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ImageThe Winter Olympics finished on a high note last Sunday as the United States and Canada played for the gold medal in Men's Ice Hockey.  With less than a minute left in the third period and a one goal lead, all of Canada watched in disbelief as the United States scored the tying goal with 24 seconds left in the game. 

The tying goal forced the game into “sudden death” overtime.  In this situation, the first team to score wins.  Canada scored first and emerged as the gold medal winner defeating the United States 3-2.  Canada rejoiced at the victory.  With all the jokes and puns about the warm weather, rain, and lack of snow, Canada felt vindicated with their gold medal victory over the U.S.

It was ironic that the games ended the way they began-with a sudden death.  If you recall, just hours before the opening ceremony, a Luge racer from the Republic of Georgia was taking a practice run down the track.  As he was entering the final turn at a speed of 90 mph, he lost control of his sled and became airborne.   Seconds later, he crashed into a steel support beam and died as a result of the impact. 

Yet this unfortunate accident, the unpredictable weather, and other factors illustrate that the Olympics are not staged events.   They are not neatly choreographed and edited for a global audience.  Everything is live, and subject to change.  The athletes are real people who have invested a lifetime of training to reach their goal of participating in these games.  They, along with their families, trainers and coaches, have dedicated themselves to this one event.  And as we have seen, these athletes are willing to risk even their lives in order to compete on this global stage. 

And with the entire world watching, the athletes did not disappoint.  The world witnessed incredible performances on the ski slopes and on the ice.  Individuals demonstrated great skill, strength, grace, and above all respect for themselves and their fellow Olympians.  South Korean figure skater, Kim Yuna performed her routine to the delight of every viewer regardless of nationality.  According to press reports, the entire country of South Korea came to a halt when she skated and beat out her Japanese rival to capture the gold. 

The same world audience watched in awe as the Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette captured the bronze medal in an emotional display of courage and poise.  Earlier that week, her mother who arrived from Montreal died of a heart attack in a Vancouver hospital, before she could see her daughter as a 2010 Olympian.  When asked how she found the strength to continue, she replied, “I just went out there and did what my mother would have wanted me to do.”

Moments like these are the reasons why the nations of the world gather every four years to compete.  We watch, and we are amazed as ordinary people perform extra-ordinary feats of strength, courage, and discipline.  They endure emotional strain that few of us can imagine.  They serve as heroes, true role models, at a time when we need them more than ever. 

Although I watched less than two hours of the Olympics on television, I enjoyed them immensely.   Of all the sporting events featured at this year's Olympics, I cannot understand how Curling can be included in the games.  Nonetheless, I found myself watching several of these matches drawn in by those athletes “sweeping their brooms” in a frantic effort to move that 42 lbs stone across the ice. 

As I watched these athletes, I wondered if janitors secretly get together late at night and hold Curling matches in the hallways and corridors of schools and offices throughout the world?  I hope they do.  And that is to the point. 

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