By all accounts the Winter Olympics was a big success. The tone of the games was set at the opening ceremonies as speakers emphasized the importance of peaceful games, filled with sportsmanship and friendly competition. Almost 3,000 years ago travelers took the long trip to Olympia for the original games. There is still debate as to the exact rationale for the games, but peace was one outcome. Prior to the games emissaries were sent far and wide to announce the ancient games, ensuring free and safe travel to and from all the city states. Fighting stopped. Likewise, thousands traveled to Italy to watch and cheer the athletes over two weeks in February.
I have been an ardent observer of the Games for many years, but this year strikes me as one of the best. The sportsmanship has made me feel good about the world. The competitors seem to cheer for each other, reveling in their performance. They know what it takes to get to the games. They have all undergone the grind of intense training, victories mixed with failures. One of my favorite ads during the games showed spectators who are normally at odds come together to cheer. Watch parties are certainly full of Democrats and Republicans, but the Red and Blue disappear when cheering for the Red, White, and Blue. We are all on the same team.
The games were like a PG movie, no violence, certainly competitive, but no seemingly ill will. There’s always some drama but who would have thought that the closest fight was during a curling match. Drama was there, starting with the tragic fall by Lindsey Vonn. It was heartbreaking to hear her crying on the slope. And there was the usual question of fair play by ice skating judges as the French judge seemed to harshly penalize the American pair. The controversy ended quickly and the games went on. Growing up in Louisiana, I was never around ice skating. Ice was to refrigerate the catch of the day and for cocktails. But I enjoyed the ice hockey, and who could believe you can have a great ice hockey game without fighting. It’s easy to stop the fighting, just make a rule that you can’t play and fight. The NHL won’t do that because fans like it. As in the Roman Coliseum, blood attracts.
Most winter participants make a living but don’t become wealthy like many athletes in the
summer games. I watched a video clip of speed skater Jordan Stolz training in his basement. He had a squat rack and was box jumping onto an old freezer. Imagine Noah Lyles or Simone Biles training in a basement. The USA basketball team can probably buy the stadium. Most track stars are millionaires and forget the golfers and tennis players. Coco Gauff makes $33 million annually. Downhill skiing is a money sport, but what about cross country skiers and speed skaters? Figure skaters spend thousands to train.
But the winter games are not universal. There are no Africans or South Americans, but there are Norwegians. Norway only has a population of 5.6 million, but they often win the medal count. Personally, I’m against the medal count by countries. Winning more medals does not mean you are a better country — think Soviet Union. Certainly, Norway has the advantage of a lot of snow, but they have great coaching as well as a hardy fit population who love the outdoors. We have snow and a huge population but the primary outdoor activity by many Americans is dining alfresco or waiting in line at the food truck to buy a fish taco.
I watch the coaching. I ask, who would I want to play for? The coaching in the Olympics is
great. There is no yelling or shouting, just quiet informed talking. In the U.S., basketball and football coaches are often the show, prowling the sidelines, the cameras focused on them. Dan Hurley yells at the referees the entire game. Kim Mulkey puts her scowling face in the face of her athletes screaming in front of thousands. Olympic coaches are in the background, where they should be. The ice hockey coach actually stands behind the players. I watched the U.S. women’s coach as the game got tense, no hysterics, just controlled advice, no panic. As the team won gold, the players all ran onto the ice to celebrate; the coach stood quietly, alone, tears running down his face. I’d play for him.
Jim Johnson is a retired professor of exercise and sport science after teaching 52 years at Smith College and Washington University in St. Louis. He comments about sport, exercise, and sports medicine. He can be reached at jjohnson@smith.edu.