As with everything going on in our lives today, the Tokyo Olympics has been fraught with challenges. Under the world's microscopic and persistent gaze, it's no wonder matters are exposed and exploding all over the place under all this pressure.
 |
| Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) |
Under fire to produce the most gold for their country, in a blaze, for glory or bust. When did we turn on our gladiators and favor public demand instead? For whatever sells the tickets? Hell to pay, for sure then.
Rising in graceful soaring arcs are our female athletes - flamboyant phoenixes reborn from the flames and ashes of their trials and tribulations.
With the Olympic organizers, hosts and media positioning themselves as the all powerful authorities over the games, to these competing warriors they have given their all and directed their lives for this main event. It is only sport for the watcher, not for the Olympian.
We put them on a pedestal then turn on the pressure - watching and waiting for the smallest mistake, the slightest misstep. Meanwhile the training and the trainers have become more brutal and abusive.
Where were the whistle blowers to police and watch the coaches and doctors? Even with this we placed the burden on our athletes - as if they did not have enough to contend with?
 |
| Norwegian women's handball team |
 |
| German women's gymnastics team |
Some countries dedicated resources to all the best facilities, equipment, tools and techniques to churn out the best outcome - mostly forgetting the human who would attain it for them.
Some countries gave much in support of the sport, for the hope of the glory of a win, and not enough for the exhausted and wrung out person they were squeezing the most out of.
 |
| German team opted to wear full-body suits |
 |
| hijab-wearing basketball referee, Sarah Gamal |
Watch these women and let them break us open - peeling off the old and replacing it all with their grand spirit and soulful grace. Kudos to our stellar Olympians!
May they pave the way for us to be and do better.
 |
| Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins first gold medal for the Philippines |
 |
| Skateboarder Margielyn Didal wins crowd over with no medal |
 |
| Filipina southpaw Nesthy Petecio, one win away from gold |
No comments:
Post a Comment