As the world's top athletes gather and recite the Olympic Oath, perhaps we can draw inspiration from their words:
"In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."
As we mull over those words, "in the true spirit of sportsmanship," let's also think about the Olympic motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius—Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger." The founder of the International Olympic Committee, Pierre de Coubertin, had another well-known motto for the Olympic athletes: "The most important thing is not to win but to take part!" (He borrowed the phrase from a bishop's sermon given at the 1908 Olympics.)
It's a great time to remind ourselves of the importance of good sportsmanship, even if it's on the neighborhood cul-de-sac, the Little League field, or a community team (for kids OR adults!). If you need some inspiration, check out these Top 10 Moments of Olympic Sportsmanship, the BBC's collection of inspiring personal stories, and a great story about a festival in Punjab, India that offers the community an Olympics-inspired event.
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