I gasped as I watched the recent 400-meter hurdle Olympic games.
Sydney Mclughlin-Levrone who had just broken the world record a month earlier, managed to break her world record again, winning the gold medal in 50.37 seconds.
I find this always happens when I watch the Olympics. It is almost as if the athletes are superhuman and I am watching a superhero film.
Sports have a way of bringing people together and making us feel all sorts of emotions.
“Sports are a universal language,” an Opinion reader Elvin Padilla Jr., writes, “We should cherish and nurture every opportunity to share and celebrate our common humanity.”
Elvin is right. During the Olympics, all things seem possible to humanity.
A Brief History of the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games have always fascinated me, especially when I learned about their origins. They began way back in 776 BCE in ancient Greece as a religious festival in Olympia, honoring Zeus.
Imagine this: a time of constant wars, yet the games provided a rare moment of peace. A sacred truce was declared, allowing athletes from warring city-states to come together and compete safely.
It’s amazing to think that for over a millennium, these games continued, pausing conflicts and celebrating unity and athletic excellence, until they were eventually abolished in 393 CE by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I.
Fast forward to 1896, and we see the revival of the Olympics, thanks to Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He was inspired by that ancient tradition of a truce and wanted to promote international peace and cooperation through sport.
These ideals still resonate today. The Olympics now bring together nations from around the world, showcasing unity, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, even in the face of global challenges.
A Symbol of Peace and Unity
Let’s talk about that iconic symbol—the five rings on the Olympic flag. Did you know that they represent the inhabited continents of the world?
The Americas are counted as one, and Europe is considered separate from Asia. The flag's colors—blue, black, red, yellow, and green—weren’t chosen at random. They appear in nearly every national flag around the globe, symbolizing the unity of nations through the Olympics.
Excellence, Unity, and Endurance
One thing I’ve realized is how closely the values of the Olympics—excellence, unity, and Endurance—mirror those found in humanitarian work. Both fields demand pushing beyond limits and striving for the highest goals.
Think about it: athletes like Simone Biles and the Team USA women’s volleyball team, advancing to the gold medal match against Brazil, showcase incredible dedication. That same level of commitment is evident in humanitarian efforts all over the world, where they are committed to providing food, medical supplies, clean water, and other resources to aid communities in need.
The Olympics are a force that connects people. Nations unite in friendly competition, but the spirit of togetherness is felt by everyone who watches the Games.
Humanitarian efforts do something similar—they bring communities together, often in the most challenging circumstances. LIFE’s work in Gaza is a powerful example of this.
Their perseverance, even during conflict, reflects the endurance we see in athletes like Letsile Tebogo, who won Botswana's first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s 200m. It’s this kind of endurance that’s needed both on the track and in the field.
Taking Inspiration from the Olympics
What really strikes me is how much humanitarian work can draw inspiration from the Olympics. The Games teach us about the importance of perseverance, of never giving up even when the odds are stacked against you.
In the same way that athletes train for years to perfect their craft, humanitarian workers dedicate their lives to improving the well-being of others, often in the most difficult conditions.
The Olympic value of striving for excellence and coming together as one global community is something we can all take to heart, especially in the work of helping others.
Recent Wins and Upcoming Events
Speaking of inspiration, did you catch the recent wins? Team USA’s men's basketball team, with stars like Steph Curry and LeBron James, clinched a spot in the gold medal match against Serbia.
I love seeing athletes like Tara Davis-Woodhall of the USA and Malaika Mihambo of Germany excel in the long jump—they show us what strength looks like. And today we’ve got the finals in swimming and gymnastics to look forward to, with athletes like Lydia Ko from New Zealand in women’s golf ready to make their mark.
Breaking into the Olympics
Until recently, I had no idea that break dancing, officially termed “breaking,” was now part of the Olympics. When I heard about it, I was honestly surprised, but in the best way. It’s so refreshing to see a form of expression that originated as a free-flowing, street-level art now recognized on such a grand stage.
I can’t help but see the similarities between breakdancing and humanitarian work. Dancing and humanitarian work both express the essence of humanity. Dance conveys emotions and personal stories, connecting people through movement, while humanitarian work reaches out with compassion to those in need, creating connection through acts of giving.
Cultural awareness is paramount in both areas. Dance showcases the richness of diverse traditions, and humanitarian work requires understanding and respecting cultural differences to provide effective aid. Both celebrate and connect people across cultures, growing and sustaining a sense of global unity.
The Olympic Spirit in Everyday Life
Just as we celebrate these incredible Olympic achievements, we can also strive to be Olympians and champions of compassion in our own lives. We can do this by supporting humanitarian efforts that reflect the same values.
The Olympic ethics—excellence, unity, and endurance—are alive in the work of organizations like LIFE. Every day, we push the boundaries to bring hope and help to those who need it most.
If the Olympics have inspired you, why not channel that energy into making a difference?
Become a champion of compassion today.
