The Olympic paradox

Issue 19: The Olympic Spirit and deeper lesson of the Games; have our brains reached capacity?; recording our audiobook; and win a free copy of 'The Power of Us'

The Olympics are in full swing. With competitors from 206 countries and an estimated audience of more than three billion, the Olympic Games provide a common experience—a shared moment of inspiration and enjoyment—for a huge swath of humanity. And fostering a sense of solidarity among the world’s peoples is exactly what the Games are meant to be about. As the International Olympic Committee puts it:

“The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised in accordance with Olympism and its values.”

Yet, the Olympics are also perhaps humanity’s most conspicuous ritual of nationalism. From the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony to the flags that drape the medalists, national pride is everywhere on display.

The first of the modern Olympic Games was held in Athens in 1896. Although people from fourteen countries attended the Games in Athens, the athletes did not compete on behalf of national teams but r…