Olympics Foster Fraternity

Dixya Poudel

Paris Olympics concluded on August 11 amid a lavish and grand celebration. For 19 days, athletes across 32 sports competed for staggering 329 gold medals. As such, people throughout the world tuned to the television to follow the Paris Olympics. Many took to viewing it on their smart devices. Obviously, there was much praise of the athletic prowess of the competitors who won over the starry-eyed spectators. What was unique about 2024 Olympics was the introduction of a new dance-inspired sport: breaking. Originated in the Bronx, New York during the 1970s, breaking has since then evolved as a competitive art form, finally making its debut on Olympics 2024. Another novel addition was the debut of kayak cross.

All sports require a certain level of dedication to master them. The competitions might last only a few minutes or hours but the victory is the result of years of hard-earned dedication, devotion, and discipline. Athletes often wake up in the early hours of the dawn to practice their sports regularly. Guided by their coaches, they are known to push the limits of their bodies in order to achieve the impossible. Simon Biles, an American gymnast has earned three gold medals this Olympics adding to her quite remarkable collection and in doing so inspired countless aspiring gymnasts. On her pursuit of gold medals she has said, “I have accomplished way more than my wildest dreams. Not just at this Olympics but in the sport.” Behind her astonishing achievement is a steely determination which applies to athletes across all kinds of sports.

It was the Canadian writer, Malcolm Gladwell who popularised the theory of 10,000 hours which states that it takes well over 10,000 hours to master, learn and excel at anything. Whether it is learning a new language, a sport or a skill, the key to mastering it is putting in the effort, day in and day out. While most people snooze their alarms, procrastinate and even drift from their goals, successful people put in the hours consistently with the ambition of making a mark. Athletes take it even further by testing the limits of their body with an eye on the gold. 

Here sportsmanship comes into account as well. On numerous games, athletes have very often taken to help injured competitors even at the risk of losing which is what sportsmanship is about. It signifies a collective spirit of the game. The ultimate aim might be victory but the game itself is a friendly reminder of humane grace even in the most competitive of sports such as the Olympics. 

The Paris Olympics 2024 was held at a precarious time in global politics with wars raging in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East. For several weeks, the world tried to salvage the ominous threat of escalating wars as athletes competed in various sports in the city of light, Paris where the dimming lights of hope resurged among both the participants and the global spectators. It proved a point that sports isn’t just about competition but also about fraternity, goodwill and global solidarity. The world-class athletes might be difficult to emulate but they can be a source of endless inspiration, a beacon of hope for human achievement and a reminder of discipline, sportsmanship and rigorous determination.