In the last week or so so, I have read three articles: two regarding the Olympics and one that potentially is. I haven't watched much of the Olympics this time - there seems to be too many other things demanding my attention. There's a lot going on in the world and the Olympics, although ostensibly "bringing the world together", doesn't really do it for me just now.
Some of the articles I have read as above have not really made me want to watch. In fact they have left a fairly bad taste in my mouth. Firstly, there was an article about Karl Stefanovic's lack of zeal regarding Brisbane's stadium plans for the 2032 Olympics. In his words, the government's desire to keep spending under control will lead to a "disgusting" standard of facility. The second article I read was about gold medalist Ariarne Titmus' disappointment in not breaking the world record when she raced. Rather than accepting this regret as part of the ups and downs of sport, she chose to blame her performance on the standard of accommodation she has been forced to "endure" at the Olympic village. Granted, cardboard beds are probably not ideal, but given that the host country is largely footing the bill for the Olympic Village, it seems like bad manners to complain. And let's not forget, she did win the gold medal, enough to be going on with in my book.
Which brings me to the third article. It was about a 58 year old local woman (my age FYI) who, despite earning $600 a week at her job, is living in her car as she is unable to afford rent as well as feed herself etc. As we head towards the Olympics in Brisbane, one has to wonder how this circumstance will be exacerbated as local residents are displaced for the sake of high paying Olympic attendees and public money going towards building premium venues. Given that, it seems like pretty bad form to complain about the standard of your free bed when people in your own home town don't actually have a bed to complain about.
Meanwhile, Nike is hammering its most recent ad, asking the question that if a person lack's empathy, or wants to "take everything you have and never give it back" does that make me a bad person? My response to that question is an emphatic "yes, actually". Being an elite sportsperson, or hugely successful at any pursuit, for that matter, is not an excuse for being an unpleasant and ego-centric stinker. Olympians and sports people, after all, are among the privileged few who are supported by the general public to pursue their dreams. It is not okay to walk all over others to get to where you want to go even if where you want to go is the Olympics.
My point is, that although sports and even the Olympics can be a positive thing, the attitude that is evident in the articles I have mentioned above once again places winning, coming first and ultimately making money at the top of the priority list. It fits neatly into the neoliberal ideology which dictates socio-cultural priorities in the western world. But imagine, for a minute, a world where it was more important to house and feed people than to have the world's most impressive sports stadium or even break a world record. I'm sure some people reading this would think of me as one of those bleeding heart types, needing to toughen up and face reality.
Possibly, but I do dream of a nicer, friendlier, gentler world - one that doesn't push the idea of taking no prisoners for the sake of winning a gold medal. I think we need to change our perspective - to become more tolerant, understanding, empathetic and caring. I can't wave a magic wand, but I would like to suggest that all of the above shows the importance of the arts. They can hold a mirror up to society that shows us for what we truly are, and often that reflection is not very nice. Indeed, a current stoush about a sports stadium in Tasmania is a direct steal from the script of Working Dog's Utopia.
So instead of filling your head with the dog eat dog mentality of the sporting world, try changing your brain by means of some creative activity. You don't have to be good at it, win a gold medal or make something awesome. Its about changing your perspective, developing an ability to embrace shades of grey and understanding success differently.
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