2012 Summer Olympics Opening Day

In many ways, training for the Olympics is like approaching recovery.   Overcoming addiction is the most difficult thing that anyone can do; training for the Olympics also requires complete dedication and commitment.  Recovery takes a good sponsor like the Olympics takes a good coach.  Recovery takes the support of your home group and friends and family; Olympic training takes the support of your team, your friends and family.  Recovery takes time for meetings, step work and service; the Olympics takes time for practice, skill development and training.   Recovery requires honesty, open-mindedness and willingness to do the things that we don’t want to do.  The Olympics requires the same things.  Recovery takes the commitment and courage to persevere through the difficult challenges of life as the Olympics requires the commitment and courage to do the same.  Both recovery and the Olympics require us to do the hardest thing ever – see ourselves as we really are – confront our fears, trust in others and do our best to win.
Five Rings

The Olympic symbol (five interlocked rings) represents the union of the five original major continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe) and the meeting of the athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. The five colors of the rings from left to right are blue, black and red across the top and yellow and green along the bottom.

Creed

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." The words of the Olympic creed are dedicated to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

Motto

The Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Braver," but is universally accepted to mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger."

Oath

The Olympic oath is a symbolic gesture of sportsmanship that traces its origins to the 1920 Olympic Games. One athlete from the host country takes an oath at Opening Ceremonies on behalf of all the athletes. The oath is "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."