IU athletes deserve support in Olympics

The Olympics began Friday, with a glittering opening ceremony and the lighting of the torch in Sydney, Australia. While the world watched, athletes represented their various nations and prepared to compete. Women celebrated 100 years of Olympic participation, as Australia's female sports heroes ran the final laps with the torch. The entire world celebrated two weeks of nations coming together for peaceful competition, leaving enmity and bitterness behind; Koreans from both the north and south marched under one flag, united.\n The Olympics make for plenty of glitz and glamour. But in the midst of that spotlight, several IU sports standouts, including junior diver Sara Reiling, track and fielder Dee Dee Nathan, assistant wrestling coach Charles Burton and former softball player Michelle Venturella stood ready to participate in the world's most prestigious athletic competition.\n They might or might not win a gold medal or even place in their respective competitions. Regardless, they are a testimony to persistence and hard work. Olympians train for hours each day, year after year, for even the chance to compete. Sometimes, even after all of that effort, the smallest accident can mean disaster. After the mental and physical struggle these athletes have endured just to be where they are, they deserve every bit of encouragement we can give.\nWe all know the Olympics are a special event; only once every four years do we watch the athletes' triumphs and defeats. But during the 2000 games, IU's own hometown heroes are playing a role in representing our nation. That means that, to a small extent, the Olympics are IU's games. Just as we would cheer for a championship basketball or football team, we need to support IU's own at the Olympics.\nTake some time to watch the games, and find other ways to support our local athletes. Let them know that after all their hard work, we're standing behind them and cheering them on.