Course:LLED222/Social Structures/Olympic Peace
Olympics and World Peace
When I watched Olympic games in TV with my roommate came from Malaysia, we found Korean national flag.
And I did not know Malaysian national flag to my mortification, so I asked her to tell me Malaysian national flag. While she draw it, she told me that Malaysian national flag has 14 stars and many stripes in red and blue and white colours. Further, each number of stars or colour has meaning, although, compared to Japanese national flag, it is more complicated, she could explain exactly. Next, I taught her Japanese national flag.
I thought national flags reflect each countries themselves, ideals, or features. So to know other countries' national flags connects to intercultural understandings. Further intercultural understanding connects to building global village. If I did not watch Olympic games or if Olympica were not held in Vancouver such as multicultural city, I could not know Malaysian national flag. So, olympics gave us opportunities to know other cultures, and this intercultural understanding may develop world peace.
Watching the Olympic games with people who are from other countries gives good opportunity for cultural cross understanding.
As you mentioned, the Olympic Games were very good opportunity to know other cultures. When I watched a hockey game with my Canadian roommates, I really understood how they love and proud of Canada's national sports; hockey and it was a very good opportunity for me to know it.