Last weekend the Summer Olympic Games began in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Athletes from around the world have arrived and are competing in many different team and individual sports. Each athlete hopes to win, but more than that, they hope to show an Olympic spirit, to demonstrate good sportsmanship, and to do the best they can.

I have always been inspired by the Olympic Games. As a boy I remember the great swimmer, Mark Spitz from the USA, the gymnasts Olga Korbut from Russia and Nadia Comaneci from Romania, and many others. My sisters and brothers loved a Japanese gymnast by the name of Koji Gushiken, from the 1984 Olympics. We liked to say his name. In fact, with affection we called our sister Maria by that name. Maria was very flexible as a toddler, like a gymnast, like Koji Gushiken.

For the last 80 years the Olympics have been politicized. Adolf Hitler was the first to do so as he tried to show the world the greatness of Nazi Germany in the Olympic Games of 1936. He seemed more interested in the image Germany portrayed than the spirit of “Olympism.” Here follows of definition of the ideal of the Olympic Games:

“Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

(Olympic Charter, Fundamental principles, n. 2)

The Olympic Games have become an expensive effort for host countries to show themselves to the world in a proud manner. However, many times the effort to build stadiums and infrastructure have served to impoverish many people and enrich a few. The Games also become more of a competition between nations than between athletes and teams. We have created a burden and purpose for the Olympic Games that they will never be able to bear.

In the end, I hope and pray that the Olympic Games of 2016 will be safe, fun, and healthy. For Brazil and its people, I hope and pray that they will recover from the great, and at times, frantic efforts to meet the needs of hosting the Games.

Peace, Fr. Andy