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Sunday, July 28, 1996

Tragedy shouldn't be prerequisite to enjoy OlympicsMark Shapiro

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Before Saturday morning, my main problem with the Centennial Olympic Games was the amount of complaining emanating from Atlanta. Complaints about the heat, traffic, lines, you name it. People privileged enough to be attending the Games seemed to be unable to find anything to cheer about.

Right from the start, it began. The Opening Ceremonies, instead of being celebrated for the wonderful display of friendship and fireworks, were derided for being too commercial.

Next, it was that Atlanta was really hot (big surprise) and that traffic was backing up (another stunner).

Soon after, the critical eye turned to the events. Even Kerri Strug's gold-medal clinching vault met with criticism. One of the greatest moments in Olympic history was immediately cheapened by complaints that Strug was forced into performing the vault by people with little regard for her safety. The medals had barely been awarded when "experts" began questioning the decision-making ability of a 19-year-old adult.

At 1:27 a.m. Saturday morning the pettiness of this griping was brought into stark relief.

It's amazing how terrorism can wake people out of a stupor. At the beginning of July, I spent my first moments at Athens International Airport amazed at the lack of vigilant security. After spending three weeks in a country whose apathy towards laws and safety was astounding, I flew out via TWA two days after the tragedy of Flight 800. I must say, it's nice to be escorted down the runway by a pair of armored cars.

Now, a few days after another similar disaster I will bear witness to the aftermath. Now that the Athens Airport has been snapped out of the doldrums, so too must the naysayers in Atlanta who need to wake up and respect what they have so easily griped about.

A few days ago, it was very easy to lambaste the Olympics on a plethora of issues. It's unfortunate that it must take a tragedy to do so, but now there must be a new perspective on the quality and importance of the Games.

In 776 B.C., the ancient Greeks established the Olympic Games as both a respite from war and as a chance to celebrate the pinnacle of human athletic achievement. With the bombing serving as a wake-up call, we can try returning to these ideals.

In the face of the Centennial Park attack, cries of excess and profit lose significance and the old spirit can begin to regain lost appreciation. It's a shame that it must take a disaster to quiet the pundits, but if that's the way it must be, then so be it.

Mark Shapiro is a Summer Bruin columnist and is attending the Olympic Games.