The Olympic Games stand as an iconic and historically influential event,
and one which transcends sport to develop significant social, cultural and
religious importance. The 29th Games, which commence in
London, UK on Friday 27th July, perhaps reflect this more any
previous event, as they arrive at a time when global economic depression and
fractured international relations have created an uncertain backdrop to
everyday life. The Olympics stand for hope, tolerance and aspiration, and bring
communities together in the spirit of participation and eventual achievement.
The Olympic Games: Where Local Athletes Can Achieve International
Recognition
The glory of the Olympic Games lies in this and the stories of those who
participate, and it is their individual history which brings color and meaning
to such an international event. One athlete that personifies this principle is U.S.
track and field star Sanya Richards-Ross, who is competing this year in her third
Olympic Games in the 400 meters and 4 x 400 meters rely event. Ross who
left her home nation of Jamaica at the age of 12 before eventually becoming a
U.S. citizen, set an Olympic trials record in qualifying for London 2012 and is
also the reigning world champion in the 400 meter event.
Her journey is a victory for determination and spirit, and showcases how
desire to achieve is part of the Olympic vision., but there is something else
that marks Sanya Richards-Ross as the very depiction of this spirit. As proud
and local residents of Austin, Texas, Sanya and her professional football star husband
Aaron Ross play integral roles within their community, and have not allowed
fame, success and continued attainment to effect the way in which they interact
with their fellow citizens. While humility may be an increasingly undervalued
commodity in professional sport, it is the fundamental principle that underpins
the entire Olympic message.
How the Olympics Impacts Local Communities
As such a revered and important hub of her local community, Sanya
Richards-Ross has a great deal of popularity among fellow residents and service
providers.
Dr. Dan Matthews, who
operates a dental practice at the very heart of Austin, Texas, is fortunate
enough to count Sanya Richards-Ross and her husband as a long time patients, and
he is extremely supportive of her efforts as a high performance athlete. “Both
she and her husband are patients of ours,” said Dr. Matthews. “They are both
tremendously successful as athletes and we are so excited that she is going to
the Olympics.”
The attitude of Dr. Matthews is shared by many of his other patients and
residents within the Austin area, and there is no doubt that as a community
they will be cheering Sanya on to success during the London Olympics. In many
ways, this is the main value that the Olympics bring to societies throughout
the world, as they unite individuals in supporting a common goal and allow them
to share in hope and aspiration. During such events as those that will unfold
in London over the coming weeks, people will connect with their communities and
sporting icons in a way that they never knew was possible.
The Bottom Line
So as Dr. Matthews and thousands of Austin residents settle in front of
the television this summer and watch Sanya Richards-Ross and her compatriots
compete for glory, they can rest assure that they will be participating in a
truly global and unifying event. Unlike any others global sporting
institutions, the Olympic Games remains largely unblemished by cynicism and
commercialism, and therefore remains a symbol of hope even during difficult
social and economic times.
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