The journey to Olympia is just as much a pilgrimage
today as it was in ancient times. The Olympic games as we know them now
originated over 2700 years ago, with the first organized games taking place as
early as 776 BC*. Athletes from all over Greece traveled to the heart of the
Peloponnese in order to compete for the honour of becoming a member of the
Olympic elite. Foot races and wrestling matches were common place.
Did you know that, outside the main arena, there
were also feats of mental and intellectual strength? The original Olympic games
included exercising that muscle of voracious appetite, the brain. Gifted
elocutionists presented arguments of logic and reason. Athens has been a hotbed
of philosophic debate for millennia. It's not surprising that the Hellenic
world valued the sport of engaging one's mind on the same level as
exercising one's body.
In June 2012 we had the great good fortune to be
able to travel to Greece. Our stay in Olympia was memorable, although not
necessary for the reasons traditionally associated with the Olympics. Ancient
Olympia has become a tourist destination, that much is true. It feels...
different, though, than what I expected. Located in the center of the
Peloponnese, Olympia is unlike many iconic Greek locations in one important
way: the city is not located on the seaside.
While other Grecian cities revolve around the
ocean, Olympia is situated in the quiet heat, slow breezes and soft eucalyptus
leaves of the interior. One benefit to being further inland is that there is
not as much humidity. I was thankful for that. The day we toured the original
Olympic grounds, the afternoon heat clocked in at 53° Celsius.
53°! Can you imagine competing in that heat? Or even
being a spectator? As it was, we walked through the lush grounds of the
historic site on a lazy June day. The heat was not stifling first thing in the
morning, but still, it gave me the impression that a person could languish here
if they succumbed to the temptation to curl up under the leafy green branches
of the sweet smelling eucalyptus. Once you drifted away, you would enter into a
never ending nap/dream/wake cycle. I imagined the dreams that were dreamed in
this place. Hopes of athletes determined to bring honour to their home towns
and family name; inspired everyday folk who made the pilgrimage to pay tribute
to their roots and cheer for their hometown hero. I was inspired to begin dreaming my own dreams for victory in my life.
There is a path leading to the main stadium where
athletes would have entered immediately before competing in their race. Walking
this pathway was a rite of passage. Life size statues of previous Olympian
champions lined the foot path, marking the way for competitors. The statues
stood as reminders to those who came next: Your race is your own. Strive to
accomplish your personal best. Do so with honour and integrity. The Olympic
games were as much about accomplishing a moral victory as a physical one.
We had an opportunity to walk through that archway
onto the field of competition. We soaked in the history of the place, the
energy of countless races fought and won, the celebrations and tributes, the
honour awarded to participants. We sat in the shade of the ruins and listened
to the stories of the ancients, brought to life by the remnants of memory
carved from the earth, the stone.
My impression of Olympia was one of unending peace - quite a surprise compared to my expectation. I'm not certain what I expected?
A testosterone-fueled, hyper masculine overdrive of competition? The grounds we
wandered that day in June were very different. We were on hallowed ground.
There was a tangible element of the sacred in every step. I'm certain
the events of the past were electrifying beyond compare. The very nature of
sporting events has a way of bringing out the competitive edge in everyone.
Olympia, however, has left a legacy of honour, integrity and peace in its wake.
Karma Pratt is a faith-driven mom of twins, a communicator, a writer, and an encourager from way back. She offers professional writing and editing services at redraincoatcreations.com.
Footnote:
I have to admit, I’m
not a big sports fan and the only Olympic sport that really interests me is figure skating, which is not part of the summer Olympics. This year,
though, I will take an interest in the Paralympic swimming competition,
since a young man who is part of our church family will be participating. Go, Alec, go!
