Bush and the Beijing Games

I would be remiss if I suggested only pragmatic and geopolitical reasons to steer clear of the Opening Ceremonies. During the years of my Olympic sojourns, I have been privileged to witness mammoth social change reflected in that parade of nations, like the former Soviet republics marching under their own flags or the reunification of the German team for the first time since 1960. And hoped-for social change, too, such as the two Koreas marching under a unification flag. If the Games were not such a symbol of hope, terrorists--from the Black September group in Munich to an anti-abortion bomber in Atlanta--would not be so anxious to destroy them.

But the Olympics have provided far more than just symbolism. The Games have launched some of the most compelling athletes in history. Reading David Maraniss's new book, "Rome 1960: The Olympics that Saved the World," reminded me of how a single Olympics gave us: Muhammad Ali, already telling anyone and everyone that he would someday be "The Greatest"; Rafer Johnson, the decathlon gold-medalist after what is still one of the most stirring athletic duels I can recall; Abebe Bikila, the Ethiopian marathon champ who ran barefoot through the streets of Rome and heralded the arrival of so many great African runners, and Wilma Rudolph, the most graceful of sprinters, who won the world's heart.

The Olympics has certainly been the leading force in trying to put women's athletics on an equal footing with men's, and there are so many great stars--from Nadia Comaneci to Mary Lou Retton, from Peggy Fleming to Sarah Hughes, from Wilma Rudolph to Jackie Joyner-Kersee, from Donna de Varona to Janet Evans--who might be have never emerged from the agate type of newspapers had it not been for the Olympic showcase. And had it not been for that same showcase, we would never have witnessed, as he lit the Olympic torch in Atlanta, the transformation of Ali from reviled troublemaker to a singularly iconic American athlete nor understood the transformation of America that the choice of Ali for that honor reflected. And we in the United States might never have heard of the great Norwegian speed skater Johan Olav Koss, who used his Olympic glory as a springboard for the Right to Play campaign, which bring sports to youth in disadvantaged areas throughout the world.

Those who wish to attach other messages to the Beijing Olympics have already had tremendous success in doing so, and I expect that will continue throughout the Games. President Bush would add nothing to any of those causes. What he can do is stand as a symbol of this nation's respect for its Olympic athletes--not just the Kobes, LeBrons, Michael Phelpses and other superstars, but for the rowers, the wrestlers, the softball players and the rest for whom Beijing looms as a singular moment of recognition. And I for one am happy to see the president go to Beijing and do just that.

© 2008