The Olympics are wonderful. They bring the world together in the spirit of peace and fair play, with athletes gathering from all over the world, in one place and at one time, to celebrate all that humans can accomplish. They are a celebration of excellence. They are a celebration of our aspirations. They are a celebration of what we would like to be.
But there are many people who would contest the Olympics and the Olympic movement are no longer what they once were. Their days have passed.
It is easy to see why. The scandal in Russia where the state set up a system to allow athletes to take performance enhancing drugs casts a major shadow over the fairness of the Games. But if doping is the criteria for getting rid of sports, what are we to do with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL players who engage in similar activities? What about PGA players - yes, golfers - who openly point out there is a problem in their sport?
There are some who would argue we should just let athletes use whatever drugs they like. It would certainly give us better performances and new world records. But it would radically diminish the meaning of a sporting event where men and women line up against one another to test their mettle.
So the Olympics does what it can to control doping. To ensure we have a clean Games. To try and say that sports should be about humans competing against each other to achieve their best performance possible.
If the Olympic Games are retired, would there still be an interest in cleaning up sports? Would everyone compete on the same playing field?
Another reason to retire the Olympics might be the massive security bill involved. Over 82,000 troops are stationed in Rio. Lineups to get through security screening and into venues extend for hours. Cameras are positioned throughout the city. The Games are a massive target.
But they aren't the only target. Terrorism is a new fact of life. When a driver of a semi-truck can plow through a street and kill 85 innocent people celebrating Bastille Day, there is no safe place.
No. Cancelling the Olympics because of the potential for terrorism is letting the terrorists win. As soon as their actions or the threat of their actions changes our behavior, they have accomplished their goal. They have terrorized the world.
It could also be argued the International Olympic Committee is a corrupt body of officials who are running the Games for their own profit. Accusations of bribery persist and are likely true but so what? The Olympic Games or any other large sporting organization are bound to have corruption and backroom deals.
If the owners of sporting franchise are the measure of a sporting event, well, sports would not be the multi-billion dollar business it is.
After all, just consider the money being poured into new rinks, new stadiums, and new venues for teams across North America. Sport is big business and these big businesses have a way of operating which borders on blackmail in many instances.
These are all good and valid reasons for arguing the Olympic Games should be put out to pasture. And yet when our athletes take the field, who doesn't feel a moment of pride in their accomplishments?
Whether it is Alyx Treasure competing in the women's high jump or Penny Oleksiak winning a silver medal in the women's 100m butterfly, we all celebrate their accomplishments. We are proud to be Canadian. We are proud of our athletes. We feel better about ourselves as a country. And we know we can stand on the international stage with the rest of the world.
Let's face it - our men's volleyball team taking down the USA will be a highlight of these Games even if they do not win another game. Our women's rugby 7's have put the sport on the map. (I have never understood rugby before.)
And there are athletic competitions featured at the Olympics which hardly see the light of day between the Games. Sports such as field hockey, water polo, judo, fencing, etcetera, are featured at the Olympics and for a brief period they shine in the reflected light of the flame.
All athletics are a wonderful reflection of the achievement of the human spirit. They are a testament to what we can be. The Olympics are a showcase for that spirit.
Yes, the IOC is filled with cronies and the Games are ridiculously expensive. Yes, there are some who would cheat to achieve Olympic glory. Yes, there is the constant threat brought about by terrorism.
But the spectacle of the games should not be diminished by events which have nothing to do with the core of the games - a celebration of peace and excellence amongst the countries of the world.
