michael-h-richardson

[michael-h-richardson]

OLYMPIAN LEGACY PARIS

For more than two centuries, the Olympic torch has led us. The torch of the Modern Games has burned brightly. Olympians have come from across the world, carrying their flags and dreams. They believed in themselves and their teams.

Now they will come to Paris in ‘24. The City of Light will be expecting them. The athletes have trained long and hard. They have been chosen from the many. They will compete in new and ancient sports.

France has reason to be proud. She was home to the founder of the Modern Games. Baron Pierre de Coubertin had a clear vision. He believed that the ancient games could be again. He brought the arts to athletics, and the Games were reborn.

The Olympians of the Modern Games respect and honor the heritage of competition.  When they raise a javelin, they know it belongs to the ancient art of throwing. They respect the javelin, once a weapon of war, now a sport fostering camaraderie, skill, appreciation of human strength and precision.

They stand silently as the teams for Pentathlon enter the stadium. The athletes who will run, leap high, throw the discus and Wrestle, trace their competition back almost 3,000 years. There is a special reverence for the memory of the equestrians and their horse and chariot races in the Hippodrome.

The Games of yesteryear drive emotion, the medalists and Olympic Champions are remembered by their nations and us all. Now there is a new generation, excited and fearful at the prospect. Can we meet expectations? Can we meet the challenges? Our families have made great sacrifices. Our schools, our coaches, our towns and villages. Our pictures are on their doors and in their hearts. They expect so much. We are told that we have achieved a great deal. We are told that to participate is the high mountain. But we dream of a medal. We dream of being an Olympic Champion.

It is hard to sleep and not to dream. It is even harder not to stare at our competitors. We rarely speak their language, but we know we share each other’s thoughts. They look strong and confident and we breathe deeply.

Our coaches have been here before. They have brought teams to the Games. They have toured the venues in Paris. They have their own challenges and hopes. They share their confidence and strength.

At the start, we watch others compete. We see judges and umpires of little patience. We watch television cameras racing to keep up.

We see observers and important visitors. Our turn will come soon and we’ll be ready.

Now we tour Paris with so many others. We learn about the ancient Games. We hear of Zeus and the early wonders. Paris is beautiful and has hosted the most Modern Games. The athletes’ arrival will be on the river Seine.

The blessings will flow from Notre Dame’s renewal. The people of France will welcome us. The vivid colors of our uniforms will dazzle. The bistros and cafes will be hospitable. The memories will be recorded in our pictures.

But from all of our memorable visits, there is a lesson. No matter the Games’ outcome and our individual score, we will always remain Olympians. For us the lesson is our responsibility. And the responsibility is to influence. Our Influence is the power to affect others. As gifted athletes, we serve a unique purpose.

As we look at the young, we realize that their purpose can be different, but as essential. They will be healers, artists, builders, teachers, farmers, writers, parents and more. And what they do to create their success will be as hard and require the same dedication as Olympians.

Someday as they look into the faces of their own children, they might well remember having met an Olympian who shared a story of striving for success.

For the rest of our lives, no matter what else we may do, we will be recognized as Olympians first. Our example of losing, falling, being injured and rising in recovery to try again, is a precious inspiration for us all.

We beg to stay the course, contribute our strength, share our dedication and influence our world. de Coubertin understood and adopted our motto 100 years ago. Now for Paris, Olympic leaders embrace unity and solidarity.

Plus vite, Plus haut, Plus fort – Ensemble Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together

John Francis Krimsky 2023 Written to honor centuries of Olympians and to seek support for Youth Sports and the future.

[michael-h-richardson]

DIVIDING US By John Krimsky Jr.

Who ties the knot, keeping us together while so many appeal to the divide?

What causes the cracks and splinters of even our closest families and friends?

Why do we fail to understand the good and proud of those we know are both?

We should shout ideas and hug our critics, but we don’t.

America’s founders warned us of the risks of our House Divided. We do not listen.

Is there a defect, a disease, a flaw of character, something with which we were born or exposed?

Can we not understand how those who differ greatly arrived at strange and painful beliefs?

It must have started when we were so young.

Where did we find our original adversaries?

I remember being separated on the playing field. Boys here, girls there. Separation created anxiety.

I knew there were many differences when my parents would fight. Their understandings were not alike.

My Mom was very smart and surrounded herself with close friends who agreed on just about everything, even when all were talking at once.

My Dad had his friends over for sports, beer, and cards.  I’m not sure what they agreed on other than local teams, but they all laughed together.

As I grew, I began to understand what guided tribal rules.

Men were in charge of everything external. They did the working, the fighting and claimed, most of the thinking.

Smiling women are gaining ground fast.

Today, our politics are becoming weapons. Super majorities eliminate democratic ideals.

Politics have embraced anger, lies, and those who create the fraud are often admired.

We can no longer trust what we see and hear.

Computer programs speak nonsense through our heroes faces.

A Picasso recently discovered is not trusted as genuine.

Do we know if we are already part of some strange computer simulation?

Enemies are weaponizing social media and destroying the minds and lives of our children.

Many tell us we are headed for dangerous times and possible extinction.

Time is wasting. We must act now.

All together now, on every computer, every phone, every device, type and send:

Save-Us-from-Ourselves dot AI.

Retired Programmer

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© Copyright 2023, Right Brain Trust, reserved.

[michael-h-richardson]

JOHN KRIMSKY JR. RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS IOC CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC AWARD

With Paris as the next Summer Olympic Games, we look forward to the Games returning to the United States in 2028 at Los Angeles. It reminds us of how important the partnership between the National Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee is in the conduct of the Games. The IOC made its award to a USOC staffer who accomplished the most for the Olympic Movement in its Centennial year of 1996.

JOHN KRIMSKY RECEIVES IOC CENTENNIAL AWARD USOC - United States Olympic Committee October 30, 1996 - John Krimsky Jr.

U.S. Olympic Committee Deputy Secretary General John Krimsky Jr. was given the International Olympic Committee's Centennial Award in recognition of the fundraising, negotiations and other outstanding work he completed on behalf of the USOC and its athletes to raise more than one billion dollars for the U.S. Olympic Movement in the past quadrennium. The award is presented to the American who accomplished the most for the Olympic Movement in 1996.

JOHN KRIMSKY JR. HONORED WITH IOC CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC AWARD Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph October 30, 1996 - john Krimsky Jr.

KRIMSKY HONORED: USOC deputy executive director John Krimsky Jr., of Colorado Springs, was given the International Olympic Committee's Centennial Olympic Award during Saturday's board meeting.

The award was given to the person who did the most outstanding work in the Olympic movement during 1996.

Krimsky, who in his role as the USOC's chief fund-raiser, has brought in more than $1 billion, was instrumental in the USOC's joint-marketing agreement with organizers of the Atlanta Olympics.

He also will serve as president of the USOC's joint marketing venture with organizers of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.