The Olympics only occur every four years, but this time, it seems to be a bit more meaningful. The world needed this. Amidst all the chaos and various attacks of terror both domestic and abroad, the Olympics is what brings humans of every walk of life together. World records will be broken as the best of the best compete against one another, and most importantly, citizens from every nation will cheer in unity for their home country to win gold.
This year, it is a bit more special because for the first time in Olympic history, a team of refugees is in Rio. Flying under the Olympic flag, these 10 hand-picked athletes will be the first refugees to compete in the Olympic games. When they entered the stage, the crowd's cheers only escalated. In this day and age, many countries are hesitant to accept refugees onto their land, but the International Olympic Committee has embraced these 10 with open arms.
Pope Francis extended his arm in praise of this Refugee Olympic Team and said, "[I] wish you success at the Olympic Games in Rio—that your courage and strength find expression through the Olympic Games and serve as a cry for peace and solidarity," and then continued, "Through you, may humanity understand that peace is possible, and that with peace, everything is a triumph; while with war, everything is a loss."
During the Olympics, it is as if strife does not exist between citizens of each nation. For 16 days, gone is the hateful rhetoric and violence, and in their place is camaraderie amongst competing Olympians and patriotism amongst citizens. Politics has no reign in the Olympics, and no one competitor has the upper hand in winning gold over their rivals. As four-time Olympic Gold medalist Jesse Owens once said, "People come out to see you perform and you've got to give them the best you have within you...A lifetime of training for just 10 seconds." In the 1936 Games in Germany, international tension was at an all-time high, and the world was preparing for the inevitability of war. The international tension and strife that was experienced then is very much akin to what is going on the world today. These Olympics are our beacon of hope in an open, treacherous sea.
I cannot predict what will become of this world after the summer Olympics come to a close, but I hope this feeling of unity will live, only to be reignited again in four years.
