That solid-gold spirit

MANILA, Philippines - The Olympics are ending in two days, and I can almost hear the collective sigh from our brethren around the world.

After all, two weeks of intensive, mind-blowing feats of athleticism would take its toll on anyone — competitors and mind-blown onlookers alike. Forget Cirque du Soleil; the greatest show on earth isn’t an extravaganza of surging music, whimsical aerialists and lush exotica. It’s about honor, glory, and the play for power decked up in the finery of competitive sport.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy myself. I got an immense kick from watching world-class athletes duke it out on television; marveling at their unbelievable prowess even as they lived out dramas more sensational than anything on Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Case(s) in point; I couldn’t help but feel for the weeping Shin Lam of South Korea after her controversial defeat in Olympic fencing, or shake a clenched fist at the Yahoo news feed announcing the exit of our very own Mark Barriga, who lost his boxing bid to a noxious referee. While China’s Li Xueying weightlifted her way to a gold medal, I was clutching a pillow over my head thinking she would injure herself any second now. And when Sa Jae-hyouk eventually did — dislocating his elbow after lifting 357 pounds — I could only gape in horror as he screamed and writhed in pain. Then there’s the inspiring figure of South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, who, despite finishing last in the 400-meter race, managed to garner the loudest cheers (from both the comfort of my home and London’s Olympic Stadium) for being the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics.

Is it any wonder why the Games have endured for so long?

Here you have all the rudiments of humanity in its rawest, most glorious form; brought to such heights by the spirit of friendly competition and the weight of entire nations’ hopes. Coupled with the watchful eye of the international community, athletes at the peak of fitness can’t help but push to be even better, faster, and stronger than they already are.

It’s a grand thing, really, and only the utterly stone-hearted can remain immune to the rush of adrenaline and overflow of emotion brought about by the Games. The roster of Olympians range from teenage prodigies, middle-aged gymnasts, to a runner with no legs, after all. That said, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard CNN extol the virtues that the Olympics fosters — “achievement of dreams” and “the interconnectedness of humanity” being among its favorite taglines.

But as much as it inspires, the idea of a unified, imagined community propagated by the Olympics is a façade that easily shatters.

To echo Partha Chatterjee’s important question, whose imagined community is it anyway?

The Olympics, for all its splendor and humanist pomp, is a severe reminder that most Third World countries don’t really stand a chance. With the playing field usually dominated by the bigwigs of Europe, America, and recently, China and South Korea, it’s a rare occurrence for smaller, less industrialized countries to actually come out on top. At this moment, I can only think of Grenada (point it out on a map, why don’t you?), whose 19-year-old Kirani James won the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s 400-meter race.

But James is the exception, rather than the rule. Besides, in the war of economies, culture, and ideology, there’s very little space for the rest of us in that community.

Today, you can look at the 2012 Olympics as this massive, planet-wide, entertainment bonanza: 2,500 musical pieces, booming amplifiers, and a whole plethora of lighting equipment? The organizers have outdone themselves, transforming the Olympics into some drawn-out reality TV show. Every activity simply must be scored with the appropriate, mood-setting music. 

Add to that an official Olympic sports drink and an official shoe, powerful brand advertising, and the marketing of national identities like so much consumer goods… truly, the Games have come a looong way from their lofty beginnings in peace, truth, and nothing but.

Does all this in any way detract from the magnificence of the Games? Most likely not. A lot of us might feel bereft once the Olympics end on Sunday, but in a good, self-satisfied way, is my guess. After all, we’ve only been basking in the greatness of the human spirit for two whole weeks.

It’s just like Shakespeare said. All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players — especially where the Olympics are concerned.