Regular readers of this space will know that its proprietor is not a strong advocate of the Olympic Games; yet, the recently completed Turin Games were memorable for four things. First, the spirit of the Games shone through, I think, when Norwegian Bjornar Hakenmoen gave Canadian cross-country skier Sara Renner a pole to replace hers that had been broken; second, that Canadian speed-skater Cindy Klassen won five medals; third, that a Canadian medal recipient donated $10,000 out of her savings to a programme that aids disadvantaged youth in improvised countries to enjoy sports; and fourth, the knowledge that American medal winners receive a handsome monetary package for achieving a gold, silver or bronze medal.
I cannot imagine too many members of a competing team offering a replacement pole to a representative of a country in a strong position to win a medal. As it was, the Canadian who received the replacement pole did win a silver medal and Norway's representative finished fourth. In these days of crass commercialism and extreme politics of the Olympics, the Norwegian's act stands head and shoulders above all else - clearly, he deserves a super-gold medal for his unselfish act. Incidentally, Hakenmoen's unselfish act did not go unnoticed in Canada. Canadians from West to East and all points between emailed Norwegian newspapers with comments of praise. That, too, is in the spirit of the Olympic Games.
When Canadian Wendy Klassen competed in the Salt Lake Olympic Games in 2002, she took bronze in her sport. Understandably, she was disappointed not to have won gold but vowed to continue to train and to become a better skater. She did and in 2006, mounted the podium five times - one gold, two silver and two bronze. Her message to all Olympic Games Canadians - and by extension all other Olympic Games athletes - is do not be discouraged, stick to your training regime and come back in four years time stronger and better prepared. Cindy Klassen is the class of the Canadian Olympic Games team and was recognized as the Class of the Turin Olympic Games.
Clara Hughes' donation of all her savings to Right to Play stands high on my list of unselfish acts that Canadians do, frequently. The evening prior to her 5,000-metre speed-skating race gold medal win, Clara Hughes viewed a programme about the Toronto-headquartered international charity and this inspired her. Her unselfish act ought to be an inspiration to all Olympic Games athletes, regardless of country. Granted, some Americans also donated money - in some cases more than Hughes did - but they did it out of their winnings. While the Americans' gesture is wonderful, it is less wonderful than Canadian Clara Hughes' donation.
The idea that a country pays its Olympic Games athletes a 'bribe' for mounting the gold, silver or bronze podium is tantamount to parents who 'bribe' their children to score goals in hockey or lacrosse or [insert any team game of choice] or those who reward their offspring with monetary rewards for attaining a passing grade in school work. Somehow, these 'rewards' or 'bribes' or whatever one might call them demean the spirit of the competition; this is especially so at the Olympic Games. There is, in my opinion, a tarnish that takes away the shine of Olympic Games medals when one learns that a pot of gold is an inducement to do well.
Not on my list but certainly deserving to be acknowledged is the absolute domination of women's hockey by the Canadian team. While some might have questioned the lop-sided scores, the Canadian women's achievements are to be heralded; not only will their dominance of the sport instil in others a strong desire to become better at the game, but also those criticised wins can held up as a trophy that the men's Canadian hockey team can aim for. Perhaps, it is time to return hockey to the ranks of the amateurs and kick the highly-paid NHL prima donnas out of the Games. The Ladies have shown the way, not it is up to the men to follow and be counted.
Commercialism, politics and now monetary bribes add to the lack of lustre of the Olympic Games.
Question: Has the athletes' oath taken at the Olympic Games also been diminished because of bribes?
Bob Orrick is a retired private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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