These major world Sports events always seem just around the corner – again and again and again. Little wonder we give so much attention to sport in Australia. And now, our focus is on London in July next year.
In all this hoo-har about Olympic Sport, in reality it comes fourth in an Olympic Games as this event is no longer simply about Sport.
Consider the following -
The Olympics is where people meet from around the world
The Olympics is a place where peoples of all nations come together, eat together, talk together, establish friendships that last a life time, build international bonds that are of lasting value and sell a global image of coming together as people belonging to the human race.
The Olympics is where national leaders meet
The Olympics is also a place where national leaders meet together. There is no special meeting where leaders sit before the media in designer chairs with the world’s media. Rather the Olympics is a bit like a State Funeral where an international statesman’s life is recognised after their dead (when it’s politically safe to say nice things about the person). Leaders meet privately, quietly and behind the scenes, where issues might be worked out quickly and without fanfare.
The Olympics is about big business
The Olympics is also about big business and making lots and lots of money. It hasn’t really dawned on anyone much, due to the fanfare of an Olympic Games, that small businesses do not fare that well when associated with the Games sites. The fees are exorbitant, the trade is minimal, the competition fierce and many a small business has lost out. But for the big players, the Olympics is a gold mine.
Then comes Sport
Then come Sport. The Olympic events. These are celebrated through the media and records are heralded, and this is the Olympic face as it should be. For the athletes of that generation, the Olympic event is remarkable, an experience never to be forgotten.
Along side of these four is Evangelism!
Christians too have celebrated the Olympics as an Olympic event provides a mass opportunity to greet people with the Salvation message of Jesus Christ. This is done on the street with various displays and plays and music and speeches. It is done through church congregations opening their homes to international visitors, it is done everywhere in the Olympic city where Christians meet and greet people.
Moreover, London will be no different.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
