The spirit of the Olympics once painted a picture of athletes marching in proud formation, waving flags high, and eyes open wide with the awe of the moment they were a part of.
They were athletes that marched together, perhaps meeting each other for the first time, yet nonetheless held a shared feeling of accomplishment and fraternity, as if they had crossed paths many times before.
The moment, fresh and vivid, was not yet tarnished with the allure of big names and established athletes, the sponsors that endorsed them, and the media that worshiped them.
The moment, crisp and unnerving, was not yet diluted by the focus on the "stars" of a particular sport leaving the amateur participants in a secondary limelight—these true heroes that endured pain, trial, and tribulation.
Unfortunately, the Olympics have succumbed to the pressure of needing to become as marketable as ever. The Olympics have come under the pressure of the corporate influence and the need for its own competition in media market share.
The bastardization of the Olympics has already happened, yet instead of trying to preserve the heritage of the games, a ruse has been implem...
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