Posts Tagged ‘Olympics’

Do Olympic-level achievements make people happy?

Monday, August 16th, 2021

The appeal of the Olympics is that they decide who can claim the title of best in the world. They also, less gloriously, decide who can claim the title of second best in the world. Despite beating out every competitor on Earth but one, silver medalists can feel a special type of disappointment. In a Read more

Rio Olympics ‘missed opportunity’ to help Brazil’s poor

Friday, August 12th, 2016

Rio Olympics  are a “huge missed opportunity” to improve the lives of the country’s poorest, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod) has said. With all eyes on Brazil this summer for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Cafod said that the plight of Brazil’s indigenous peoples and the Amazon should be centre stage.Read more

John Lennon’s Imagine encapsulates so many modern objections to religion

Friday, August 17th, 2012

Last night, watching the Olympic closing ceremony, like millions of others , I heard a digitally remastered John Lennon singing Imagine. The song was familiar, but the words took me by surprise.  These words encapsulate so many of the modern objections to religion and faith, that it seems a good idea to present a few counter-arguments. Read more

One priest’s ministry at the London Olympic Games

Friday, August 17th, 2012

While Team Great Britain’s (and New Zealand’s) crews rowed to four gold medals at the London Olympics, a Catholic priest, who is a chaplain offering pastoral support to visitors to the Games, meditated on the parallels between the Olympic sport and the life of a Christian. “Rowing is the perfect metaphor for life,” says Father Read more

Oscar Pistorius: The Olympian without legs

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

Olympic athletes are known for their discipline, training, and hard work. Their finely toned bodies are considered the height of physical perfection. But this year’s Olympics features an athlete whose physical form looks a bit different: Oscar Pistorius, a South African runner, is a double leg amputee. Oscar Pistorius is known as the “fastest man Read more

Deacons, nuns and athlete-priests to be Olympic chaplains

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Some people are simply gifted at sport; they excel at any challenge involving a ball, a stick or a physical contest nearly as soon as they turn their hands to it. One such person is Father Geoff Hilton, a priest from Salford diocese in the north of England, who will be serving as one of Read more

Religious symbols banned from London Olympics faith badge

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Religious symbols have been banned from a “faith” badge designed for chaplains at the London Games in case they cause offence. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) asked its advisory committee of faith representatives to suggest ideas for the lapel pin, which is intended to be the lasting symbol of Read more