I am exhausted. My eyes are sore and bloodshot and I have become estranged from family and friends. I have enormous difficulty rising from a sitting position and every few hours I emit a guttural, primeval roar. In short, I have Olympic fever.
For the past two weeks I have marvelled at the prowess of sportsmen and women from all around the world who have run, jumped, rowed, dived, sailed, shot, lifted and all the other sporting verbs to an extent mere mortals glued to the television cannot even begin to comprehend. If this was not enough, they have even invented a new verb: Olympians no longer win, they medal.
And medal they have with style, passion and sheer determination. Many of us draw inspiration from the games and Olympic champions are in high demand as politicians eager to bask in their reflected glory clamour to appear alongside the new generation of superstars. Business leaders are also keen to understand the athletes’ zeal for excellence and translate this formula for success into the corporate world. [Read more…]