(This is a re-post from 2016 on occasion of the Winter Olympic 2022)

Olympic Rio 2016 is the first ever Olympic that I’ve followed to the fullest. Though I’m not fond at playing sport, watching sport games or sport-related movies is just immensely inspiring. Sport is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. It seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles and the service of the harmonious development of mankind.

It is illustrated story of incredible determination and untiring perseverance of Olympic athletics. Throwing themselves to thousands of hours of rigorous training and submitted to disciplined working regulations, there is only thing in their minds – aim for excellence in this very leading international sporting events featuring sport competitions together with hundreds of greatest athletics from all around the world. Sparkling trophies, championship medals are merely tipping points of humongous iceberg of sacrifices and efforts. I remember one dialogue from a recently seen movie “To the force” – “Winner is not the one who never fails, but the one who never quit”. God is faithful, and He has a plan for us to succeed in any situation. Luck is just for those who never give up.

Sport or life is full of unexpected surprises. This is a story of Joseph Schooling – a 21-year-old Singapore swimmer who grew up idolizing Michael Phelps as the most decorated athlete in Olympic history just beat his hero and break his time record in men’s 100 meters butterfly. This is even getting more interesting when the Baltimore Bullet had his own idol, Ian Thorpe – an Australia swimmer. Day-by-day of practice, Michael Phelps has shortened the distance and beat him in a men’s 200 meters medley in Spain. Today, like Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps lays down his arms to make room for a younger generation, Joseph Schooling of Singapore to be more specific. History is repeated. Olympic Rio 2016 draws the curtain of brilliant career of a legend but opens a new chapter to a newer potential generation. Sport/Life is where one can set for themselves real heroes and exert themselves close to their idolized models. Anyone can win as long as they have the gut to dream and take action.

Sport is a demonstration of the respect “Preserve human dignity” which is based on several fundamental principles: the respect of universal fundamental ethical principles, the preservation of human dignity and the practice of sport as a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play. We remember a very touching moment between Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand, Abbey D’Agostino of the United States of America. Two runners are at no specific relationship until they both stripped and fell into each other in a 5000 m marathon competition. When Nikki was still wincing in pain on the ground, Abbey just came over and patted on her shoulder “Come on, this is a marathon and we gotta finish it”. She then propped up her competitors and helped her to continue running. With exhausted energy, Nikki got slow down and thankfully talk to her mate “Just leave me, go on”. The 2 girls finished the race in bottom positions, but their story does and will still inspire us of sport spirit and solidarity.

A season of Olympics is now coming to an end with winners and loser, tears of joys and tears of disappointment, but what remains in us – sport lovers – is a strong spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play, and above all, the never-give-up spirit and stories of unwavering determination and unrelenting effort.