We read the letter of August 19, "Olympics showed too much flesh" with interest, but could not help wondering if we had been watching the same games.
We found the skill, strength, agility, and courage of these young athletes inspiring! From the breath-taking floor exercises in gymnastics to the grace and elegance of the platform diving, from the flawless timing of the women's 4x100 relay to the strength and endurance of the rowers, we cheered and grinned. Each evening, the games brought new thrills, and we celebrated the triumphs and near-triumphs of the athletes from around the world. We celebrated not only their performances, but the unseen hours, weeks and years of training, dedication and discipline that had made them Olympic athletes.
This Olympics was special. NBC created a theme of "Thank you, Mom," and highlighted the sacrifices and heartache of the thousands of parents who supported their children all the way to London and the biggest sports show on earth. It was great!
The Mitchells' letter seemed to be about another event altogether. The pagan noise, pedophiles and sexualization of the games that they were so concerned about were
either absent or in the eye of the beholder. We suspect the latter.
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The ancient Greek Olympic games were performed largely in the nude. The Greeks admired, as we do, the fitness and beauty of the human body at its best. The Romans, who conquered Greece, viewed the Olympics as a pagan festival, and eventually, in AD 393, Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned the Ancient Olympics in part to institute Christianity as a state religion. Perhaps the Mitchells would like to see this history repeated.
Barbara A. Stark
Charles E. Gessert
Duluth
