Welcome to the real Olympics!

If looks could kill, we’d all be dead. There was no sportsmanship, no pats on the back, no graceful victory. Nothing but silent recriminations and a pissy attitude. The man looked like he had just sucked on a lemon. Welcome to the real Olympics.

That sour image instantly reminded me of George Orwell’s ‘take’ on the subject. “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words, it is war minus the shooting...”

So much for the honourable ideals of “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.

What fascinates me about the Olympics is this all-too-obvious juxtaposition between what people claim it stands for and what it actually does. Sure, it’s the pursuit of excellence and an international showcase of the very best that each country has to offer, in terms of athletic prowess.

Sure, there are tender stories of physical hardship, setbacks and triumph over tragedy. The stuff that rates high on the Sap-O-Metre and makes people get goose bumps and little children dream big Olympic dreams, but there’s also an ugly side to the Games that we choose to ignore, because, to acknowledge it, would force us to admit our less noble instincts.

The Olympics are also about crass nationalism; patriotism on steroids. We cheer “our” athletes so loudly for no other reason than because they’re simply not one of “them”. Let’s face it; how many of us follow speed skating or bobsled the rest of the year? Exactly. Most of us wouldn’t be able to pick out Bilodeau, Groves, or Robertson from a line-up, but all of a sudden, for this two-week period, they’ve become national heroes. The Games have had a way of making even mild-mannered Canucks, who can barely be bothered to wave a flag, become true-blue patriots foaming at the mouth. The transformation is downright fascinating!

Sure, it’s on home soil and so there are added factors to consider; our desire to be good hosts, to put on a good party, and to dazzle the world with our organization and our medal count.

But there’s an ugly side to international competition, and for as long as there have been the Olympics (and the eyes of the world on them), political protests, nationalism and controversy have made guest appearances. It's inevitable and unavoidable. Why, it's a downright Olympic tradition!

Some purists speak of the sanctity of the Olympic Games having been weakened by today's crass commercialism and doping scandals. Spare us! Cheating and bribery were so common during the ancient Olympics that statues warning against dishonesty were set up along the road to the stadium.

While some would like to believe that the Olympics provide a welcome respite from war, violence and political strife, the fact is the Olympics have always mirrored human nature; and that, for better or for worse, will always include the good, the bad and the ugly.