I absolutely love the Olympic Games. There is something about cheering on your country's greatest athletes that isn’t rivaled by anything else. For the majority of the past week since the Games have begun, I have spent every night on my computer watching the handy NBC streams of the events. Actually, whenever I have downtime in front of a computer I have some sort of Olympic event streaming. Whether it's tennis, beach volleyball, swimming, or gymnastics, my favorite event, I'm hooked.
The most interesting thing for me, though, is how proud I get to be an American when one of our athletes wins a medal. For example, when Simone Biles and Aly Raisman won the gold and silver medals in the All Around Gymnastics final, I cried along with them. I was just so happy to see these two incredible young women break barriers and represent our country so well. It was an emotional moment, spurred by a nationalistic pride that I never encounter outside of the Olympic Games.
So what is it about the Olympics that make so many of us Americans feel good about our country? Especially during an election year like this one, it can be very hard to muster up the emotions to feel okay about being a citizen of the United States, yet during the Olympics it’s not difficult at all. We forget how many problems there are within the USA and our government. Instead we root on our athletes, chanting "U-S-A, U-S-A!" at the top of our lungs when we win.
I believe I get so proud for our athletes because it shows we can still produce good people in this country. Many outside of the United States do not look upon us as a favorable nation. To them we seem like oblivious fools to all the harm we're causing others and ourselves but during the Olympics that isn't the perception of us that comes across. Instead, we see the beloved American ideals that have been around since this nation was built, that good clean hard work will bring one success. These are good people that are rewarded at the highest stage for their efforts in the world of sports. It's an honor to see happen.
Then, of course, there is also the factor that sports are just fun to watch. Many Americans find a lot of pleasure in settling down to watch the "big game" between their team and the opponent. So when you move that basic enjoyment to the international stage, it’s hard not to be drawn into the excitement.
Another reason I think so many of us enjoy the Olympics is because of the inherent competition between the athletes. It seems to be human nature that we are drawn to competitions. It draws on many ideals and qualities that humans see as being good for the individual. Qualities like cooperation, concentration, coordination, and creativity are all needed in competitions, especially those of the athletic variety. By seeing these qualities in Olympic athletes, we feel more motivated to develop them in ourselves to take on our own competitions in everyday life.
But I think what it really boils down to is that the Olympics is a commitment to high ideals and success through insurmountable odds. We face challenges constantly in our lives, whether they are of the athletic kind or not. Then, to see people like Olympic athletes be able to achieve their dreams despite how improbable they are, it's inspiring. It helps us to believe in our own dreams and that America is a place where they can come true. Through hard work and dedication to our craft we can be successful, just like our Olympic athletes at what we love.
Enjoy the rest of the Olympic Games. May they inspire you to go after your dreams and be the best you that you can be.
