Using Olympics As a Life Lesson
The 21st Winter Olympics officially opened on Friday evening in Vancouver, British Columbia with a first class ceremony.
I have yet to attend an Olympics and it is certainly on my Bucket List. Vancouver, a sea-side city in Northwest Canada, seems like the perfect setting to hold the games. I had the privilege of visiting this international city just a couple of years ago, by my stay was oh too short. So what does the headline of this blog entry mean “Olympics as a Life Lesson?”
Let’s take a 20,000 foot view on the event itself. The Vancouver organizing committee spent years and billions of dollars to research, plan, pitch and eventually build all of the venues for these games.
Workers were hired, security plans made revamped and updated as the games got closer. I am sure administrators of the games lost a lot of sleep preparing for two weeks to showcase the city, country and the Olympic spirit.
What we cannot forget however, is that no matter how great and perfect the plans were, events and life in general rarely turn out as planned. Let me show you four brief examples about what I am speaking about as it relates to the Olympics.
1. Death of a Georgian Luger during practice run.
By now, you have certainly heard of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the 21-year-old men’s luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia who lost his life when his body jumped the track, struck a steel pole and died shortly after. Though there have not been many deaths in the Winter Olympics, yet the tragic event should remind us of a few things: a) There is risk in what these well-trained, amazing athletes make look easy b) Life is precious and we should not take it for granted. Ever. c) It never turns out how you would expect . The men’s Luge starting position on the track was moved to the women’s position and the women’s start was moved even lower.
2. Protesters
My best guess is that the organizer and the security folks knew there would be protests. However, they probably did ot know the plans in detail and this could have let to additional issues and surprises. During Friday, the protests were mainly peaceful but did turn a bit violent on Saturday. Planned? probably not.
3. Olympic Flame
Canada’s moment could not have been brighter. At the end of the opening ceremonies, you have NBA legend Steve Nash and the Great One Wayne Gretzky among other holding a small Olympic torch waiting to light the main flame. The four distinguished guests suddenly freeze on world-wide TV, waiting for the mechanical instruments to move into place. The fourth arm, as we later learned was trapped under a sliding door that would not open. Late system failures happen. Time to improvise.
4. Bad Weather
Snow one day and rain ben the next. Even if the organizers could control 1,2 and three above, there is always mother nature. No one controls mother nature. Snow had to by trucked in to several sites and worse yet, at least four events have been delayed.
The balmy, almost spring-like weather has NBC and other broadcasters going to the Vancouver weather map more often than they probably planned. One of the bright spots with the spotty weather favors USA skier Lindsey Vonn. Recently featured on the Cover of Sports Illustrated (jinx?), Vonn’s injured shin has been given a couple of extra days to heal.
Sports can be reality TV at its best and almost always, unexpected. It reminds me of the old Wide World of Sports tag The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Defeat is never supposed to result in death but as a sports administrator, you always need to plan for a crisis.
When you think about it, its easy to use the Olympics as a life lesson.
