Wednesday 17 August 2016

What I have learnt watching the Olympics.

What a great Olympics Team GB are having. Each morning I wake to discover yet more success for Team GB athletes in unprecedented style - even lying 2nd in the medal table above China. Amazing. Even my wife Beverley, normally ambivalent to sport on television, has been moved to tears at medal ceremonies. Strange indeed. What is it that so stirs us? What causes emotion to well up within as the flag goes up? Is it latent nationalism and pride? Or is it something else? Is it a recognition of what it takes, the fundamental essence of sporting success - sacrifice. "It makes the 5.00am starts and early nights worth it", said Adam Peaty after winning gold. "Four years of hard work", said the rowers. Sacrifice is what it takes to reach the top. Not just talent. No short-cut. Sacrifice and hard work.

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