I still believe in miracles

In 80 days, the world’s attention will be on Beijing, China, with the renewal of one of modern history’s greatest achievements in sport.

Global politics aside, there aren’t many international efforts that can truly be touted as good for humanity. The Olympic Games is such an effort, a four-year undertaking that culminates in a marvelous spectacle of sportsmanship, courage and sacrifice. As the Olympics becomes more commercial and sells out to professionalism in some of the higher profile sports, like hockey, basketball and tennis, it’s difficult not to wax nostalgic over the countless inspiring memories that were born on the Olympic stage.

I did believe in miracles as an 11-year-old watching the 1980 U.S. hockey team do the impossible and beat the unbeatable Soviet Union. That team brought tears to my eyes again in 2002 as members gathered atop a podium and lit the torch to open the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

I cheered loudly in my living room in 2000 when formerly unheralded heavyweight wrestler Rulon Gardner upset Alexander Karelin, who had dominated the sport for 13 undefeated years prior to that match in Sydney, Australia.

I admit there was a lump in my throat when the surprise final torch-bearer to open the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta was revealed to be Muhammad Ali. Even aging and shaking from Parkinson’s syndrome, when he took that torch, he was still the greatest.

The Olympics brings out the best in all of us, and it should. The principles on which the Olympic Games are based — competitive sport for sport’s sake, sportsmanship above professionalism — are important. Pride in one’s country and in the inspiring efforts of athletes from all nations is generally the overriding themes.

Adolph Hitler wanted to pervert the Olympics and use the Games as a vehicle to prove Nazi superiority. It took just one man, Jesse Owens, to maintain the true Olympic perspective for the world. Militant terrorist group Black September tried to use the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, as a platform for its evil. The group took hostages and killed 11 members of the Israeli delegation.

Today, international humanitarian groups are using the upcoming Beijing games as a platform to protest China’s politics and its oppression of Tibet. On its worldwide tour, the Olympic torch had to be guarded by SWAT teams in riot gear and rerouted.

It’s sad to see those who would use the Olympics to push a political agenda and to look on as former Olympic greats like Marion Jones, Justin Gallon and Ben Johnson are stripped of their medals for cheating. It’s also disappointing to see the expanding trend of allowing professional athletes to compete in the Olympics. When the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team was hosed out of the gold medal, it was an international event that still stirs heated debate more than 35 years later (none on the team have ever accepted their silver medals). In August, our “Dream Team” of professional players will attempt to make up for the giant egg it laid in Greece four years ago.

As long as the Olympic Games remains a place where we honor the best in sportsmanship and competition, professionalism and activism should have no place at the games. Sure, it’s wishful thinking, but if the Games has taught us anything, it’s that anyone can realize a dream. And I, for one, still believe in miracles.

Greg Johnson is managing editor for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Contact him at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.