Becoming Leaders of Tomorrow

By: Atharva Vispute - Torch bearer at 2020 Olympic torch relay

“11 seconds, you've got 10 seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? YES!”

In a moment that perfectly encapsulated the Olympics, the 1980 United States Hockey Team defeated the defending champions, the Soviet Union. The upset was absolutely astonishing - a group of said amateur players had defeated one of the best-known hockey teams in history. All around the United States for the ensuing minutes, people saw themselves as Olympians, raising their hands in victory alongside the US Hockey Team.

That’s the power of the Olympics. A moment like this brought together millions of people from the United States and from around the world in a single competition - one without war, hard feelings, or violence. The Olympic Spirit is entirely about bringing people together, regardless of where they are, who they support, or who they are as individuals. The very rings of the Olympics are a manifestation of bringing together the five major landmasses of the world and everyone on them. My adventure through the Olympic Movement revealed these truths and showed me what the Olympics are truly about.

The Origin of an Olympic Journey

My journey with the Olympics began in 2018, here in Olympic City USA. I was selected from Rampart High School to join the Young Champion Ambassador program. This program brings together students from all across the city for a youth leadership program that  enriches students with the Olympic Values and teaches them about the Olympic Movement. The program focused extensively on the Olympic and Paralympic values - friendship, excellence, and respect, all of which are meant to better us as individuals. In late 2019, I was selected as the Young Champion Ambassador and announced the Mayor - I was going to be representing the United States, the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and Olympic City USA in the Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. I was to travel to Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics.

My purpose in Ancient Olympia was two-fold - to pass on the Olympic Spirit while representing the United States and to reconnect with the Olympic values and discover what the Olympics are truly about - connecting people from around the world. In March of 2020, I set course for Ancient Olympia in Greece, ready to do both of these things, and learn more about the country that was the foundation of Western Society.

Passing on the Flame

The moment it really hit me was when I watched a rehearsal of the lighting of the Olympic Flame. To be standing there, knowing that in the next two days I would be carrying on the Olympic Flame and starting the cycle of the Olympics, was a breath-taking thought.

Two days later, I was overrun with emotions that connected me with the millions of people that support the Olympic Movement. Aside from the fear of tripping while delivering the flame, to know that you have a role in passing on the flame to the next person is a humbling and unforgettable experience. As the torchbearer behind me came closer and closer, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me, and when he passed the flame onto me, I was in awe of the role that I was taking in the history. However small that role was, the Olympics had allowed me to become part of a global community - one that focuses on unity, and peaceful competition among countries of the world.

Embracing the Olympic Movement

My second goal in Ancient Olympia was to understand what the Olympic Movement is all about, and upon my arrival in Ancient Olympia, I was blown away by the sheer amount of people present for the Olympics. Despite the panic that was being caused by the COVID-19 virus, people still attended the torch lighting ceremony from around the world. One of the most significant experiences I had in Ancient Olympia was getting to meet the mayors of Sister Cities from around the world. These people had come to meet each other despite language and cultural differences - all because of the Olympics! This feeling continued as I met people from Japan, China, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Peru, the Czech Republic, Australia and more. Each of these people brought a different perspective to the world and had been united by the Olympic Movement - not an easy task when you consider the separation we sometimes feel in today’s society. Greatest of all, these people would look back on these memories, knowing that they had made some incredible friends in Greece.

This is the true power of the Olympics. It is everything the Olympics stands for - bringing people together, and bettering them through the Olympic Values. The approach of bringing together people from around the world was a primary factor in the creation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Emblem. The design uses three types of rectangles but connects them in such a way to create a beautiful circular emblem, which signifies different people maintaining their identities, but coming together in unity to find the best of humankind.

Creating an Olympic Legacy

While in Greece, I came to learn that our Olympian ancestors from nearly 3000 years ago were not awarded medals for winning in the Olympics. Instead, they were given a wreath made of olive branches. These olive wreaths were not meant to last, instead, they represented the legacy of an Olympian, who would bring fame to their city and family. The Olympics is not about medals, rather about the legacy that Olympians leave through their accomplishments.

My original purpose in Ancient Olympia was two-fold - to represent the United States, and to learn about the Olympic movement. However, one of the biggest takeaways I had was how the Olympic Movement leaves a lasting legacy upon all of us - regardless of what role we play in the world. No matter what aspect of the Olympics it is - the competition, the emblem, or the people, the Olympics leaves behind a legacy of unity and global culture. The Olympics is the epitome of what the human race can do if we set our minds to it. The Olympic movement is really about connecting people from around the globe, and showing them how to be better people. Those that choose to involve themselves in the Olympic movement begin to embody the Olympic Spirit, and live by the Olympic Values of excellence, respect, and friendship.

Every time each and every one of us passes on the Olympic values or come together above all the struggles of the world, it is not just the Olympics that are impacting us. Instead, it is all of us that impact the Olympics - we all become Olympians. Then, we will together carve the Olympic Spirit and wear the legacy of the olive wreath our ancestors once wore.

About - Atharva Vispute

Atharva attends Rampart High School, where he is currently a junior. Born and raised in Olympic City USA, he has forged a special connection with this city and has interests in hiking and skiing. Atharva is also very interested in the cultures that surround him and has picked up Indian music and instrumentation, as well as the piano and guitar.

Aside from his interests in music, he is a driven individual in athletics, his school and community. With participation in varsity tennis, student council, community service, various academic clubs and having won two state chess championships, Atharva is a very involved leader. He is a very hardworking student who has consistently been recognized for academic achievement in all subjects. His love for math and science have driven him to seek advanced classes, and an education in biology, chemistry, and eventually working in the medical field as an immunologist.

Atharva’s portfolio of exceptional leadership, motivation, and perseverance make him a complete individual, and one that hopes to make the world a better place.

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