Tuesday, August 31, 2004
The Athens Olympic
The Athens Olympic Game was finally closed on Sunday night after more than two weeks of intense competions. I enjoyed watching the Olympic Games. To see these top sportsmen and sportswomen performing at their best is sheer exhilarating. You got to see their expressions when they won a race or a competition. These were expressions of triumph, joy and relieve. It was the moment when their dreams were realised. It was the moment of reward for those months and years of gruelling training under the extreme conditions. It was the moment of reward where family sacrifices, community encouragement and support from sponsors and governments. I congratulate those who got gold, silver or bronze medals during the competition. I also admire many others who missed out but have performed well. For those who have trained hard on their own to get to Games, often without much government support, they too have achieved in their own ways.
During the game, I noticed there were some who not only had scored gold medals, but also had golden heart. Like the woman swimmer from Poland, Otylia Jedrzejczak. After obtaining a gold medal in the women 200 meter butterfly and a silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle and 100 meter butterfly, she announced that she was going to auction her gold medal to help raise fund for children with leukaemia. She was reported saying “It is hard to part with the medal, but that is where my heart tells me to.” What a golden girl.
In another event, the American Michael Phelps after winning 5 gold medals in the pool, decided to give up his position to his team mate Ian Croker to swim the medley relay. The team later won a gold medal for that event. It could have been his sixth gold on the podium. He had been magnanimous to allow his team mate to shine. What a great mate.
In the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase final event, the three Kenyan runners were the first three runners towards the finishing line. They were the leader Ezekiel Kemboi, the second in place, Birmin Kipruto and the third in place, Paul Kipsiele Koech. Sensing that the third Kenyan runner Paul Kipsiele Koech was in danger of been overtaken by the forth runner from Qatar, the leader Ezekiel Kemboi slowed down in the final straits towards the finishing line to encourage his country man to hurry up. They finished up grapping all gold, silver and bronze. What a magnificent gesture of mateship.
Also noticeable was that smiling kids and toddlers were joining their father or mother on the podium to receive the medal won. Needless to say, to train and compete in such a demanding event like the Olympic required not only determination and hard work from the athletics themselves, family and community support, understanding and sacrifices are vital to enable the athletics to concentrate and focus for the success. To me the Athens Olympic was not only a sports event, it was also a family affairs.
To those athletics who participated in the Athens Olympic and did not get a medal, they had by themselves achieved gold in their own way, being having successfully trained and competed against the world’s best. The world’s spectators do appreciate their effort and participation. My congratulation to them too.
During the game, I noticed there were some who not only had scored gold medals, but also had golden heart. Like the woman swimmer from Poland, Otylia Jedrzejczak. After obtaining a gold medal in the women 200 meter butterfly and a silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle and 100 meter butterfly, she announced that she was going to auction her gold medal to help raise fund for children with leukaemia. She was reported saying “It is hard to part with the medal, but that is where my heart tells me to.” What a golden girl.
In another event, the American Michael Phelps after winning 5 gold medals in the pool, decided to give up his position to his team mate Ian Croker to swim the medley relay. The team later won a gold medal for that event. It could have been his sixth gold on the podium. He had been magnanimous to allow his team mate to shine. What a great mate.
In the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase final event, the three Kenyan runners were the first three runners towards the finishing line. They were the leader Ezekiel Kemboi, the second in place, Birmin Kipruto and the third in place, Paul Kipsiele Koech. Sensing that the third Kenyan runner Paul Kipsiele Koech was in danger of been overtaken by the forth runner from Qatar, the leader Ezekiel Kemboi slowed down in the final straits towards the finishing line to encourage his country man to hurry up. They finished up grapping all gold, silver and bronze. What a magnificent gesture of mateship.
Also noticeable was that smiling kids and toddlers were joining their father or mother on the podium to receive the medal won. Needless to say, to train and compete in such a demanding event like the Olympic required not only determination and hard work from the athletics themselves, family and community support, understanding and sacrifices are vital to enable the athletics to concentrate and focus for the success. To me the Athens Olympic was not only a sports event, it was also a family affairs.
To those athletics who participated in the Athens Olympic and did not get a medal, they had by themselves achieved gold in their own way, being having successfully trained and competed against the world’s best. The world’s spectators do appreciate their effort and participation. My congratulation to them too.
