[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you ever wondered how the enormity and uniformity of snow covered mountains dotted only by lines of black trees could suddenly burst into a riot of colours with a lesson for all ..the Olympics games in Sochi hold the answer.
Ever since the Sochi Olympics began one has been trying to catch a glimpse every now and then on television of the spectacular coverage of the events at the games.From the opening ceremony, to the clarity of images and sound, the ultra mod stadium, the sports gear of the athletes, the display of determination by them …all have a common theme, ‘perfection’.
The IOC, along with its broadcast and advertising partners, began seeking younger audiences with the introduction of short-track speedskating in 1992, and with snowboarding six years later. Eight of the 12 new events at these Games have their origins in extreme Sports. When Mike Jankowski, the head coach of the U.S. freestyle skiing and snowboarding teams, was asked why in the world his country excels at such sports he said :“I think a lot of it has to do with the mind-set, a lot of it has to do with how we grew up, where we grew up and just having sport in our life — whether it be soccer, baseball, football, something traditional, or your skatepark around the corner or the diving board with your friends, seeing how many flips you can do off it,” Jankowski said. “It’s pushing the limits a little bit and keeping it fun.”
That is what the Olympics are displaying all the athletes pushing that limit and doing so in the most disciplined manner.
To watch the athletes skate on the ice in gravity defying motions as their ice skates cut and glide on the ice arena is both fascinating and magical. And to think that all of the participants have been training for years to qualify for the event brings that much more life and power to the events. What you also realize as you watch the participants in their aero dynamic costumes is the perfection of the human body designed for almost any act the mind can conceive of …provided it is aided and not abused!!
As for the riot of colours if you watched the ski, snowboarding and the ice skating you will know what we’re trying to say here. Each uniform vied with the other not just in style but in colours of the brightest hues. But you can catch up not just with the costumes but the quality of ‘perfection’ in short supply in human life in the figure skating events.
It will leave you inspired. It did a three and half year old little boy.
