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The grand exhibition of sports was over. From 27 July’12 to 12 Aug’12, this carnival delighted almost all the people all around the world. This sports jamboree also obtained the tag of the greenest Olympics ever. For the first time, women’s boxing was included in the programme. Women made their mark on the Olympics like never before in London, the first Games ever to feature women in all 204 national teams and all 26 sports. Three of the five biggest delegations, the United States, China and Russia, brought more women athletes than men, and the women came through in a big way. US women won 29 of America’s medal table-leading 46 golds, while female competitors accounted for 20 of China’s 38. This statistics shows that women are no lesser mortals, when it comes to the world of sports. They have edged out men in academics, research, politics and now the Olympics of 2012 is the latest addition in their already decorated mantelpiece.
After 16 full days of competition, 302 Olympics titles were handed out and 46 world records were broken. More than seven million fans came out to watch Olympics event. Among 10820 athletes, some of them went home with the label of legend; Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps are popular among them. The duo proved that champions are always champions. Like force, champs also follow the Newton’s 3rd law. As setbacks come in their lives, they react strongly and come out with flying colours. Usain ‘Lightning’ Bolt was the first sprinter to defend both the 100m and 200m titles and was also part of the amazing team that broke the world record in the 4x100m relay by beating the clock in 36.84 seconds. By winning four gold and two silver medals, Michael Phelps concluded the 2012 Olympics as the most successful swimmer of the meet for the third Olympics in a row. He is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals (18gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze). It is true that champions are not supernatural: they just fight one more second when everyone else quits. Sometimes that one second of effort gives you victory.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Oscar Pistorius of South Africa
Winning a gold medal in the Olympics is one of the biggest achievements for any sportsperson. But the most important thing is not to win but to take part. Amid a sea of athletes, Oscar Pistorius, Natalia Partyka and Im Dong-Hyun were in the limelight and admiration for different reasons. Respect for this treble, who had their disabilities, but refused to use it as an excuse. Oscar Pistorius became the first amputee runner to compete at an Olympic Games. The “Blade Runner” participated in 400m and 4x400m relay race in which he qualified for the semi-finals of the 400m and the finals of relay event and finished eighth out of a field of nine. Natalia Partyka, born without a right hand and forearm, reached the last 32 of the London 2012 Olympic women’s singles event in Table Tennis. Both won. Not the Olympics medals, but our hearts.
Im Dong-Hyun is a legally blind but he set a new world record in individual and team event and scores of 699 and 2087, respectively and the captured bronze medal in team events.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Im Dong Hyun of Korea of Korea
Passions helps you enjoy the journey as much as achieving the goal. Passion is the lever that helps lift the mundane to the extraordinary, the mediocre to the excellent. This threesome had passion for their game. Oscar Pistorius said,” My mother used to tell us in the mornings,’ Carl put on your shoes, Oscar you put on your prosthetic legs’… so I grew up not really thinking I had a disability. I grew up thinking I had different shoes”. Hats off to this type of attitude.
This Olympics will create difference in many people’s life. Everybody must take inspiration from them. This trio will definitely boost the morale of handicap and disable person and become a role model too. Everybody should learn a lesson from them that it is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action. Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off. But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.
To represent our country on the world’s biggest stage is the dream of every athlete. But Liemarvin Bonevacia, Reginald de Windt, Philipine van Aanholt (Curacao, formerly Netherlands Antilles) and Guor Marial (South Sudan) were unlucky. After the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands Antilles lost its recognition by the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of Africa’s newest (54th) country, South Sudan had not formed, they competed under the Olympic Flag. Guor Marial said, “I will be wearing the Olympic uniform, but inside I will be holding the South Sudan flag in my heart. These are the people I will be representing at the Olympics.” There cannot be a better example of upholding the nation’s pride.
All of us can only but imagine the feelings of medal winning athletes when their national flag is hoisted and the bands play their national anthem for them.
This Olympics will definitely give new dimensions to an athlete’s life and also encourage youngsters to choose athletics as a profession.
Adieu, London.
