Those watching the Olympics are seeing many stories of what it is to be a part of a team, and to compete not for yourself but for your team and country. Even though most of the events are individual events, in which teammates compete against each other as well as against other countries, the beauty of seeing everyone rooting for everyone else is striking.
The Olympic Creed reads: “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.”
Do you believe that? Why do we play sports, anyway? We play them because they are fun – because they give us an opportunity to develop our skills, to play with others and to compete against others. When we compete we get to test our skills against an opponent, and to learn from that experience. We learn many things along the way about discipline, teamwork, success and failure. We learn to accept our weaknesses and to know our strengths.
How does the Code and the ABW motto “Winning More Than The Game” reflect the goals of the Olympic Creed? Which of the tenets of the Code are most important to you?
