The Olympics are not important or necessary. This was a statement from a friend as we talked about the Games in Rio. She believes they should be cancelled.
Now, I agree that there are definitely some issues with the Games and that we as a global community need to take a long hard look at the administration, cost and drug issues surrounding the Games. But tossing them away is not the answer.
The Olympics honour sports and our young athletes.
They also offers role models for our children. Many elite athletes first became excited about their sport by watching the Olympics.
Karen Magnussen was one of the greatest figure skaters of the 1970s. She won five Canadian national titles, three World Championship medals, and the 1972 Olympic silver medal. In 1973 she won three golds at the World Championships.
During a recent Olympic Games, we chatted. She said that when the Games start there is an adrenalin rush that will affect all of us. The trick, according to Magnussen, is to acknowledge that excitement.
Different children are drawn to different sports. For some, it’s like a magnet. They see a downhill race, figure skating, high jumping or soccer and it’s like a switch goes on in their heads. This is the sport for them.
According to Magnussen, one big advantage of the Olympics is that children get to see many sports and athletes in a condensed time frame. It’s the perfect time for parents to encourage their children to consider what interests them. You really do that by listening and watching their reactions. They’ll let you know what excites them.
If your child expresses an interest in a particular sport, your role is to be supportive. Let them know you are there for them. If they are truly elite athlete material, they will have the drive and ambition and be drawn to the particular sport. You will not have to push them, just support them.
But, most kids simply want to enjoy sport and that’s the real goal of introducing them to a wide range of choices. It’s not about being elite. As Magnussen says, “everything is about what you put into it.”
I also asked her about safety. Her response was that learning how to do a sport properly is the defence against injury. Coaching in all sports is not just for the competitors; it’s for all kids. When they learn how to skate (run, swim or jump, etc.) properly, they will be safer.
“There is a right way and a wrong way to do everything. Knowing how to do it properly and how to fall safely will reduce the possibility of injury.”
The Olympics may motivate your kids to get active. They’re not working to make the Canadian team, they’re working to become healthier people and to have fun.
When I speak to groups of parents I hear concerns about children who are overweight and physically unfit. But all too often, I hear about children who are just not willing to try something new, are unable to recover from mistakes or who give up too easily. Developing skills in a group under the guidance of a coach helps them learn how to keep trying and grow and develop new skills. Each time they work to learn something and finally succeed makes the next time easier, and it will translate into other areas of their life.
Our children need to learn how to work as team members. They will be team members in the workplace, in meetings, on volunteer boards or in their community. Sitting at home in front of the TV set or computer screen just doesn’t do it. By participating as a team member in a sport, they learn how to take turns, how to follow the rules, how to mentor and be mentored. They also learn how to assess their own strengths and abilities and how to partner with others who have complementary assets.
Enjoy the Olympics. Cheer on our Canadian athletes and observe your kids. That’ll enable you to help them choose the sport that’s right for them.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Différence, Who’s In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I’d Ever Have to Leave Home. Sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
