The Olympics has been hogging the headlines since its opening ceremony on 8th August. Some athletes unfortunately, have been displaying a lack of sportmanship by being sore losers when the results are announced. There was even an article on losers whining when China wins. Is this a case of seeing green?
Incidentally, the losers are from Western countries. Perhaps their Western superiority prevents them from being open to reality. The West cannot always dominate. It is not surprising that Asian nations have worked their way up the global ladder and become powerful in their own right too. China was a power to reckon with in chronological history as well. It is not just England or America which has imperialist plans. Call me naive but if there's no acceptance of our fellow humans' achievements which give glory to us as a planet, how is peace to be attained?
A Swedish member refused to accept his bronze medal when it was presented to him. He removed it from his neck and dropped it on the ground before walking off in a huff. Thankfully, there is justice and he has been disqualified. Of course, he cannot have his medal back.
Other participants claim the judges give away points to their Chinese opponents and contribute to their gold medals. Even the USA women's gymnastics team commented on the ages of their China opponents when they lost. Asians are smaller in body size than the Europeans. Obviously, they do not know that.
The China swimmer who had won a medal was also regarded with cynicism. She was suspected of having taken drugs to enhance her performance. There have been such scandals surrounding China in the previous Games but what proof is there to say that it is the same this time round? If that is the case, the Jamaican athlete who broke both world records in the 100m and 200m races should go for a drug test too. 10 seconds for the 100m race seems virtually impossible! What about Michael Phelps who has 8 gold medals from this year's Games? My point is that there is no proof that the swimmer took drugs just as there is no proof that Phelps and the Jamaican took drugs.
A bronze medal is still a medal and gives glory to the country. What about Singapore who has not won a medal for 48 years but faithfully sends participants to each Olympic Game? I don't see us producing sour grapes. Losing should induce improvement rather than criticism out of jealousy.
Also, the Chinese female gymnast who fell off her apparatus quelled her negative reaction and resumed her routine after getting back on. She put in more effort to redeem herself after that fatal mistake. This is in contrast to the US female gymnast who let her fall affect her subconscious and thus her subsequent performances. It is obvious who shows more strength of spirit here and the age of China's gymnastics team is thus not an issue. Even China's male gymnast redeemed himself by defeating his inner demons which caused him a medal at the last Olympics, and claiming the gold medal.
Now this lack of spirit is seen between Western countries too. An American athlete was so arrogant towards a Russian athlete and in the end, she was humbled when she lost out to the latter. Also, Britain and Australia are spewing snide and spiteful comments at each other. Each side is not happy whenever the other has won a medal and this is taken to greater extremes than the normal competitiveness seen in any sport. Such sore losers.
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