I know, it's not like me to use a cheesy pop song but it's so much easier to express myself when it's using someone else's words, isn't it? I mean, if it all goes badly, I can blame them on the words because they are someone elses....
Except, the words I really want to say, I haven't even included in the title and I'm not even sure I want to type them out here. That is of course, the cowards way as I have pretty much given them to you anyway so why the hesitance in going the whole hog and just typing them out?
If I'm being honest, it's mainly because I don't want it to be true, or more to the point, I don't want to admit that it's true.
Except it is.
As cheesey as it sounds, I do think of you every day and I can't go about my daily routine without running into something that reminds me of you in some way and in the same old way I still don't know what I am supposed to do about it. Knowing that there isn't anything I should do or even could do is not the most comforting thought. Knowing that it still doesn't mean anything adds the neccessary edge of posion to make sure I don't forget.
Nice.
Titled: 14th August 2008
Published: 12th October 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
modern life 1. Heroes: Part 2
And so they are upon us; the 29th Olympic Games hosted by China.
Surely this is the greatest sports event in the World and there is no doubt that all things related to the games becomes more spectacular with each successful host.
But alas all is not rosy and to see why, you have to look to the reason for the inception of the Modern Olympic Games.
We must first look to the motto of the Modern Olympic Games:
Citius, Altius,Fortius
Faster, Higher, Stronger
Originally, that was to represent the goal to be better than oneself instead of focusing on the win. The idea of the games was to unify the nations under the banner of a competition; a forum that doesn't discrimate nor offer a chance for politics be they local or global, get in the way of the display of human achievement.
All well meaning and good in principle but we all know that would never be the reality of them. Instead, what we have today, is a massively political forum where each nation competes to prove that they are the best. Try as they might to emphasis the personal achievements of the individuals, pointing out when they've pulled a personal best again but ultimately, the games these days, and the media coverage, looks to who got what where.
It is nothing more than just another sports competition except here, the pretence of the now empty slogan and tagline "Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal" justs serves to remind me just what the world is still like despite what they might tell you.
I am reminded by this by my own people who are resolutely from Kong Kong for the majority of the time, going so far as to make clear distinctions not to call them "big green" people but when something like the Olympic Games comes along, they're happy to revel in the glories of the people of the nation that they shun.
People say that apathy is the modern disease but hypocricy is right up there with it and equally as evil.
But athletes, on their own are undoubtly people to look up to.
They are prime examples of what the human being can do and just how far a person can push themselves if they want to (not the same as need to) so why are they not heroes to people who aren't interested in what they do? Is their only worth in the things that they win and the medals that they get awarded? Is that what the history books will remember them by? Mr A.Thlete, Three Times World Champion and Olympic Record Holder.
Where am I going with this?
Well, it's a moot point now but I am not 100% in agreement that China should've been selected for the hosting of the games. The reasons are many but mostly because of the way the country treats its own people and athletes; something that fundementally goes against
"Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal"
On a more global scale and outside the athletics arena, nothing has changed in their behaviour sicne their first application for hosting and the even the selection process is full of descrepancies indicating more hypocrisy within the Olympic Selection Commitee.
So why has no-one stepped out and spoken up?
Quite simple, any athlete wanting to take part in the Olympic games are not allowed to participate in any form of political demonstration. If they do, they are essentially banned from competing. I am certain that I am not the only one who thinks something isn't quite right there.
In case you missed it, that's blackmail.
But let's ignore that for a moment. Why don't atheltes, in spite of the threat, make a stand anyway? Surely during a time when the whole is looking at sportsmen, making a stand when it could mean their future participation in the event be even more meaningful. It is sad to think that perhaps that still in todays world, athletes, despite their glories are destined to be not much more than medal or a world record.
Just what is the legacy of an athlete?
Pop stars have tried to make the world a better place.
Film stars use their influence on the media to get coverage of events and causes.
Yes, some top dollar athletes have lent their name and face to some causes but it is not by any means the norm. I know that this is in part due the fact that the media doesn't grant them the same worth as musician and actors but doesn't that mean that at a time when nothing else apart from the Olympics matter, a time when your voice is the loudest that you should at least make a whisper?
Titled: 13th August 2008
Published: 12th October 2008
Surely this is the greatest sports event in the World and there is no doubt that all things related to the games becomes more spectacular with each successful host.
But alas all is not rosy and to see why, you have to look to the reason for the inception of the Modern Olympic Games.
We must first look to the motto of the Modern Olympic Games:
Citius, Altius,Fortius
Faster, Higher, Stronger
Originally, that was to represent the goal to be better than oneself instead of focusing on the win. The idea of the games was to unify the nations under the banner of a competition; a forum that doesn't discrimate nor offer a chance for politics be they local or global, get in the way of the display of human achievement.
All well meaning and good in principle but we all know that would never be the reality of them. Instead, what we have today, is a massively political forum where each nation competes to prove that they are the best. Try as they might to emphasis the personal achievements of the individuals, pointing out when they've pulled a personal best again but ultimately, the games these days, and the media coverage, looks to who got what where.
It is nothing more than just another sports competition except here, the pretence of the now empty slogan and tagline "Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal" justs serves to remind me just what the world is still like despite what they might tell you.
I am reminded by this by my own people who are resolutely from Kong Kong for the majority of the time, going so far as to make clear distinctions not to call them "big green" people but when something like the Olympic Games comes along, they're happy to revel in the glories of the people of the nation that they shun.
People say that apathy is the modern disease but hypocricy is right up there with it and equally as evil.
But athletes, on their own are undoubtly people to look up to.
They are prime examples of what the human being can do and just how far a person can push themselves if they want to (not the same as need to) so why are they not heroes to people who aren't interested in what they do? Is their only worth in the things that they win and the medals that they get awarded? Is that what the history books will remember them by? Mr A.Thlete, Three Times World Champion and Olympic Record Holder.
Where am I going with this?
Well, it's a moot point now but I am not 100% in agreement that China should've been selected for the hosting of the games. The reasons are many but mostly because of the way the country treats its own people and athletes; something that fundementally goes against
"Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal"
On a more global scale and outside the athletics arena, nothing has changed in their behaviour sicne their first application for hosting and the even the selection process is full of descrepancies indicating more hypocrisy within the Olympic Selection Commitee.
So why has no-one stepped out and spoken up?
Quite simple, any athlete wanting to take part in the Olympic games are not allowed to participate in any form of political demonstration. If they do, they are essentially banned from competing. I am certain that I am not the only one who thinks something isn't quite right there.
In case you missed it, that's blackmail.
But let's ignore that for a moment. Why don't atheltes, in spite of the threat, make a stand anyway? Surely during a time when the whole is looking at sportsmen, making a stand when it could mean their future participation in the event be even more meaningful. It is sad to think that perhaps that still in todays world, athletes, despite their glories are destined to be not much more than medal or a world record.
Just what is the legacy of an athlete?
Pop stars have tried to make the world a better place.
Film stars use their influence on the media to get coverage of events and causes.
Yes, some top dollar athletes have lent their name and face to some causes but it is not by any means the norm. I know that this is in part due the fact that the media doesn't grant them the same worth as musician and actors but doesn't that mean that at a time when nothing else apart from the Olympics matter, a time when your voice is the loudest that you should at least make a whisper?
Titled: 13th August 2008
Published: 12th October 2008
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