Olympic Oath

I imagine most of us have watched the Olympic Games on the television. It's really great watching the world's greatest athletes competing, isn't it?

Did you know that these athletes take an oath before they begin competition? Let me read the oath:

"We swear that we will take part in the Olympic Games in loyal competition, respecting the regulations that govern them and desirous in participating in them in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the honor of our country and for the glory of sport. "

Did you notice that the oath says nothing about winning? Of course the athletes want to win. After all, they have been training for four years or more to get ready for the games.

But the Olympic ideal is fair competition, not winning at all costs. Let's remember that ideal when we have our Aqua-Olympics and any other competitions.

Play to win. But remember that every athlete must learn to lose gracefully, without alibiing or complaining. That's the Olympic ideal in a nutshell. It's also the ideal in Scouting.