The quote in the title of this post is from a story that John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has told many times over. As the story goes (source: http://www.vancouver2010.com), when John Furlong arrived in Canada more than thirty years ago from Ireland, a customs officer offered a warm but specific greeting: “Welcome to Canada – make us better.”
Dedication, Perseverance, Courage. The Olympic Games offer us a unique opportunity to celebrate the characteristics that allow an athlete to rise above the competition, and through this they offer inspiration to every person who follows them. Although commercialism has crept into every facet of our culture, these games, at their core, are not about money or fame. They are about sacrifice and pride. They are about striving to be the best that you can be, and wanting to inspire others to do their best. Raising the flag of each country on the podium isn’t just about “see what I did”, but more “see what you can do.” We can all be better – in sport, in our actions, in life. We can all strive
Continue reading “Welcome to Canada – Make Us Better.”
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