2024 Olympics—Citius, Altius, Fortius
In our day few events draw the nations of the world together in unity and agreement. An important exception is the quadrennial modern Olympic Games. The 2024 Olympiad athletic spectacle has recently concluded. For two weeks the attention of many millions of people was riveted on the grandeur of worldwide athletic competition. The Olympic Games provided a unique opportunity to celebrate multi-dimensional athletic talents of people from nearly every geographic region on our planet. Of 195 countries on Planet Earth, 184 countries sent 10,500 athletes to Paris.
The three-word motto for the Olympic Games until 2021 was Citius, Altius, Fortius. The Latin translation of that motto is Faster, Higher, Stronger. The original motto originated with a Dominican monk who suggested the motto for athletes at a French school in 1894, two years before the world celebrated its first international Olympic Games in 1896. In 2021 the IOC decided to emend the motto, adding a fourth Latin word—communiter—meaning together. The Olympic symbol of five interlocking rings reminds residents of the world’s five major continents to work together to stage the Olympic Games.
In several places Scripture refers to dimensions of speed, height and strength. For example, in John Chapter 20, the Apostle John outran the Apostle Peter to the tomb on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. In I Kings Solomon’s temple was 30 cubits high. Many Old Testament tabernacle dimensions were measured in cubits. In terms of strength, there are multiple references to strength, both physical and spiritual: “Be strong and courageous…” (Joshua 1:9) or “The Lord is my strength and my shield…” (Psalm 28:7)
During Olympic athletic competition, several body systems are highlighted more than others, even though properly integrated organ systems are all necessary for optimal athletic performance. For example, the circulatory and respiratory systems keep oxygen supplied to body cells and remove waste products such as CO2 from body tissues during strenuous activity. Athletes’ muscular and skeletal systems must function at peak levels. While all of these systems are working together, the nervous system is sending bio-electrical signals to the brain in order that athletes are able to see and hear.
Beyond the miracle of eleven properly functioning body organ systems, we highlight other important factors: (1) Genetics—top performing world athletes are more genetically gifted (2) Conditioning—the world’s best athletes are among the best physically conditioned humans (3) Attitude—the most successful athletes believe in their own ability to perform physical and mental tasks; this demands traits such as perseverance, courage, and self-confidence.
Our science/faith blog quotes scripture passages which apply not only to Christians but also to secular individuals. The Creator of All Things is the creator of all human beings! The Creator supplies and sustains the skills of Olympic athletes regardless of their diverse national origins or religious preferences. This is an example of the theological concept of common grace: God bestows blessings on all mankind.
The just concluded Olympic Games supplied many opportunities to give glory to outstanding athletes. All living things are miracles produced by God, the Creator of life. Our Olympic athletes possess physical body systems able to achieve performances at the highest skill levels. As we watched the television broadcasts we were reminded once more of Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” We honor and respect the Olympic athletes’ achievement. Even more, the Olympic spectacle supplied us with occasions to give glory to the Creator.
