What do you think of when you hear the word “Olympics?”

What do you think of when you hear the word “Olympics?” 

What images come to your mind? 

Rings, torches, sporting events, athletes, medals, grandeur, glory, redemption…. 

Regardless of your interest, when the Olympic Games are mentioned, we think of this extraordinary event that occurs every other year in a vacuum. The reality is that the Games are a mirror reflecting back at us: current global affairs, societal changes and intercultural interaction. Just like sports aren’t “just sports,” the Olympic Games aren’t just rings, torches and medals. 

Thinking about the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, we are once again considering: 

-China’s policies on dissent, censorship and protest restrictions 

-International relations at stake 

-Diplomatic boycotts 

-The COVID-19 pandemic 

-Inclusivity of athletes 

-Environmental destruction and global impact 

-Cheating scandals Look at that list again. 

If you removed the word “Olympics” could you argue that this list could be the top news segments of the day? There is no doubt that the political, cultural and societal contexts cannot be separated from the Olympics, sports, or any form of human engagement and communication. While the Olympics may serve as an illusion to discourse, it’s not a very good one. 

So I ask again: What do you think of when you hear the word “Olympics?”