Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

The Olympics and the Great Fast:
A comparison of training and judging techniques

Dr. Alexander Roman alex.roman@unicorne.org

It has been a while since we've had an Olympic Games that hasn't been as controversial - and exciting - as the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Yet despite charges of corruption and scandal, unfairness and favoritism, the Olympics continue to mesmerize us. At the centre, of course, are the Olympic champions who stand in an age-old tradition that embraces both ancient Greece and . . . Christianity!

The site of the original Olympics can still be visited in Greece where I spent my honeymoon.

We were led to the centre of a field and Eleutherios, our tour guide, then asked us to look at our feet.

We stood on a very long white line. In actual fact, this was the original "Starting line" used by the Olympic racers long ago. The field is covered with toppled stone buildings, destroyed over the centuries by earthquakes and other natural disasters. Even the particular type of stone used to construct the buildings is now extinct.

The religious association with the Olympics began in the midst of the terrible wars waged by the Greek city-states against one another. A priest of pre-Christian times made the suggestion that a less bloody way of competing with one another would be to hold public sporting games where the cities could determine who was "The best!"

The idea caught on and the figure of the Olympic Champion was immortalized and romanticized for all time.

The values of hard work, persistence, struggle against all odds and determination among others inspired generations.

Even Roman Caesars who wanted to show they were more than "All talk and no action" participated in Olympic contests. It was during one such contest that the Emperor Nero declared the independence of Greece from Rome to the cheers of thousand. And another emperor who loved wrestling met his untimely end when the Roman Senate paid his opponent to kill him during a tournament.

Violence reentered sporting contests in gladiatorial combat and the early Christians became sport themselves when they were placed in arenas and were obliged to entertain thousands in life and death struggles with animals and much stronger human opponents.

St Nestor of Thessalonica was killed by order of the emperor when he challenged the murderer of his friend, St Demetrius, to combat - and defeated him. Nestor became the Christian patron saint of (amateur) wrestling ever since.

What was intended to overcome petty jealousies and very real hatred and bloodshed between cities and countries was later resurrected as a way in which the international community might relive the same purpose that originally underscored the first Olympics.

However, some observers have said that the modern Olympic games embody a type of betrayal of the ancient Olympics.

Rather than serve to quell feelings of racial and national superiority, the modern Olympics promote a kind "Rah-rah-ism" between nations to see who is "Really the best."

Some of this is unavoidable on a cultural level. It was noted that European judges had difficulty relating to the modern dance techniques employed in the skating competition, for example.

The former soviet bloc countries, including Ukraine, tended to vote as a block and even appeared, if this is true, to get a French judge on side in a prearranged "deal" to ensure that both sides received a gold medal during competition.

The ensuring issues involving Canadian skaters Salé and Pelletier and the later threats by the Russian and Korean teams to withdraw from the Olympics altogether did nothing to aid the realization of the Olympics as an opportunity to transcend the limitations of narrow nationalism.

If the Olympic ideals have been betrayed, they were not betrayed so much by the judges' bias, revealed during what were very subjective decision-making processes.

They are being betrayed, in fact, by the very essence of what the modern Olympic games have become today, a subtle form of affirming national superiority on the basis of "fastest, strongest etc."

In fact, there is much implicit racism in the way we speak of the Olympic teams today. "The Russians lack the passion that the Canadians have," is one example. We know what the commentators meant but, somewhere in there, there could be a hint pointing at a stereotype of all Russians or other groups. And we tend to see the competitors not only as good-will ambassadors for their countries, but also as somehow characterizing general physical and other "national (racial?) features" as well.

The fact that there are ethnic Russians competing on national teams other than Russia escapes many or that Michelle Kwan is not a WASP although she is an American.

The former soviet bloc countries tended to make Olympic sports into a full-time affair, sponsored by the state, to make a political statement about the superiority of communism.

The same is true of the capitalist West. And, of course, why shouldn't Canadians do well in winter sports - they practically live under snow for most of the year!

However the International Olympic Committee will sort itself out in the long term is anyone's guess.

As we approach the Great Fast, the Olympics also remind us of the spiritual parallel with the Christian life.

The New Testament often compares the Life in Christ with the Olympics. Martyrs received, in art, the same myrtle crowns as did the winners of athletic sports in the ancient world. Struggles with the flesh are compared to wrestling matches and the running of races.

The Church's liturgical prayers also praise the martyrs as spiritual athletes and the beginning of their great suffering as the "opening of the games" by Christ as the final judge of the "contest" of martyrdom, Who is ready to crown those who persevere with the crowns of victory.

The Great Fast was always a time of tremendous exertion by Christians who renewed the zeal of the early catechumens who prepared for baptism by prayer, reading, meditation, fasting and good works.

The Great Fast is a time for self-renewal that is different from any other time of the year. During this period, we are truly in "intensive training" for spiritual feats and struggle against our evil inclinations, the temptations of the world and, of course, the Old Enemy of our salvation.

To be a Christian is, in fact, to have entered a spiritual Olympics. The only way out of them is either through victory or defeat.

Unlike the Olympic athletes, we have all the spiritual "equipment" we will ever need "built into" our systems already.

Like them, we need to fine-tune that equipment to maintain our spiritual shape.

For example, we all have the power, grace and privilege to pray. We may pray at any time. The Great Fast is in place to help us train to pray ALWAYS.

Fasting is an exercise that helps us develop greater focus on the "finishing line" of our lives. It has a primary religious purpose beyond that of keeping ourselves at a good weight. Good works strengthen our love and detachment from our selves.

Unlike the Olympic Games, the Great Fast insists that everyone participate. The Great Fast is no spectator sport!

Unlike the Olympics, no points are taken off in the Great Fast when we fall, only when we don't get up.

And although Olympic athletes sometimes complain when the judges take their time adding up the scores, our waiting period may take years before we meet our Judge.

Our Judge is, as is reported, actually biased in OUR favour. He wants us to win first place and will be quite forgiving of many errors on our part.

And our Judge offers great big mansions in place of gold medals.

Until we meet our Judge, there are lots of second chances. So let's not miss the "try-outs" during the Great Fast!

And no need to be shy of large crowds. He's the only One watching us. As a matter of fact he insists we do most of our training in our own private rooms, with the door closed!

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