As the Olympics begin, we do well to recall the “Olympic spirit” – what is it? A starting place could be the Olympic creed:
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
But there is more than just the creed. The Olympic Games give us the chance to celebrate our shared humanity, to build bonds of friendship and love between peoples and nations. The games are one of the few arenas where all nations come together with a common focus, and where all of the participants represent their countries not in political or economic roles, but as citizens. This is what the Olympic Games are really about, and some might say it’s what life is really about as well. What do you think? How would you define the Olympic spirit? What are some examples of it? In what ways is the Code for Living a reflection of that spirit?
