The Torch

Like a long-awaited birth, the time has come—
the opening of the Paris Summer Games
with the ancient relay of the Olympic Torch,
an honor carried high, passed hand to hand
in a heroic journey to ignite the fire of excellence
and the passions of athletes from around the world.

In the days that follow, some will post their fastest times.
Some will rise to their highest heights, their greatest feats.
A few will break records. Others will surprise themselves.
There will also be mistakes, heartaches, injuries, losses,
and, in between, heroes will be anointed, anthems sung.

But, for every medal winner with gold or silver or bronze,
hundreds who have trained to come will also give their all
to do what ancient competitors were meant to do—
to run alongside, to raise the bar, to increase the weight,
to inspire, to challenge, to push to the finish, to share
in the Torch’s glow, doing their very best—to compete.

by Anne McCrady

NEWLINKS: CNN, MSNBC

AUDIOLINK: SoundCloud

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