In a world of division, the Olympics provide the one thing we all need
With Trump 2.0, Middle East division, and $7 lattes, the Olympics bring some welcome joie de vivre, says Jessica Taylor Yates.
It’s Armchair Expert Season: Sports Edition
The Olympics are finally here, so it’s time to become armchair experts on hurdling, scream at athletes who are only the second best in the world, and get into something really weird, like breakdancing or three-person basketball on half a court. Vive le France!
It’s funny, because those who know me would find it surprising that I love the Olympics. This makes sense, considering most sports events I’ve attended (all three) were under duress; I still don’t understand tennis sets or why they say ‘love;’ and my profession as a swim instructor was cut short because I dyed my hair fire engine red and didn’t want to ruin it by getting in the water.
But the Olympics are different
Here, you’re not enduring my short-lived C-division netball career that was largely enthusiasm and oranges > skill (with a trusty asthma puffer by my side). Together, we are watching human beings who have pushed and trained themselves to the full limits of their physical potential. We collectively watch history in the making – the fastest man on earth, the most decorated female swimmer of all time, the highest of jumpers and the strongest of weightlifters. This isn’t an individual who played for the blue team you now hate because they play for the red team.
They are the GOATs. The individuals born the same way as us mere mortals, yet have overcome adversity, sacrificed years and milestones and events and relationships, maintaining the mental and physical willpower to complete the most incredible physical feats of humankind, for both themselves and their home country.
So, why do I find this different to soccer or cricket (aside from both being games that are so dreadfully slow that by the end of the game my fresh shellac needs redoing?)
The Olympics provide the one thing we need right now
As a country, there is no changing of allegiances, or wondering why I’m loyal to a team whose players aren’t even loyal to it. I’m rooting for Australia, because I am Australian (with a few quiet cheers for the Czech Republic as is my background – but can’t say I exactly drown out the crowd come award time – we’re better with food). We cheer for them to together, their success is our success, a win for Australia is a unifying moment that is a win for us all.
Around the world, we are united in our Olympic spirit, in one of the now-rare televised events that we all watch unfold at the exact same time, live. I can text with friends from the UK, Holland, USA, Canada and Singapore – and we are all watching the exact same event at the exact same time. Aside from sport, with streaming, there aren’t many positive televised events where that happens anymore.
While we cheer on our own countries, we also unite in watching the best of the best, no matter where they come from. Simone Biles, the greatest ever gymnast from the USA. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, the fastest man on Earth. Cathy Freeman, the image and run from the Sydney 2000 games that are forever etched into our history (and a somewhat dated Scienceworks display).
We also cheer for those who have overcome all odds to make the Olympic Games – the Refugee Olympic Team, representing the 100 million displaced people around the world. Ukraine, despite losing almost 500 athletes to war and are now one of the smallest teams at Paris 2024 – but they still made it. Countries with just a single individual representing them, like those from Belize, Liechtenstein, Nauru and Somalia who are making their people – and the entire world – cheer with pride and admiration. In circumstances like these, their success is one we all unite in with recognition from afar.
Let’s not forget the tea
Alongside the collective Olympic spirit, let’s also get real – the Olympics provide endless amounts of tea, from names that become synonymous with their actions (Pulling a Bradberry) to endless water cooler chat (Lay Down Sally, Dean Boxall’s dry humping). There’s the love triangle of Olympic swimmers Kyle Chalmers, Emma McKeon and singer-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson. Tom Daley casually knitting in the crowd. The doping scandals. Cathy Freeman defying the rules to carry the Indigenous flag. The hot Tongan flag bearer (you know).
Even this year, we’ve had Canadians spying on the Aussie soccer team via a drone dubbed #spygate (really!), Paris’ Minister for Sport diving into the Seine to convince the world it’s safe to swim in, and Olympians trying out the ‘bonk-ban’ beds in the Olympic village on video for the world to see.
All. Over. It.
Some welcome joie de vivre
While these two weeks of televised sporting and entertainment prowess won’t suddenly solve world hunger or bring down mortgage rates, the unity the Games bring is a reminder that there is still collective joy to be had worldwide. (Plus, it means Trump news won’t be as prominent on my feed, which I personally find to be a very welcome reprieve.)
In a world feeling more divided than ever through increasingly radicalised politics around militarism, nationalism, ideology, economics and faith, it’s comforting that there’s still positive beacons of humanity connecting us in the Olympic Movement’s overall mission –
"to contribute to building a peaceful and better world… in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
Do the thing! Win the sports!
Wow! These are all the exact reasons why I love the Olympics! Thanks for putting into words exactly how I'm feeling!!!!Yay!!!😁👍