The torch, the athletes and now the games… The infamous Olympics really needs no introduction – it being the oldest competition around for athletes all over the world.
The original Olympic Games were first recorded in 776 BC in Olympia in Greece and these games had continued till AD 393. What we know of today – the Modern Olympics began in 1896.
And after much controversy and heartburn, the much-hyped about Beijing Olympic Games are finally here. The 26th Games which opened on Friday will bring together athletes from all around the world to compete against each other to be crowned as the final winner of the Olympics.
The Olympic Motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius" which is a Latin phrase and means "Swifter, Higher, Stronger." And the Olympic Creed says thus, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
So we welcome you to Beijing 2008 and to our little team from our Emerald Isle, which include the captain of the team Susanthika Jayasinghe winner of a Bronze at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 for women's 200 metres. The others are: E.M. Senanayake (shooting),
Anurudha Ratnayake (boxing), Thilini Jayasinghe (badminton), Nadeeka Lakmali (javelin throw) Chinthana Vidanage (weightlifting) and Mayumi Raheem and Daniel Lee (both for swimming).
We caught up with a few of our islanders on their thoughts on the Olympics and on the Sri Lankan contingent…
Malveena (14)
This is the best competition for people to show the world what they are made up of, and the talents they have however much big or small they are. It takes a lot of commitment and dedication for a person to actually take part in the Olympic games, so I guess only the very best get the chance of doing so.
The Sri Lankan team – Some of them have a great chance of winning… But when it comes to some of them, I am really not too sure because the standard of sports in Sri Lanka is not too great right now...but if our athletes really Want to win and have that goal in their minds, I guess they can!
Kasun (24)
Well, honestly, I'm not that interested in Olympics... I just the watch the opening and closing ceremonies
There was a time when the Olympic Games were all about sportsmanship and bringing honour to your country. Times have changed and so has the true meaning of the world's longest running sporting event. Now it's just a rat race to win as many gold medals as humanly (and inhumanly) possible, no matter what it takes.
I do care about them winning a medal, as they're representing my country. So, of course I want them to win in their events. But at the same time, I don't want them to tarnish our image by substance abuse and unruly conduct. I want them to do the best they can. Give it a shot, is what I say. If you win, that's great. If you don't, that's still great because you tried and did Sri Lanka proud.
Dilini (24)
I think Susanthika has a good chance of winning a medal from what I've heard. And so does Anurudha. If they can win a medal that would be great, but what matters most is participating and doing the best you can. Also, I think this would be a good experience for all the athletes, especially the two young swimmers, they can all learn from it and hopefully help take their sport forward in this country.
The Olympic Games, as a whole are very significant, because it's one of the few things that brings the world together – not in terms of fighting terrorists or climate change, but it connects people through sports and also reaches out to many different people (well, that's what it is supposed to do).
Dilsiri (26)
I am confident that Sri Lanka would make an impact in the field of Athletics and Boxing. In terms of the other sports, I do not know much, I think it might be tough for Sri Lanka to have hopes for medals in most of the other events – I could be wrong, I never expected Susanthika to come home with a Silver at the last Olympics! It just shows that with the right training, support and attitude anything is possible. I wish the team well.
And finally we spoke to Chandrishan Perera, well known sports commentator and sports personality on his views on the Sri Lankan contingent going for this year's Olympics.
"I've been working with the boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake in terms of motivation and mental conditioning. We have to understand Sri Lanka's level of competency with sports which the Olympics define with a shadow of a doubt, as it brings them against the whole world. I hope the Olympics would be a dope-free one as it a dark and dirty cloud overshadowing sports. I feel the shooter and boxer, Senanayake and Ratnayake have the best prospects."
According to him Sri Lanka has got the facilities, the weather and the country space, but you take Cuba for instance, and they have nothing, but they've been unbelievable and have won so many medals. "Even Australia has set very high standards in Olympics. We are a very sporty nation. We love our sport so for Sri Lanka the Chinese games will be a defining point as it will tell us how far we are and what needs to be done to get to that level.
There is nothing to hide, since independence we have achieved very little in terms of progress – we have won medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games but the Olympics cupboard is very very bare. I would love to dream and see Sri Lanka standing on the No. 1 stand."
In addition, he went on to add, that due to all the issues in our country sports is the ultimate definition of a nation as it gives hope to a troubled people.
Take the inclusion of Iraq, it's brilliant for humanity that they have been allowed to participate
"When Sri Lanka cricket does well it is not about Murali the Tamil boy or Mendis the Sinhalese boy, it's Sri Lanka – that's what sports does for us – it takes us beyond the conventional line – it brings our people together to stand up as a proud island nation. If I can have a toe nail in that it would be just wonderful." |
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