Let the games begin

Today's opening ceremonies will usher in one of the most celebrated and controversial events of the new millennium. The Beijing Olympic Games, as IOC President Jacques Rogge has said, will provide an opportunity for the world to gain a better understanding of China, and for China's 1.3 billion people to better understand the rest of the world.

Should China have won the opportunity to host the Games? That's debatable. But I believe in the old adage "be careful what you wish for, because it may come true." China, famous for its strict and oppressive rule, has invited the world to its so-called coming out party. The awe-inspiring show, however, may not generate the intended effect, as China will be demystified before the world and ultimately held more globally accountable. That's a good thing.

In the months leading up to the Olympics, many called on world leaders to boycott the games. But to me, this is not a place for political posturing. (Imagine if Jesse Owens had not competed at the '36 games in Berlin.) The Games, and the spirit of Olympism, are dedicated to the highest ideals, set forth in the Olympic charter:

"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

The pursuit of excellence. Mutual respect and fairness. Global unity. Let those ideals be the legacy of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Olympic Uniforms Unveiled

Today, Nike unveiled the new uniforms designed for the U.S. team competing this summer in Beijing. The design sports the familiar red and contrasting light & dark blue scheme, reminiscent of those worn at the Sydney games of 2000. An additional design feature is a stylized, tattoo-inspired graphic, called "We the People," depicting symbols of America's patriotic and cultural heritage. And then there's the technology.

According to Nike, "Another innovation for the Nike Swift Suit was Aerographics; Nike’s engineered mesh system that was added at the back to increase cooling. Now the suit has a 7% drag reduction over the Nike Swift Suit for Athens, which translates to .02 seconds in the 100m. The new version is made with 100% recycled polyester yarns, fitting into Nike’s Considered design ethos. Now, Nike has combined its fastest ever Nike Swift technology with an environmentally preferred material." All I know is, they look good. All together now, "U S A! ...U S A!"

Chicago: Candidate City

With yesterday's selection by the IOC, Chicago went from being an "applicant" city to becoming a candidate city for the 2016 games. Chicago will join Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro as the final four host city candidates and observe the Beijing Olympic Games this summer. A year from now, IOC officials will visit each city, and the final selection will be made October 2, 2009.

Congratulations to one of America's greatest cities and one of the world's greatest sports destinations. As a former Chicago resident, I'm thrilled to see the city get the chance to share its charm with the world. I blogged about Chicago's bid a year ago and will keep you posted on the bid process. And in 2016, you can bet I'll be there.

Profiles in Leadership: Billy Mills

In a recent class, several of my students admitted they had not heard the story of Billy Mills (okay, all of them). Mills, who is one of my heroes, is someone every KU student should know about- not only because his story is so inspirational- but also because his story says so much about who we are and what we can accomplish.

Without going into a full biography of Billy Mills, which you can read here, I'll just offer a few of his quotations. The first is one he found in a psychology textbook when he was a student at KU. It said that "the subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between reality or imagination." It was that simple message that initiated his vision of winning an Olympic gold medal. Another quotation attributed to Mills is the following:

"Every Passion has its Destiny."

This is something to keep in mind as you develop your own goals and set your own vision. Your will to prepare will help determine your own destiny and whether or not your passion is ultimately realized.

Finally, in response to his winning the 1964 Olympic 10,000 meter gold medal (he remains the only American ever to win the event), in what many consider the greatest Olympic upset in history, Mills simply said this:

"To me it was never an upset. I got myself into great shape, I went over there to win the race, and I did it."

In other words, winning became a self-fulfilling prophecy, as Mills' vision was realized in Tokyo. If you've never seen footage of the race, you absolutely must watch it.

It's Chicago!

Today, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) selected Chicago over Los Angeles to be the U.S. entry in the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) bid process for the 2016 Olympic Games. The official bid launches September 15, 2007 and the host city will be determined in October 2009 from among the most likely candidates: Madrid, Tokyo, Rio deJaneiro, Rome, Prague and Chicago.

This is great win for a great sports city. L.A., which held the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, would have brought a new style of glitz and glamour to the games, still struggling to keep commercialism at arms length since the 84 games turned a profit and bribery scandals (linked the bid process) ensued.

Meanwhile, Chicago, known as a hardworking city- "the city that works"- with midwestern values, will bring a renewed spirit of ingenuity, integrity and sportsmanship to the games. The city's diverse, rich culture and proud tradition make it the best choice for the U.S., which will have gone 20 years since hosting the centennial games in 1996. Also, Chicago's plan for new facilities tied to urban development- including a "temporary" Olympic Stadium that will be converted to park land after the games- will help Chicago win the bid.

No South American or African city has ever hosted the games, but even though Rio may be the sentimental favorite, it will be overburdened hosting the 2014 World Cup. Meanwhile, Africa is expected to take its time presenting a solid bid for 2020, making 2016 America's best shot in years. Every American should be excited about the prospect of the Olympics coming to the heart of America.

I worked in Chicago from 1997-98 at Leo Burnett and lived just a block away from Wrigley, spending most of my summer nights with a hot dog and an Old Style in the bleachers. Despite that fact, my marathon p.r. was set in Chicago (2:46). Besides Chicago's world class sports, with the Magnificent mile, Sears tower, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, there's always something to do- and the "El" makes it so convenient to get around.

I think it's great that the world may get a chance to experience an American Olympic Games in one of its greatest cities- Chicago. You can bet I'll be there.