By Nicole Hendry
Reporter
BIRMINGHAM, England – ‘Inspire
a generation’ has been coined as the official slogan for the London 2012
Olympics, and that it will.
a generation’ has been coined as the official slogan for the London 2012
Olympics, and that it will.
Undoubtedly, thousands
of children will be drawn to sport that had previously shunned it, myself one
of them.
of children will be drawn to sport that had previously shunned it, myself one
of them.
A previous sport phobic,only donning the trainers for the occasional sponsored run and avoiding P.E.
lessons at all costs, I am now inclined to seek out what sports programs my
university can offer me in September. I only wish I were young enough to take
up a sport I might be able to take to such Olympic levels.
Aside from mere
involvement, the extraordinary values of the athletes should, too, be taken as
inspiration.
involvement, the extraordinary values of the athletes should, too, be taken as
inspiration.
Not only does the
completion of such punishing fitness and training schedules mean they are they
incredibly dedicated and focused – traits we might all hope to emulate in our
pursuits – they have about them a certain spirit.
completion of such punishing fitness and training schedules mean they are they
incredibly dedicated and focused – traits we might all hope to emulate in our
pursuits – they have about them a certain spirit.
Following placing fourth
in the Men’s 10m Synchronised Diving event, British hopeful Tom Daley
received abusive messages on the social networking platform Twitter. His
steadfast reaction to this, along with his refusal to blame his teammate Pete
Waterman whose entry to the pool on their fourth dive may have cost them the
bronze, demonstrated an admirable state of mind.
in the Men’s 10m Synchronised Diving event, British hopeful Tom Daley
received abusive messages on the social networking platform Twitter. His
steadfast reaction to this, along with his refusal to blame his teammate Pete
Waterman whose entry to the pool on their fourth dive may have cost them the
bronze, demonstrated an admirable state of mind.
Not only has it
displayed an excellent level of sportsmanship, but also a resilience and
refusal to be kept down. Both Daley and Waterman are set to dive again in the
single dives later on in the competition.
displayed an excellent level of sportsmanship, but also a resilience and
refusal to be kept down. Both Daley and Waterman are set to dive again in the
single dives later on in the competition.
Yet it is not purely
in sporting terms that youth should be inspired.
in sporting terms that youth should be inspired.
In no other context can
representatives from 204 different countries stand united. They may be drawn
together under a common purpose, to perform and to win. The fact is, they are
together and it should be noted by the next generation that it is possible.
representatives from 204 different countries stand united. They may be drawn
together under a common purpose, to perform and to win. The fact is, they are
together and it should be noted by the next generation that it is possible.
Not just in athletics,
but in the other areas, countries, no matter their differences, can and should
cooperate.
but in the other areas, countries, no matter their differences, can and should
cooperate.
The opening ceremony saw
the United States and Great Britain stand by old and new foes: Russia, Germany,
Iraq, Argentina and Afghanistan, to name but a few.
the United States and Great Britain stand by old and new foes: Russia, Germany,
Iraq, Argentina and Afghanistan, to name but a few.
Yet despite historical
differences and modern quarrels, Olympic athletes shall, over the 16 days of
the Games, compete, win and lose. They’ll do it beside one another in a city
once rocked by international terrorist attacks and home to the British
parliament, whose decisions have lead to many a conflict.
differences and modern quarrels, Olympic athletes shall, over the 16 days of
the Games, compete, win and lose. They’ll do it beside one another in a city
once rocked by international terrorist attacks and home to the British
parliament, whose decisions have lead to many a conflict.
If that is possible,
then why not extend it further?
then why not extend it further?
‘Inspire a generation’ is
a very fitting slogan. Let’s hope the Games continue on the same positive
footing and let’s hope their promised legacy is fulfilled.
a very fitting slogan. Let’s hope the Games continue on the same positive
footing and let’s hope their promised legacy is fulfilled.
