Performance Journal Two

02-01-2010

The Olympic Games have come and gone and for the most part this was one of the better games that I can remember. I say this in reference to come from behind victories and athletes laying it on the line to produce personal best performances and world records. I have become a big fan of a number of athletes from all countries not just my home country of Canada. In the 500m speed skating sprint, I was happy to see Canada win but over the course of the Games I have become a fan of Apolo Ohno and his ability to win and stay with his game plan even in the moments of chaos and confusion. I know that he certainly wanted to win an eighth metal and I wish that he had, but I understand the rules of speed skating and the contact followed by the fall during the final 500m race was a tough break. Other athletes that blew me away were Rochette, Von, and White. Let’s not forget the Canadian Hockey Teams! I am from the Kootenay Valley of British Columbia and there were a number of Kootenay Athletes on the Gold Medal Men’s Team. The Winter Olympics was a success in my book from the different athlete’s ability to adapt to less then desirable weather conditions to emotional stress and loss both on the field of play and off.
I know that there were a lot of people in the city of Vancouver and perhaps around the nation that wanted to use the Olympics as a point of attention to climb up on their political soap boxes to speak out against poverty and joblessness. I full heartedly agree that both topics are of the utter most importance throughout Canada and the United States. However, the celebration of sport and athletics has been a moment of solidarity of not only people, but Nations from around the world and it is the Olympics that bring together these people in the name of healthy competition even in the midst of great turmoil. I can understand the woes and fears of the current social collective in regards to economic down turn in North America, but the Olympic Games are not only an investment in world relations but future economic stimulus for the people of the host Country. It may not be tomorrow or next week that we see the benefits of putting Canada on display for the world but there will be benefit. People have to understand that we have been through the lows of economic progress before in North America and as a Continent we will come back; if anything people should see what others are capable of through the medium of sport. If you believe in yourself and the strength of those that are around you, you can overcome setbacks and heartbreak to achieve your goals. Imagine if you will, a whole country of people that share the same belief in their country and themselves as an Olympic Athlete perusing a goal, and in this case a medal. Getting up everyday with the belief that they are going to achieve greatness and even though life can step up with all that it has to offer in the way of adversity they continue to push forth the way Rochette has done this games uniting not only the heart of Her Country but of the World.