The Olympics 2016 in Brazil are over. And again it was all about the medals. The Dutch ‘Chef de Mission’ Maurits Hendriks is very disappointed. His task is, according to himself, to motivate the athletes. But they didn’t perform as expected. Very disappointing!
What about the Olympic creed?
“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.”
In the Olympic creed it’s about being as good as you can be. All the other top athletes are doing the same. The medals are the result of a snapshot of the abilities of an athlete. The best way to prepare for an excellent performance for such a snapshot is to be excellent all the time. It’s the balance between being on their very best as athletes without risking injuries for overtaxing. French gymnast Samir Ait Said broke his leg and Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten fell and has suffered three spinal fractures and a concussion.
What the Olympic creed does take into account, and Maurits Hendriks doesn’t, is the amount of luck you need in order to win. Even if you are the best, you need luck to win. Annemiek van Vleuten was expected to win the cycling competition. She’s the best and she was calling this race the best one in her life, until the accident.
Simultaneous to the Olympics, we had lots of summer festivals with thousands of musicians. Athletes and musicians alike entertain the audience. Musicians got prepared to give their best live show ever on the dozens of festivals in the last couple of weeks. No expectations for a medal. They perform to be part of the happening during a festival, to reach a broader audience, and they get paid for it. They don’t compete for which country has the best bands.
Should athletes learn from musicians?