worse fate than losing.
Stumble It!
I think it’s sad. I want the Olympics to be something worth celebrating, but all the negative news seems to overshadow things. It’s a shame for all the athletes who give their all for years. They are unfairly stained.
I agree. It’s also sad for the innocent people who are accused because of this and have their accomplishments doubted. It’s almost as if cheating has become about not getting caught, rather than just wrong whether anyone knows or not.
I think there is so much at stake when you win the GOLD, that athletes who have trained their whole lives for this one goal feel desperate to get it. It’s as if they feel all of their hard work is a failure because someone else may have a better day.