ऑलिंपिक वर्तुळांचा गोफ Olympic Vartulancha Gof (The Weave of Olympic Rings)

लेखक ऑलिंपिक गावाकडे जाताना ध्वजस्तंभावरील मोठा ध्वज पाहतात. त्यावर पांढऱ्या पार्श्वभूमीवर पाच रंगीत वर्तुळे एकमेकांत गुंफलेली असतात - ती जगातील पाच खंडांचे प्रतीक आहेत. ध्वजावर 'सिटियस, ऑल्टियस, फॉर्टियस' म्हणजे गतिमानता, उच्चता, तेजस्विता हे ब्रीदवाक्य आहे.

As the author drives towards the Olympic village, he sees a huge flag fluttering atop a tall pole. Against a pure white background, five interlocking rings in red, yellow, blue, green and black seem like five friends holding hands, bearing witness to friendship. These five rings symbolise the five continents of the world, while the white background represents the vast expanse of space. The flag carries the Olympic motto 'Citius, Altius, Fortius' - swifter, higher, stronger - urging every athlete to strive for greater speed, height and strength. Beside the flagpole an inspiring torch burns continuously.

ऑलिंपिक सामन्यांमध्ये सुमारे पाच-सहा हजार खेळाडू भाग घेतात. प्रेक्षागारात ७०-८० हजार लोक बसू शकतात. खेळाडूंच्या निवासासाठी बांधलेल्या मोठ्या वसाहतीला 'ऑलिंपिक व्हिलेज' म्हणतात, ज्याची कल्पना १९५६ साली मेलबोर्नमध्ये मांडली गेली.

Roughly five to six thousand athletes from every nation on earth take part in the Olympics, including about two thousand women. The stadium can seat about seventy to eighty thousand spectators, with room for another twenty-five thousand to watch standing. The vast sports grounds, stadium, roads, railway lines, residential buildings and hostels for athletes, and dining halls together form an entire town, called the 'Olympic Village.' This concept originated in Melbourne in 1956, which hosted the first Olympic Village.

ऑलिंपिक सामन्यांची पहिली नोंद इ.स.पूर्व ७७६ मध्ये ग्रीसमध्ये सापडते, पण ग्रीक सत्तेच्या ऱ्हासासोबत हे सामने बंद पडले. १८९४ साली फ्रान्समध्ये भरलेल्या ऑलिंपिक काँग्रेसमध्ये फ्रेंच क्रीडातज्ज्ञ कुबर टीन यांनी या सामन्यांचे पुनरुज्जीवन केले आणि १८९६ पासून दर चार वर्षांनी हे सामने वेगवेगळ्या देशांत होऊ लागले.

The earliest recorded Olympic Games date to 776 BCE in Greek history. Victorious athletes were honoured with a garland of olive branches and given a place of honour at national festivals. Eventually, with the decline of Greek power, the Games ceased in 394 CE. Not until 1894, at an 'Olympic Congress' held in France, did the French sports scholar Baron Coubertin revive the Games. With the aim of fostering friendship between nations and healthy competition, the Games have been held every four years in different countries since 1896.

क्रीडेच्या क्षेत्रात जातिभेद, धर्मभेद नाही. अमेरिकेच्या आफ्रिकी खेळाडू जेसी ओवेन्सने १९३६ साली चार अजिंक्यपदे मिळवली. एमिल झेटोपेकने १९५२ साली धावण्यात नवीन विक्रम केले. अबेबे बिकिलाने अनवाणी पायाने मॅरेथॉन जिंकली. भारताचा ध्यानचंद हॉकीत जगप्रसिद्ध झाला.

The author notes that sport recognises no caste, religion or race - everyone is given an equal chance. Jesse Owens, an African-American athlete from the United States, won four gold medals and set new world records at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; setting aside his colour and country, the whole world admired him. Emil Zatopek of Czechoslovakia set new records in the 5,000-metre run and the marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Games, earning the nickname 'the human locomotive.' Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia won the marathon running barefoot in just two hours fifteen minutes. Fanny Blankers-Koen won gold in both the 100m and 200m in 1948, while India held onto hockey supremacy for many years, with Dhyan Chand's name renowned the world over.