Johannesburg – Citius, Altius, Fortius. Faster, Higher, Stronger. That is the motto of the Olympic Games, though it is one which seems increasingly blurred in the International Olympic Committee’s obsession with making the Games Bigger, Stranger and, ultimately, Pricier.
As we head into the home straight for the Rio Olympics, set to start on August 5, the headlines are not about the excitement of the ‘greatest show on earth’, but rather about the number of high-profile sports stars pulling out.
What’s more, those stars are from sporting codes that are frankly bizarre to the Olympic connoisseur. Golf has probably seen the highest number of big names distance themselves from Rio.
Many have cited prior commitments, others have raised Zika virus fears, and others have simply given the topic a wide berth.
The answer for that is simple.
Golf has four events each year that are more important in world than the Olympics ever will be. They are each unique, and they all come with a place in history that can never, ever be taken away.
Ultimate
Heck, the US Open even hands out a gold medal to the winner.
For all intents and purposes, the four Majors are as big as it gets for the world’s best, and they are the ultimate priority. Added to that, every single tournament on the US PGA Tour has a winner’s cheque of at least a million dollars, which means the top players are very, very comfortable.
The mere thought of getting out of that comfort zone, to a course that they have never seen, must sound as enticing as having to play every tournament at treacherous Oakmont for the rest of their careers.
Hopefully, golf’s reluctance to embrace the Olympic spirit will be taken for what it is by the powers that be; a curt ‘thanks, but no thanks,’ from a sport that has changed completely since it was last on the Olympic roster.
It, and several other sports that already have their own, blue-ribbon events shouldn’t be jostling for pride of place with the codes that make the Olympics what they are.
The Olympic Games are about discovering new heroes, most of them athletes we hear precious little of in the four years in between editions. The Olympics is a salute to their hours of lonely, lengthy preparation, all in order to shine on the biggest stage.
And once they have bloomed for the world to see, they can go forth and join the paid ranks if they so wish, and carve out careers for themselves.
Britain’s Anthony Joshua is a prime example of this. Four years ago, Joshua was a young, amateur boxer with good prospects. He won Olympic gold, and never looked back.
Joshua has since become a world heavyweight champion, drawing comparisons with another great Olympian, Muhammad Ali, for his mannerisms and his magnetism. Joshua is going to Rio – but not to compete.
He will be there as a mentor to the next crop of British boxing’s medal hopefuls, giving back to the sport that has given him everything he has.
That is, or at least should be, the essence of the Olympic Games.
It should be the greatest canvas for hope in humanity, a triumph for dedication and attention to detail. Not this ever confusing cocktail party that is sending out unnecessary invites to people who have parties of their own to hurry back to.
The Olympics used to be a hallowed month of anticipation, a journey into the unknown, where the world met weightlifters, gymnasts, divers, rowers and runners, all with a compelling life story.
The IOC would do well to try to rediscover that romance, instead of splurging hobbling millions on facilities that have no business joining the show.
Sometimes the very best recipes are just so because of their simplicity. The Olympics ought to go back to being a humble pursuit of precious metals.
Simpler, Smaller, Smoother.
– Sunday Tribune