The Olympic Games - Bringing People Together

Although the world's top athletes come to the Games to compete, the Olympic medal count matters less than how the games are played. After watching the Winter Olympics of 2010, one would have difficulty saying that they have not been played well whether medals were won or not. What is important is the team spirit and sense of togetherness that seems to envelope the world during the Olympics.

World-wide more people watched the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games than ever before. And as the world watched, there was recognition of oneness, togetherness and unity and for the period of the Olympics at least there has been a feeling of world peace.

As each participating country feels pride and admiration for their competing athletes during this international occasion, as people of the world, we can jointly celebrate our wins and our losses. I say losses because each of the competing athletes has worked as diligently and persistently as those who have won medals. And therefore, they deserve to be celebrated as well.

The passion of the Olympic Games shines as brightly as the Olympic torch which continues to burn while school children become involved in their own opening ceremonies, competitions, and the making of Olympian crafts. One school made flags of each of the competing countries which they carried while they sang anthems from various countries. As they learn the history of the Olympics and hear stories about the athletes, they are learning what is required to be a future Olympian athlete.

Strangers from around the world get together and enjoy the festive spirit of events at downtown Vancouver. Relatives and friends living in other countries, seldom heard from, e-mail excitedly; there is now a new commonality. It pumps fresh interest into old relationships.

People communicate with less restraint; there is excitement in the air. It matters not whether we are Australian, German, Swedish, American or Canadian; we are at this moment in time a united people; we have come together to celebrate the Winter Olympics. It also doesn't matter whether it is figure skating, hockey, moguls, snowboarding or ski jumping, we all know that each athlete has spent many years working to get where they are today.

The Vancouver Olympic Village, which houses the competing athletes, brings the world's athletes together to live, socialize and get to know each other. Hopefully friends will be made that may last a lifetime. They have in common their unique qualities that set them apart as some of the best athletes in the world.

We have the opportunity of bringing people together once every four years; we should make the most of it while we can.