For all the debates about money and nationalism, the Olympic Games never fail to show us the best in the human spirit. As another edition of the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, faded to black on Sunday, we once again saw courage, dedication, sacrifice, magnanimity, enthusiasm, generosity 鈥� many of the qualities we admire and aspire to possess. And, of course, the best athletes in the world left us awestruck by their achievements.
Islanders can even claim a bit of that glory, as Central Saanich hockey player Jamie Benn scored the winning goal as the Canadian men鈥檚 team downed their U.S. rivals on Friday to get into the finals. It was an outstanding Olympics for Benn, who also scored the winning goal against Norway in sa国际传媒鈥檚 first game.
At the other end of the emotional scale, Courtenay snowboarder Spencer O鈥橞rien was in tears after finishing 12th in slopestyle. But Canadians flooded social media to say how proud they were of her.
Our athletes, no matter where they finished in the standings, have nothing to apologize for. With their talent and determination, they earned a place in the Olympics 鈥� and they earned our respect.
The 2014 Games were dramatic entertainment and profound inspiration. Around the world 鈥� or at least the cold parts of the world 鈥� youngsters are lacing up skates or strapping on skis to emulate the athletes they have seen on television. If they did nothing else, the Olympics could prove their worth through the young lives they have changed.
It鈥檚 a safe bet that almost every competitor at the Games was once a bedazzled child, dreaming of one day standing on a starting line, ready for the performance of a lifetime. Most have only the dimmest idea of the work and sacrifice it takes to turn that dream into reality, but even for those who never reach the Olympics, the example can start them on a lifetime in sports.
Just as important as the example of athletic excellence is the personal example that Olympic fans see throughout the Games.
Two of the most memorable for Canadians this year were beacons of generosity and sacrifice.
Justin Wadsworth, the coach of the Canadian cross-country ski team, saw Russian skier Anton Gafarov fall three times in the sprint and break a ski. Wadsworth ran onto the course with one of the skis he was carrying and helped Gafarov put it on.
The Russian was too far behind to make up the lost time, but he was able to cross the finish line on skis, instead of on foot. Wadsworth didn鈥檛 hand him a medal, but did hand him his dignity.
On the speed-skating oval, sa国际传媒鈥檚 Denny Morrison was not entered in the 1,000 metres because he had fallen during Olympic qualifying in Calgary. Morrison鈥檚 friend and teammate, Gilmore Junio, stepped up in Sochi and offered Morrison his spot in the 1,000.
Morrison took the offer and won the silver medal.
It is not surprising that these two acts of selflessness stand out from the other stories of achievement and disappointment. There is something essentially selfish about striving for excellence in sports.
Although athletes proudly clutch their countries鈥� flags on the podium, the rest of the country didn鈥檛 get up at 4 a.m. for practice or suffer through rehabilitation after injury or try one more time with aching muscles. Olympians have focused all their attention on their minds, bodies and spirits for most of their lives.
When we see someone with that much inner focus reach out to help another, we see a generosity of spirit that transcends sport. They and all those who competed in Sochi can hold their heads high.
