(U-WIRE) LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Winter Olympics are upon us. Friday night we were witnesses to an opening ceremony that was poignant and exciting. President George W. Bush tried to portray himself as a man of the people, sitting in the stands among America’s athletes and even speaking to one athlete’s mother.
The Olympics are the greatest showing of athletic prowess that the world knows. But the coverage of the events on NBC show that this is more America’s Olympics. This is wrong.
On the rebound from Sept. 11, Americans feel that we need to show we are still the top nation in the world in all aspects. We are.
But the Olympic Games should not be looked at as some sort of showcase of America’s superiority. The Olympics should be a showcase of the athleticism of the greatest athletes of all nations.
With medal counts and human interest stories about American athletes, NBC is trying to show that America is still the best. This remains to be seen though and when the final medal count is tallied, it is doubtful that America will be on top.
The Olympics are a showcase for amateur athletes from all nations, not just ours. It is important that Americans recognize the Olympics not as America’s games, but as the world’s games.
The mish mash of patriotism and rhetoric only helps to detract from the idea that the Olympics were built on: that the world can come together as one for 16 days and everyone will be happy.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Adolf Hitler hoped his German team would solidify the superiority of the so-called Aryan race. American hero Jesse Owens proved Hitler wrong, winning four gold medals.
The situation now is much different, but somewhat the same. In both circumstances, the host nation is at a great turning point and is trying to show its national unity and superiority on the track or the ice or the slopes.
But there is no place on the track or slopes or ice for national superiority. There is only room for honest competition between the best athletes in the world. A showing of the physical and mental potential and dedication that everyone can strive for.
The Olympics should not be America’s attempt to display any sort of overt superiority, but to bring to light the fire of athleticism that resides in all athletes.
The Olympic Games are the best chance for our world to come together as one, unhindered by preconceived notions and armed only with power and wits of the world’s greatest athletes.