外国语学院2001级四班 邹鋆

With the winding up of the 28th Athens Olympics, we should take time to ponder over the true spirit of the Olympics. The Games began in Olympia in 776 BC. At that time only men were eligible to compete, women and slaves could not even watch, because all the participants should be without a stitch of clothing. Therefore, the ancient Olympics are only displays of masculinity, not the sports of the whole people.

After a long period of heyday, the Roman Emperor banned the ancient Olympics in AD 426. However, they were “reborn” as the modern Olympics in 1896 in Athens. That is why we regard Athens as the hometown of the modern Olympics. From then on, the centuries-old Olympics were reborn in more than 200 countries, and became fashionable in the world. The modern Olympics are so attractive that the eyes of the world are focused on them, on their demonstration, on their competition, on the constant change of the arena, on the Olympic spirit of the athlete. It is hard for us to imagine what it would be like without the Olympics.

As the world’s largest pageant of athletic skills and competitive spirit, and also the displays of nationalism and commence, the Olympics are full of connotation. The purpose of the games is the gathering of cultures to participate in athletic events as a symbol of mankind solidarity. The Olympic charter is to deepen understanding and friendship amongst nations and bring peace to the world. The Olympic motto (faster, higher, stronger) is the incarnation of human beings’ long for perfect future.

Although these traditional ideals are very commendable in today’s world, is it possible to foster such love and understanding just for two weeks every four years? To this question, many people may be laden with misgivings, but for me, it is beyond doubt.

In my view, although the duration of Olympic Games is very brief, everyone who takes part in it should give a good account of himself and display fine sportsmanship as well. In fact, all of these are hard mission. Ninety percent of achievement is perspiration. The Olympic arena is not only the source of happiness but also the abyss of suffering, because competition is full of ups and downs. Heaven always gives you both the chance to touch and taste success and the danger to face and suffer failure. Nobody can eschew the arrangement of natural laws.

However, the almighty God always favors those who are strong and perseverant. Therefore, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again; if you want to keep standing on the summit of the world for a longer while, you should be constantly improving your skill and knowledge. But that is not enough. Even if you are very cautious and conscientious for many years, you still cannot dominate the arena, which is the territory of the strongest and bravest people. The replacement of the old by the new is the general, eternal and inviolable law of the universe; the Olympic Games are as well. After several years, many spectators will die, many athletes will change their jobs, but the Olympic spirit will never die, just like the brilliance of the Temple of Athena Nike.