I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t stop humming the Olympic Fanfare and Theme song, it’s on repeat in my mind daily. I’ve been infatuated with the Olympic Games since 1996 when they were held in Atlanta, GA. (See my Olympics themed birthday party below for further proof, inclusive of a backyard Parade of Nations, games, medal ceremony and a stellar cake.)
But outside of my love for sport and competition (note I'm still saddened that I didn't medal at my own birthday party) and the inspiring stories of defying odds and personal bests, I have a deep appreciation for the mission of the Olympic Games and the role the Olympic spirit plays in our society. I admire how the Olympics which are characterized with such extreme effort, also so effortlessly connect us.
You don’t always think about it when you strike up a conversation with someone at work about an inspiring, surprising finish you saw last night or as you share the emotions you felt about an incredible human triumph at your dinner table, but the Olympics don’t just physically bring athletes from every continent together through sport, they bring all of us a little closer too. That’s the mission of the Games after all, excerpts extracted from the International Olympic Committee on the goal of the Olympic Movement include “building a peaceful and better world….” and “educating through sport in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play…..”
A peaceful world, mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
The Olympic Games and the impact of the Olympic Movement on cultures around the world are a great example of a mission brought to life. And while you might say, “well of course it’s easy for the Olympics, look at the size and level of support”, remember that they couldn’t have grown or gained support without creating, sharing and outwardly living a mission others could relate to and wanted to be a part of. Also, the Olympic Games have had 122 years to foster a movement felt around the globe, imagine how your mission and impact might grow in that amount of time. Start now by creating a mission that not only speaks to you, but moves others. Then envision that one day your mission will become a movement too, one that is so easily felt and seen and maybe it will even be accompanied by a theme song that we just won’t be able to get out of our heads.