Day Boy Sermon on Olympics

I love the Olympics: the motto, the creed and the history surrounding them reminds me of a special place you may know well. So given that the Opening Ceremony happened yesterday I thought it was appropriate to do a sermon today on the Olympics. The long journey of the Olympic Games began more than 2,700 years ago. Records of Olympic history show that the ancient Olympic Games were held in Greece as early as in 776 BC. It was then that the basis of the Olympic Movement began to evolve into a philosophy of life: exalting and combining the qualities of body, will, and mind in a balanced whole. Does that remind you of somewhere else quite special? Out of this philosophy the Olympic Ideals were born, placing noble competition, sport, peace, culture, and education at the very core of Greek civilization. Once again it reminds me of a place I know that holds these same values. In 1896 the first modern Olympic games were held in Athens where about 300 athletes competed in 9 different sports. In New Zealand in 1896 a special school was founded with 13 pupils and now has 141 students. Now these Olympics are the 30th Olympics of the modern era? Huntley this year will be having its 15th Olympiad. The Olympics brings the world together and over 14,000 athletes from 205 Olympic teams and 170 Paralympic teams compete.
Times have changed but the quest for victory, the quest for gold, has not. The Olympic Motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (faster, higher, stronger).
It is a motto for people who dare to try to break records. It is in my mind similar to a small school in New Zealand with the motto “Honos Per Ardua.” Seeking honour through hard work.

How many of you boys would like to go for the gold? Yes, it would be great, but more importantly the Olympic Creed states:
The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
The Huntley Creed of "Preparing Boys for the adventure of life" is similar. We may not all be in the first teams, or classes and we may not always win but we all aim to leave here having fought well in our academic, sporting, cultural, spiritual and social activities prepared for the next phase in our exciting lives.
Enjoy watching the Olympics and remember to reflect on the Olympic Creed and Motto.