On the recordMarch 2, 2010
we live in a world divided. International tension, mistrust, and even war too often separate nation from nation. But every 2 years, thousands of athletes from countries all over the world come together to celebrate the human spirit. They meet in competition, arriving on the world stage from all five inhabited continents. Each of these five continents is represented by a simple, colored circle--a ring intertwined with four others to form the familiar symbol worn by every Olympic athlete. The Olympic Games are a powerful force for world unity. And this year, for the 21st Winter Olympics, the eyes of the world turned to Vancouver, Canada--just across the border we share with our good friends to the north. As always, the competition was fierce in every sport. The greatest athletes in the world tested their skills on some of the most challenging courses in history. Records were set and broken. The world witnessed many triumphs--such as the success of a young Canadian figure skater, only days after the sudden loss of her mother. We also came together in the face of great tragedy, mourning the shocking death of a young athlete from the Republic of Georgia. Such Olympic moments, both triumphant and tragic, are blind to region or nationality. They remind us of the qualities and the limitations we share in every field of human endeavor.
