Watching and Learning from the Olympics
Paris 2024 is aspirational, inspirational and instructive viewing for young perfomers
The Olympic Games are unique. That it only happens once every four years is part of what makes it such a special event that is so eagerly anticipated. As a spectacle it offers much for everybody watching but especially for kids. Most of us have fond and vivid memories of watching a particular Olympic Games that fell at an impressionable time in our childhood. Many kids watching the action in Paris will look back on it as a memorable and even formative experience. The number of countries participating and global audience means that Paris 2024 has the power to inspire Olympic dreams for youngsters in all corners of the world. We should encourage kids to make the most of the opportunity to watch the action as it might ignite the flame for them.
The Olympic Games represent the highest stage that an athlete can perform on. For the most part, it is the pinnacle event for each of the sports that feature (the few exceptions arguably should not be part of the event but that is another story). Participating in the Olympic Games is the ultimate aspiration for any young athlete. The opportunity to watch the drama unfold and put themselves in the shoes of those competing is powerful and something that all aspiring young athletes should take advantage of.
The variety of sports in the Olympics is also beyond any other event in sport and as such it provides a showcase for the assortment of sports that are participating in the Games. For many kids, Paris 2024 is likely their first introduction to certain sports, including a number of new events that are featuring for the first time. Many viewers will have a new favourite sport to watch and many kids will be inspired to seek opportunities to try out these sports for themselves once the Games are concluded.
More than at any other time in our lives, children and teens are concerned not just with figuring out who they are now but also the person they might become. Watching the Games in Paris will prompt many to envision what they might achieve and who they might want to emulate. The various sports featured are rich with prospective heroes and role models. Seeing extraordinary athletes performing epic feats of athleticism offers plenty that they might strive to replicate. Some of these kids will be future Olympians.
The upsets and high drama that make the Olympics such compelling viewing also demonstrate to everybody watching that succeeding on the biggest stage takes not only extraordinary ability but also a great deal of character. Every athlete has a story. They have come through many trials merely to qualify and compete as an Olympian. Those who comport themselves well in the crucible of Olympic Games competition (whether they win a medal or not) exhibit admirable qualities and virtues that kids can seek to embody. Watching the drama unfold and witnessing the tribulations and intense emotions experienced by those competing offers a unique glimpse into what it takes to perform on the biggest stage.
The quadrennial cycle of the Olympic Games is another salient feature. This is a timeframe that is far beyond what young athletes are generally accustomed to. Casting their mind forwards to future Olympic Games that they might be of an age to participate in (2028, 2032, 2036…) is a mind-expanding exercise. In many cases, this is the first time that a young performer will have contemplated anything that far in the future. Committing to working towards an event that is so many years away is of course a monumental undertaking. The size and scope of the challenge is central to the appeal. The prospect of embarking on such a quest is not only inspiring but also offers lessons on planning and preparation in the pursuit of a long-term goal. Besides prompting youngsters to be more forward-thinking, extending their time horizon can help them to make better choices on day to day basis as they start to consider what might best serve their future selves.
Finally, it is illustrative to watch how the competitors’ first instinct once the contest is over is to celebrate and commiserate with their supporters in the crowd. The message here is that those participating in the big show represent not just their country but also their family and the community who have supported them along the way. This is an important realisation for an aspiring young performer. Even with the most talented individual, it takes a village to sustain the years’ long journey to get them to the big show. Watching these scenes will help kids towards the realisation that the goodwill and contribution of others is necessary to make their success possible - and might perhaps remind them to show their appreciation!