Summum Attingitur Nitendo

It’s on. The greatest, most prestigious gathering of young athletes from all over the world, congregating to compete against each other in a spirit of friendship, no matter what their colour, religion or political differences.
For the next few days, billions of people all over the world will remain glued to their television sets, all hoping that their representatives at the Games will somehow manage to come out on top of the heap and bring glory and pride to their individual countries.
We here in St. Lucia recognize that we are, in the midst of all this, a terribly tiny nation, with one of the smallest contingents at the competition in Beijing … but undoubtedly, somewhere deep down within each one of us, we are hoping and praying for the miracle that would somehow manifest itself by letting any one of our four athletes perform the impossible and somehow manage to get to one of the three levels of the victor’s podium and earning a medal … any medal.
As a matter of fact, we would rejoice if one of our people were even to qualify for the final event in any of the disciplines in which they compete.
The cost of equipping and sending an athlete to the Olympic Games is onerous, even for the larger, less-financially-restricted countries … and even more so for one our size, with our limited resources. But the reward in national pride and morale that is gained by the attainment of some degree of success at the event, makes every sacrifice worthwhile.

That is why we have to ensure that we do not approach the task of preparing whomever we choose to represent us with mediocrity, with the same laid-back, lackadaisical attitude that we are wont to undertake almost everything we do. If we want to have some real hope of shining at the Games, we have to look seriously at training and moulding our prospects from a very tender age and providing them with all the facilities they need from the moment we recognize that they may have the potential to excel in whatever sporting discipline for which they show they have some talent.
The St. Mary’s College motto: “Summum attingitur nitendo” – the top is reached by striving – should be the constant reflection of our attitude in this regard, for as a proud nation, we shall always want our young folk who go out and compete in our name to be not just participants who are there simply to make an appearance and swell the numbers, but to have a real, serious chance of bringing home the bacon.
Oh, for the day that our flag would be raised and our anthem sung on the Olympic stage in some far-off country … another national achievement to go along with others already realized!
But before the rejoicing come the dedication, commitment and hard work … and if we happen not to come away with Olympic medals this time around, let us just make sure that we redouble our efforts in the next four years – and succeed next time around.
For now, however, just sit back and enjoy the greatest sporting extravaganza this world has to offer.