In over 100 years of the Winter Olympic Games, the world has seen times of conflict and peace, division and unity. 2026 is no different. In the midst of all that faces the world today, the Olympics can provide a model for peace and unity. The Olympic Games offer an opportunity to celebrate the opposite of what we so often see in the news today: a world torn apart by division. Here are four ways the Olympics point us to something deeper than sport alone:
A welcoming spirit
This year, the Winter Olympics will be hosted by Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.
Though there is a generally consistent spirit among all Olympic hosts, there is something unique that each country and host city brings to each Olympic games. Milan’s patron, St. Ambrose, was famous for his ability to radiate love and inspire others (even St. Augustine) through his warmth and authenticity. The whole city and country will model for the world this notion of a welcoming and hospitable spirit. When athletes and their communities descend upon Milan, they will be received warmly and joyfully. Fans will gather and athletes will compete in a stage hallmarked by excellence and welcome. During the Olympics, the world will celebrate the idea that that which connects us is much stronger than that which divides us.
A model of dedication and sacrifice
These world-class athletes bring with them years of training, dedication, and experience to showcase on the world stage. This can serve as a great model for all of us on our own spiritual journeys. Pope Francis praised athletes for their dedication and sacrifice. “The spirit of sports becomes an image for the necessary sacrifices in order to grow in the virtues that are necessary for the character of a person. For a person to improve, extensive and consistent ‘training’ is necessary, and much more is needed to achieve an encounter and peace between ‘improved’ peoples!” Though athletes are born with the seeds of their gifts, they must be harvested and honed. We too must harvest and hone the seeds of our faith. This journey, like that of the Olympian, takes dedication, sacrifice, and most importantly, perseverance. As Pope Leo reminded athletes during his homily on the Jubilee of Sport this past June, “Champions are not perfectly functioning machines, but real men and women, who, when they fall, find the courage to get back on their feet.”
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The celebration of gifts
Another spiritual gift modeled during the Olympic Games is the celebration of excellence. Athletes model for us the commitment and dedication not only to harvest but also to share one’s talents. These gifts are not theirs alone — they are shared on a global stage. In speaking to the Italian Tennis Federation, Pope Francis encouraged, “…athletes have a mission to fulfill: to be capable of being effective role models, to be imitated by those who admire you.” Olympic athletes show us their unique skills so that we too may be inspired to share ours with the world. What a world we can create by celebrating the gifts of others and delighting in their success.
The value of peace
The final and most significant spiritual gift to gain from the Olympics is the modeling of peace. Athletes and fans from throughout the world will gather in one space to play and cheer together, not fueled by conflict, but bonded by that which binds. Their shared experience has the profound ability to connect people across cultures, languages, and borders. As Francis reminded us, “Every sporting event, especially those of the Olympics, where representatives of nations with histories, cultures, traditions, faiths and different values meet, can become a channel of an ideal force capable of opening new and sometimes unexpected paths in the resolution of conflicts arising from human rights violations.” In his homily on the Jubilee of Sport Pope Leo echoed the wonderful aspect of community that sports can bring when he said, “Sport, especially team sports, teaches the value of cooperating, working together and sharing.” Sports brings people together from unique and diverse backgrounds and helps them bond through celebrating the excellence of one another.
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This year’s Winter Olympics offer the world a vision of unity rooted not in sameness but in a shared humanity. For a few weeks, the world comes together not to compete for power, but to strive for excellence, to honor one another’s gifts, and to celebrate what connects us rather than what divides us. The Olympics do not solve the world’s problems, but they do remind us that peace is possible and worth pursuing. If we allow it, the spirit of the Games can challenge us to live with greater hospitality, commitment, and generosity in our own lives.
