Olympic lessons can change a life

Editor's note: Nancy Justis is a former competitive swimmer and collegiate sports information director. She is a partner with Justis Creative Communications.

As the world prepares for another Olympic Games in Rio, I find myself reflecting back on my youth and what competing in sports meant to me and taught me.

I was a competitive swimmer for 10 years. I certainly experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I never was good enough to make it to the Olympic level, but I did see fare success at the city and state levels, and even the national level my final year of competing during my freshman year in college.

Since sport was a huge part of my life growing up, I am an avid watcher of the Olympics on TV. Like all Americans, I cheer on the Red, White and Blue. I keep track of the medal count. There's nothing wrong with being proud of the United States athletes.

But in today's world, there are more important reasons for bringing the world together in the pool, on the water and on all other fields of competition. With the expanding fear of terrorism at home and abroad, the global spread of new viruses and the increasing economic downturns, we need to recognize how sport can contribute to our children's development — and how this development can contribute to a better understanding and tolerance of other cultures.

Many people have written about what children gain from competing in sports. Sport can change lives. Participants learn life skills that not only are of use during the race, but also are transferred to every day life. Competitors learn teamwork, discipline, self-confidence, time management, healthy living, communication skills, sportsmanship, listening skills, how to win and lose with grace — all attributes that can be of value in personal and professional relationships.

Youth sport also has aided in empowering young women and girls and helping to bring kids a glimmer of hope and success when growing up in poverty. You probably didn't know the 2012 London Games were the first Olympics where every participating country had women on their teams and women competed in every sport offered. Our own team included more women than men for the first time in history.

So this August, while watching the Parade of Nations during the opening and closing ceremonies, I will be wishing the whole world could be as focused on fair play for more than just these two weeks as these athletes proudly wear their nation's colors.

'Sport has the power to change the world,' Nelson Mandela once said. 'It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they can understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.'

l Let us know what you think by contacting Justis at njustis@cfu.net