If you are anything like me, the Olympics are the most wonderful time of the year, or year and a half to be exact. It’s two weeks when I’m glued to the TV with my phone in hand re-watching additional coverage, just to get as much Olympics in me as possible. I average 5-6 cries a day and am filled with the most amount of happiness getting to watch so many different sports.
And with the whole world watching, the Olympics become a platform to display the progress that has been made, because despite it all – sports certainly are a stage for change.
Over the past few Olympics, we’ve witnessed some major milestones – the London 2012 Games marked the first time in the history of the Olympics when every nation had female representation, as Saudi Arabia allowed women to represent their country. It also marked the first time that women and men were able to compete in all of the same sports with the introduction of women’s boxing.
This year in Pyeongchang, more milestones were reached. It was the highest representation of women on Team Canada, in the history of the Winter Olympics, as 46% of the team was made of women. Women have consistently made huge strides in summer games, as in Rio 2016 women made up 60% of the team and brought home 16 of the 22 medals.
Pyeongchang also marked the first time openly gay athletes won medals, with USA figure skater Adam Rippon winning a bronze medal and Canadian figure skater Eric Radford winning both a gold and bronze medal. Canada House was home to the Olympic Games’ second Pride House as it took up a corner of Canada House. A fitting place for a country that values inclusivity, with the message greeting visitors to Canada House reading:
“Within these walls where those with Olympic hearts come to gather, you are welcomed, accepted and respected.
This is your house no matter who you are or where you come from.
You are at home, regardless of your sex, sexual orientation, race, marital or family status, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, creed, age, colour, disability, political or religious belief.”
The first ever Pride House was started in Vancouver but was banned in Sochi during 2014. The presence was small in Pyeongchang, but it was visible – paving the way for more countries to follow suit, and maybe one day, not needing one at all.
Finally, Canada showed broadcasting networks our appreciation for females in sport, as the top four highest ratings on CBC came from figure skating and the women’s hockey finals. 5.7 million people tuned in to watch Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s gold medal ice dance final, 4.8 million tuned in for Canada vs. USA’s women’s hockey gold medal game, 4.1 million watched Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje’s ice dancing short program, and 4 million tuned in to watch Canada win gold in the team figure skating event.
So, while progress certainly is evident and showcased on the world stage through sport, I’ll leave you with my favourite Sheryl Sandberg quote:
“But knowing that things could be worse should not stop us from trying to make them better.”
Let’s keep going.
Sara
