Respecting respect

Subject: Respecting respect

What used to be called the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London has been host to thousands of cheering Brits willing their athletes on in the World Championships.
My mind went back to the Olympics when almost miraculously the UK produced more than its fair share of champions both on the track and field as well as in the cycling velodrome and on the rowing lake. Reading my blogs covering the events (wink wink nudge nudge) I was struck by the euphoria of the crowds lining the streets watching the marathon or the cyclists, the unbelievable success in the velodrome and the roar of the spectators crammed into the athletics stadium. It was all heady stuff.

The world track and field event is much more defined. Our athletes have not produced the results of 2012 with, as I write, only Mo Farah winning gold. The Americans lead the medal table with the Kenyans second and currently South Africa third. 

There was the controversy of the IAAF preventing the Botswana runner Isaac Makwala from running in the 400 metres because, against his own claim to be fit and well, he was deemed a threat to the health of the other athletes by carrying a easily transmitted virus  which was doing the rounds in the hotel he was staying in. Claim and counter claim, even a suggestion that he was being nobbled to sustain the chances of the meetings golden boy from South Africa, Wayne van Neikerk  taking both the 200 and the 400 metre titles.
The format, the introduction of each athlete, the applause and the special roar of appreciation for anyone representing the GB, the smile the wave and , depending on the stoic nature of the country an athlete is representing, not even that.
On your marks the gun goes off. All those hours of training and self denial are tested in a race which lasts sometimes under 10 seconds. The strain of disappointment the exuberance of winning is all laid out as the runners lay prone on the track gasping for air The experts begin their analysis of the why's and wherefore as we quickly take a toilet break.
A long time coming, the final championship run of Mo Farah and the final race of Usain Bolt.
Neither athlete finished their respective races as they would have wished to finish their illustrious careers. Mo Farah coming second in a thrilling 5000 metres and Usain Bolt pulling up with a pulled hamstring 60 metres short of the finishing line of the 4 x 400 metres men's relay race.
From the disappointment came a great victory as the Brits won the race in an all time third fastest time. A great finale which had me out of my seat cheering.
Sport was the winner, the athletes represent an elite which doesn't come through birth and influential parents but through hard work and a determination to win. The respect they have for each other is a wake up call to those of us who envy because we lack respect. It could be argued that having 'respect for others' is perhaps the strongest most defining, valuable characteristic mankind can have in their complex arsenal of emotions.