Global solidarity part of objective

     Millions of Americans anticipate the Olympics, especially the Summer Olympics, because we dominate, we kick butt, we show up just about every country.
     We have our dream teams in about every sport. Of course, we struggle against a few countries in many sports, but, for the most part, our athletes have the training, experience and backing to be good. They should be good because they come from the richest country in the world.
     But we Americans become ugly during competition. We expect, alas demand, that our athletes do well. We should cheer on our teams but revel when other athletes beat the odds and take the gold, silver or bronze.
     The first Olympic games were in 776 B.C. These games supported the belief that spirits of the dead were gratified as such spectacles were delighted in their lives on earth. Over time, the Olympics eventually became part of religious festivals, and now the Olympics has become a spectacle of countries that has brought us many memories.
     One thing that has been distinctive between the Olympics and other sports is the Olympics is about the amateur. However, in recent years even the Olympics has destroyed that image because many professionals compete in the Olympics from basketball to tennis. Nevertheless, amateurs are supposed to compete with other amateurs from different countries.
     So the Olympics has a certain mystique about it that no other sport has. That mystique suggests that anyone can become an Olympic athlete. Ordinary people dream of competing in the Olympics, and these dreams have given us memorable moments from the beauty of gymnastics to the grueling decathlon.
     This celebration that occurs every two years has brought about memorable moments in Olympic history.
     Nadia Comaneci scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history. The Romanian gymnast became the Olympic sweetheart as a 14-year-old in the 1976 summer games in Montreal, Canada.
     The Jamaican bobsled team in the 1988 Calgary Olympics did not finish the race, but they proved that competition and fun are what the games are about.
     Names that bring Olympic memories to just about everyone include Michael Johnson, Mark Spitz, Bruce Jenner, Flo Jo and, well, the list is endless.
     As we each recall our golden memories of the Olympics, let us remind ourselves about the spirit of the games.
     Let us all cheer on the runner who has spent most of his life running across the mountains in Africa. Let us all cheer the athlete who has had to conquer testicular cancer and even being hit by a car to compete in cycling. Let us all cheer the wrestler who performs his greatest lift.
     The thrills will be there day after day. The winners, thank goodness, will not always be Americans, but Americans can celebrate the success of all athletes who give so much to compete for a ribbon with a medal.
     Let us all praise the athletes in their upcoming endeavors, and may the best be rewarded.