My Olympic moment

Every two years since I've been a child, my heart has jumped with passion and excitement at the vision of the lone athlete holding the flaming torch and lighting a cauldron to mark the start of the Olympic Games. I have a deep respect for the Olympic tradition which has evolved around the games both in our culture and around the world. I love sports so much I received a master's degree in sports administration. Upon reading this my wife will ask: "How is that degree serving you these days, Hon?" Not so much today in the real estate world, but every once in a while I jump at the opportunity to talk about the Olympics! 

 

My Olympic torch was lit at an early age as a 6-year-old watching the 1976 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Winter Olympics in my home country of Canada. I felt the enthusiasm as a host country and the pride introducing the world to our culture. I was captivated by the stories of athletes across the world who faced trials overcoming adversity or tragedy or forced to make sacrifices of extreme commitment for the chance to accomplish their goals.

 

While I competed in track and field, in college my Olympics dream of competing never came true, but I did land a great job with the Canadian Olympic delegation during the 1996 Atlanta Games. It was one of the greatest experiences and I met friends for life. The daily energy around the buildup and execution of the games is incredible! The Olympics motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” translated as faster, higher, stronger. While I was able to witness daily awe inspiring athletic performances at the Games I also noticed these performances in turn inspired everyday people to do a good deed faster, have a higher degree of patience and a stronger desire to help learn about their fellow human beings.

 

One example is from my peers on the team just coming off the Lillehammer, Norway, Winter Olympics. They told me about the charm and hospitality of the snowy little Nordic village and how they met a random Norwegian family who invited them to share a meal together and taught them all about their culture. They called these “Olympic Moments.” “Don’t worry, you’ll have many Olympic moments,” I was told.

 

I enjoyed many “Olympic Moments,” but probably the best was meeting a guy named Jim, a fellow Canadian who blew me away with his hospitality, positivity and passion for sports. He lived the Olympic motto in spirit. I happened to have a few diving tickets and asked him if he wanted to go with me and soon a friendship was born. Turns out Jim had one of the largest collections of Olympic memorabilia outside the Olympic museum in Lausanne — including a torch from every games’ relay.

 

A few years later, I got a call from Jim and he said if I could get to Salt Lake City for the games, he had some tickets. After flying in, I learned my favorite band “The Tragically Hip” were playing at the University of Utah for the Canadian team. With no rental car available, I hitchhiked and was picked up by a kind Mormon girl about my age. Up until that time I had only heard stereotypes of Mormons. I had an incredible conversation with her about her faith and the people in Utah. I came away with a greater appreciation and understanding of

a unique culture — another Olympic Moment. Jim and I went on to watch the entire hockey medal round and sit beside the bench on the glass in the gold medal final and meet all my hockey heroes including Wayne Gretzky.

 

I’ve continued to follow every Olympics — including the 2008 Beijing Games when I volunteered to pull night duty feeding my newborn daughter, while shedding tears watching examples of cross border fair play and sportsmanship. And I confess I sometimes parade around the house in my old Olympic clothing, blasting the Olympic anthem while holding a faux torch.

 

Yet, I can’t stop thinking about how every game presents the opportunity to transform people by bringing human kind together in cultural understanding through sports.

 

My question is, how will these games transform you? Citius, Altius, Fortius I hope!