Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 19, 2008 Cheshvan 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 20:16 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Presidential blog / The beauty inherent in the Olympic Games
By Shimon Peres
Tags: Shimon Peres, Israel, Beijing 
Israel, an innovative country, cannot but applaud such aspiration for excellence as displayed at Beijing.

During my participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing, I was witness to allies and enemies putting aside their differences for a common goal, although not all followed the path of honoring that wonderful privilege.
Those who did, however, felt the thrill of striving to achieve the very best results, based upon merit and talent, hard work and competitive spirit.

The beauty inherent in the Olympic Games was epitomized by the simple truth that "anyone" from any background, could succeed - regardless of one's religion, race or color.
Advertisement
In one of the lines in my poem below, "You can be the very best on our globe", I make a clear, yet two-fold statement. Firstly, I salute each and every sportsman / woman's dedication to excellence and to the spirit of achieving the best their minds and bodies may yield. Secondly, that same line in my poem expresses my awe in the face of the organizers' immense dedication and simply impressive achievement in bringing so many players from the global field unto one, unified, perfectly organized event. It is the same organizers who had demonstrated their grasp of global economy, and who promise to rise to new heights in that sphere and in many others.

In past years, China has transformed itself into a world leader through the opening of its economy. It has demonstrated undoubted strength and grandeur, mixed with finesse and a sense for order and aesthetic touches- evident in its masterminding the Olympic Games of 2008.

For me, the Olympic Games in general and the ones orchestrated by China in particular, emphasized the potential power vested in building and maintaining global relationships and the need to take risks while simultaneously applauding the success of others.

Israel, being an innovative country which nurtures individuals to take initiative and not let opportunities pass by, cannot but applaud such aspiration for excellence.

The Wonders of the Beijing Olympics

"Birds of all feathers gather together and sing-
A hymn of hope in an Olympic nest...
Forget your borders, ignore your cages and fly free...
Reject your different nightmares and adopt one dream...
A dream of glory, of harmony and of peace...
A dream of equality for poor and rich, black and white...
A dream in which each and every one has the right to compete and to triumph...
Run and throw, shoot and swim, hit and row...
You can be the very best on our globe...
Win - do not kill; Lose - do not hate; Hope - never regret...
Return home, holding an olive branch...
Breathe fresh air and sing for the newly born, both in cradles and in nests"..
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Iran arrests blogger
Hossein Derakhshan admitted to spying for Israel, claims Iranian Web site.
Peace through sport
Jewish and Arab youngsters are finding common ground through Hand in Hand.
  1.   Pres. Peres` praise of China for the Olympics 19:29  |  Susan Ireland 24/09/08
  2.   Peres is a true statesman 20:28  |  Mark B. 24/09/08
  3.   #1 Susan Ireland`s outdated moral neo-colonialism 20:41  |  Mark B. 24/09/08
  4.   susan boast 10:21  |  ari suteja 25/09/08
  5.   What`s the point of these response messages? 08:13  |  Jon 28/09/08
  6.   What for? 20:07  |  Yakov 21/10/08
  7.   london olympics 20:11  |  mike morrison 19/11/08
 Read & React
Bradley Burston: Dividing Jerusalem, one wall at a time
Responses: 32
Peres: Obama told me he was 'very impressed' with Arab peace plan
Responses: 69
Peres speech at Oxford University disrupted by anti-Israel protesters
Responses: 97
Settler rabbi: The State of Israel is an enemy of the people
Responses: 63
Hamas: We're prepared to end cease-fire and confront Israel
Responses: 43


More Headlines
19:03 IAEA: Syrian site bombed by IAF bore features of nuclear reactor
16:27 Israel to boycott Durban II anti-racism conference
14:26 Assad: Israel never asked Syria to cut ties with Hezbollah, Iran
13:51 PA negotiator: Obama told Abbas he'd spare no effort to see Mideast peace
19:26 Israel launches Arabic YouTube channel to bypass Arab media
15:10 Livni tells GA: Israel's raison d'etre is its Jewish identity
18:55 Jewish World / Watch: Jewish American writer Jonathan Rosen on the Talmud, internet, and anorexia
19:04 Dividing Jerusalem, one wall at a time
18:43 Israel to hold talks with UN over IDF pullout from northern border town
16:39 Al Qaida No. 2: Obama guilty of betraying Muslim roots in backing Israel
10:31 Vandals hang severed pig's head outside entrance to Jewish cemetery in Germany
13:49 Peres speech at Oxford University disrupted by anti-Israel protesters
10:38 Settler rabbi: The State of Israel is an enemy of the people
10:14 Hamas: We're prepared to end cease-fire and confront Israel
12:40 Israel rebuffs call by UN Chief Ban to open Gaza crossings
12:54 Pentagon official says IAF 'very aggressive' in negotiations over fighter jet purchase
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Living in Israel Studying in English
Click & Meet our students from all around the world
Dan Boutique Jerusalem
New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online!
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Car rental in Israel
Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
and get all your money back
US CITIZENS
Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved