Over these past three weeks the news reports have been full of the Olympics’ story, that is taking place in Paris. Paris was awarded the Games at the 131st IOC Session in Lima, Peru, on 13 September 2017. Since then, France has been preparing for this sporting extravaganza. Spending at the 2024 Paris Olympics is expected to come in at under $10 billion over budget by about 25%, according to an S&P Global Ratings report.
At present there are a total of 40 sports which are part of the Olympics portfolio, 32 sports are included in the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. In the previous games in 2020, the Tokyo Games saw an addition of four new sports. Among them was karate, which has since been removed along with baseball and softball. However, the following games have remained at this year’s event that is surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing, as well as the newly added breaking. Breaking, or breakdancing, will make its debut at the Olympic Games in Paris on the 9th and 10th of August at the arena of the Parc Urbain. Along with skateboarding and sport climbing, the urban sport of breaking has been recognised as that, a sport! It will require the competitors to dance to music played randomly by a DJ on the spot. All the participants are vying for the coveted gold medal. At present team USA is raking top in the medals at the 2024 Olympics, with a total of 79 medals earned as of Tuesday, August 6. It’s the highest medal count at the 2024 Paris Olympics so far, with China in second at 55. China has the most gold medals, at 22. With the U.S. close behind, at 21. Nepal has seven athletes who will take part this year. They are trying to win the first official medal for Nepal.
The athletes who take part generally show the meaning of true sportsmanship. Like the Brazil’s Tamires Morena who plays handball, she produced one of the most touching moments of the Olympics in Paris so far as she carried her injured opponent off the court on Saturday. Morena’s gesture was greeted by a huge ovation by the crowd inside South Paris Arena 6, after Angola’s captain Albertina Kassoma fell hard and couldn’t get up. She showed true sportsmanship, integrity and fair play. The athletes are representing their country and so wish to show a good impression, not just for their sport but for their country.
The traits of good sportsmanship and fairness are important in all aspects of life. Treating people with respect and kindness costs little. ‘Good manners are easy carried’ is a very common saying in the English-speaking world. It simple means that showing graciousness in winning or losing and following the rules so that all have an equal field of play is the best way to treat everyone. Listen to the words of King David in Psalm 138 verse 6 ‘Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.’ David is reminding us of the greatness of the living God yet at the same time he shows respect even to the lowest of people. Just because you are the best in the world at a sport doesn’t mean you have a right to belittle someone else. David also warns us not to be proud for that is the opposite of being a good sportsmanship. Don’t forget that even when a player loses the game, he still has to display sportsmanship qualities. In that moment of loss, he can win or lose his reputation. I hope that you are displaying the marksmanship of a good sportsman.
P. Pilgrim pilgrimway101@yahoo.com
