London 2012 is upon us. After years of preparation, hype and excitement, thousands of athletes have arrived in our hometown for the Greatest Show on Earth. And what a show it is. The opening ceremony was an uplifting, dizzying, electrifying presentation of British culture at its best. After the clinical and soulless (yet awe-inspiring) Beijing ceremony, Danny Boyle gave us a show full of creativity, humor and inspiration. It wasn’t perfect, no. But what it lacked in execution it made up for tenfold in energy. It was a labor of love, and it showed.
Of course, like any big event there is huge money involved, mistakes are made, and politics can be a bit shady. But when the competition is stripped down to the athletes, the nail-biting moments, and the raw emotions, we are able to see an impressive display of the best human qualities. If there is one thing that these modern Olympics are shaping up to be, it is just that: a show of love, of inspiration, of commitment, of dedication, of friendship and team spirit.
At the same time, the Olympics are a celebration of movement and of the human body at its best. They are an ode to exercise, to sport and to training. A whole generation is watching as men and women encourage their bodies to reach its maximum, to be faster, stronger, and more agile than ever before. Seconds are shaved off World Records as Olympians demonstrate the power, strength and sheer awesomeness of the human body and mind working in full harmony.
In turn, we can hope that this will have a positive impact on those watching. Indeed, our society is increasingly sedentary: we sit at work, on the tube, and at home. Most people have developed a negative perception of movement and exercise; they associate it with pain, discomfort and hard work. When I ask my clients why they have adverse feelings towards exercise, most of them trace it back to humiliating PE classes at school. Sound familiar? So when a show like the Olympics comes to town, will it encourage people, young and old alike, to try something new, to move their bodies, and to develop better feelings towards exercise? Will it remind us all that, regardless of nationality, sexuality, gender or political discourse, we all have exactly the same bodies? I sure hope so. What do you think?
Will Pike
1st August 2012
Of course, like any big event there is huge money involved, mistakes are made, and politics can be a bit shady. But when the competition is stripped down to the athletes, the nail-biting moments, and the raw emotions, we are able to see an impressive display of the best human qualities. If there is one thing that these modern Olympics are shaping up to be, it is just that: a show of love, of inspiration, of commitment, of dedication, of friendship and team spirit.
At the same time, the Olympics are a celebration of movement and of the human body at its best. They are an ode to exercise, to sport and to training. A whole generation is watching as men and women encourage their bodies to reach its maximum, to be faster, stronger, and more agile than ever before. Seconds are shaved off World Records as Olympians demonstrate the power, strength and sheer awesomeness of the human body and mind working in full harmony.
In turn, we can hope that this will have a positive impact on those watching. Indeed, our society is increasingly sedentary: we sit at work, on the tube, and at home. Most people have developed a negative perception of movement and exercise; they associate it with pain, discomfort and hard work. When I ask my clients why they have adverse feelings towards exercise, most of them trace it back to humiliating PE classes at school. Sound familiar? So when a show like the Olympics comes to town, will it encourage people, young and old alike, to try something new, to move their bodies, and to develop better feelings towards exercise? Will it remind us all that, regardless of nationality, sexuality, gender or political discourse, we all have exactly the same bodies? I sure hope so. What do you think?
Will Pike
1st August 2012
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