Beyond the Game!

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Written by Xhafer Rakipllari, Career and Skills Officer at the College of Europe, Tirana

Over 10,000 athletes completed their challenges at the Paris 2024 Olympics after three years of training, perseverance, and sacrifices. It’s not just a game!

Albania secured its first Olympic medals with two naturalized wrestlers, following 32 medals won by Albanian athletes for other countries; Kosovo continued to shine in Judo with two medals, one silver and one bronze; the USA triumphed with 126 medals (40 gold). Records belong to the youth! Quincy Wilson, just 16 years old, triumphed in the 400-meter relay; Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh, only 17, was rewarded with two gold medals. Our young women also made their mark. For Kosovo, 15-year-old swimmer Hana Beiqi competed, while for Albania, 16-year-old Kaltra Meçaj took part.

But what are some lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympics?

Lessons in Integrity from the Canadian Team
The Canadian women’s football team shocked the Olympics with their “un-Canadian” way of spying on opponents using drones. The team was penalized with 6 points, while the coach packed his bags. Despite the penalty, the Canadian women’s football team managed to qualify for the quarterfinals. This situation raised the issue of how teams/organizations and their leaders respond to such crises. Canada took responsibility, issued a public apology, and acted quickly and transparently, returning to fair play. Delay or denial would have further eroded every team’s/organization’s trust. The Canadians earned the medal of professionalism in my view: winning is not just about results but learning from mistakes and changing one’s face and presentation.

Double Standards Undermine Development
Much noise was made about the victory of boxer Imane Khelif at the Olympics. The Algerian had been excluded from the World Boxing Championship in New Delhi (2023) due to not meeting the criteria set by the International Boxing Association (IBA). However, this decision did not apply to the Olympics. The application of double standards raised questions about the integrity of the Algerian boxer and led to strong public reactions and loss of trust (in the Olympic Committee, the Games themselves). Double standards damage the reputation of organizations, erode trust in institutions/organizations, and diminish professional achievements. Without standards, we cannot expect equality, inclusivity, honesty, or development.

It’s Never Too Late to Pursue a Dream!
At the age of 58, Zhiying Zeng became one of the oldest athletes at the Olympics. Her Olympic journey began in 1970s China and culminated with qualifying with the Chilean national table tennis team earlier this year. Five decades of waiting! At 18, Zeng was one of the best table tennis players in Guangzhou, but as she was preparing for the Olympics, a rule change left her out and led her to focus on teaching. At 34, she moved to Chile where she worked for 20 years. COVID-19 led her to buy a table tennis table, rekindling her love for the game and prompting her to strive for Olympic qualification. On July 27, at the age of 58, Zhiying Zeng made her debut in Paris 2024. It’s never too late to follow your dream!

And the Medal Goes to… Simplicity!
Social media unanimously awarded shooter Yusuf Dikeç the gold medal, despite the Turk only winning silver at the Olympics. He appeared on the shooting range with one hand in his pocket and without any technological equipment. Dikeç showed everyone that goals can be achieved without sophisticated and expensive equipment, without arrogance or a host of other issues. An extraordinary lesson in personal development. Arshad Nadeemi gave Pakistan its only medal at these Olympics (gold in Javelin Throw). Without foreign coaches, multi-million-dollar sponsorship contracts, or a team following him… Above all, without ego or excuses, but with the determination of a champion, he threw the javelin 92.97 meters, breaking not only the Olympic Record but also challenging the many “wannabe stars”. He won with simplicity!

“One Piece at a Time, Son!”
I sit in front of the screen with my 10-year-old son to watch the amazing Mondo!
Armand “Mondo” Duplantis began pole vaulting out of passion in his backyard, but from 2022 at the Stockholm “Olympiastadion” to the Paris 2024 “Stade de France,” he has broken the world record ten times in pole vaulting, each time by one centimeter.

“Imagine, son, you and Chloe are building a big LEGO castle. You start with just a few pieces. It looks small, almost impossible. Then you place the guards in the tower, Chloe puts up the flags! Every time you find and place a piece, your castle becomes bigger and more complete. Over time, the pieces come together to create a magnificent castle. It’s the small, continuous efforts, with patience and perseverance, that complete the LEGO! And the cheers of joy after every small achievement! Every piece brings you closer to success, every small step counts!”


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