What is the Olympic ideal? Is it countries competing with each other in various sports every four years? That sounds pretty close to what we have now, but it is a far cry from what Pierre de Coubertin had in mind. De Coubertin, the Frenchman who was responsible for reviving the Olympics in the late 1900’s, said, “The important thing is not winning, but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering, but fighting well. All nations, large or small, strong or weak, are encouraged to participate, not for the purpose of gaining national honors, but in the spirit of friendly rivalry and respect for the ability of the individual athlete.” (article)
These principles are embedded in the Olympic spirit of the Greeks. The Olympic Committee is charged with furthering the ideal and spirit of the original Games.
Contrast this ideal with the real Olympic culture at present. At the last Olympics, a sportswriter from ESPN wrote that Michael Phelps, winner of 8 gold medals, had woken up the U.S. and “saved the Olympics” from irrelevance. Recently, David James, a sports engineer at England’s Sheffield Hallam University, voiced his opposition to Oscar Pistorius‘ inclusion in the upcoming Olympic Games to be held in London. James’ reasoning? Sport is hard-nosed and brutal and bloody and has no place for sob stories.” James predicted a backlash if Oscar wins any medals.
Pistorius, a double-amputee world-class athlete, who wears flexible, u-shaped carbon fiber blades, has posted times in the 400 meters which qualify him for a spot on South Africa’s team. However, there are those like James who see his inclusion as unwarranted and unethical.
If the Olympics is indeed about the individual athlete who has “fought well,” then the decision to include Oscar is appropriate. His perseverance, his accomplishments, and his attitude speak for themselves. Oscar reminds us on his website, “You are not disabled by your disabilities but abled by your abilities.” And his presence in the Olympics should remind us of what the Olympics is really about.
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