29th Olympiad - the number 8

Many moons ago the first modern games commenced under the leadership and guidance of Baron Pierre De Coubertin. The revival of the Olympics brought about men competing against one another, fighting for the glory and pride and olive wreath. Today starts the 29^th Modern Olympiad in a place far, far away from Olympia, Beijing China. The opening ceremony commences at 08:08 (PM) in China on the 8^th day of the 8^th month 2008.

 

The Olympic games is the ultimate multisport event in the world. Where the best of the best compete. Where athletes have the ability to show off their talents, hard work and perseverance that they have had over the last number of years. Many of these athletes have taken between 10 and 16 years to get to this point. Many hours of hard work, planning and preparation has culminated in this point.

 

The number 8 has significance for the Chinese people however for Christians around the world it signifies new beginnings, moving from the old to the new. So at 08:08 (Chinese Time PM) on this day may we as Christians go into prayer. Prayer for the athletes

·         that will be competing at these games and becoming leaders within their countries and communities,

·         that they will be able to profess their faith and if they are none believers draw closer to God,

·         that this will be the start of new beginnings for me

·         that as Christians we are able to celebrate the life that God has given us and the talents he has blessed each one of us, especially the athletes competing.

 

May these games be a blessing to all and may we all enjoy watching the remarkable feats that these athletes will accomplish.

SB

 

Speedo vs Arena, Diana vs TYR, Nike vs Mizuno

So with a few hours to go before the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics the heat is on! Swimmers around the world have been running around to ensure they have the best suite for them to swim in at these games. This has been flared by the fact that the new Speedo LZR suite launched this year has been attributed with 50 world records swum in this suite within this year alone. Other manufacturers have been frantically moving to try and ensure their sponsored swimmers and sponsored countries have the best non-Speedo suite available to them. Other manufacturers have taken a more noble approach and allowed their personally sponsored athletes the opportunity to race in the Speedo suite if they so wish, no strings attached. These include Nike allowing its American guys to race at the US trials in Speedo suites if they felt it would give them an advantage. It also included Mizuno saying to their long time sponsored Japanese swimmer, breaststroke Olympic and World Champion king Kitojima, that he could race in the Speedo suite, which subsequently led to a world record.

 

Much deliberation and controversy has been sparked regarding the better suite. This has led to disagreements and negotiations between swimmers privately sponsored by Speedo and swimming for a national team sponsored by an opposing company such as Arena. Last week in the Newspaper it even led Roland Schoeman, South Africa’s most successful Olympian saying that if it meant winning the medal at the Olympics, and his sponsor was not able to provide the suite they have been working on (and that it provides the edge of course), he would consider forgoing his private sponsorship with them and use the Speedo LZR. However he did go on to state that he has full faith in his sponsor delivering on time.

 

It seems that we have now moved into the next era within swimming (and sport) and the technologies surrounding it. Is it the suite or is it the man that wins??? Will we ever know? Is this the changing of the guard? With athletes using prosthetic legs and swimmers using specialised core improved, streamline enhanced swim suites, the modern era grows. I wonder what Baron Pierre de Coubertain would be saying. All he knew was men competing, naked of course, to win the laurel wreath! I wonder if his heart that is buried at Olympia has gone into Artial Fibrillation.

 

So with a short time to go before the Opening and only one day to go before the start of the swimming events, I look forward to watching closely, as the drama of the swim suite unfolds at the 2008 Olympics. You know what, maybe we should just go back to the suite of late, the woollen woven one – sure none of them will be fighting over that one! So in a world of democracy and freedom of choice may the athlete with the best technology, sorry most money, sorry best training and technique be the victor!

 

SB