Scottish Catholic Observer

As many speak of ‘Olympic hangovers’ following the conclusion of the 2012 Games in London, faith groups have been celebrating the influence they had on athletes and visitors to the city—something they hope will be continued when the Paralympic Games begin next week.

During the Olympics, athletes were able to avail of facilities provided by the different faiths.

Christian churches provided chaplains and there was also help for the homeless schemes, peace initiatives and Liturgical celebrations during the London Games.

James Parker, the Catholic executive coordinator for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012, said that London 2012 could be called the faith games because ‘we have seen so many people witnessing to their faith.’

Perhaps one of the longest lasting images people of faith will remember from the London Olympics was Ethiopian athlete Meseret Defar displaying to cameras—and a television audience of millions—a picture of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus when she crossed the finish line first in the women’s 5000-metre race. She had carried the picture with her throughout the race.

Mr Parker highlighted the influence of the Joshua Camp, which had been termed a ‘mini World Youth Day’ as being one of the greatest successes of the Games from a faith point of view.

“Certainly from the churches’ perspective probably the greatest highlight has been something called the Joshua Camp, the international camp we held for several hundred young people from 21 countries from across the world and they met together for the last two weeks of the games itself, 13 days in total actually, and the sense of community that they have built up with one another has been a microcosmos of what has been happening in and around the athlete village,” he said.

With the Paralympics opening at the end of August, Mr Parker added that the success of the Olympic Games has further motivated the Paralympians.

“There is a real strong sense of excitement in the heart of people about the Paralympics because we know that it isn’t just extraordinary sport as the Olympics have been but it’s almost sort of super extraordinary sport if I can say that, because we know that every one of the Paralympians has in some way had to overcome their own obstacles and their own challenges in life to be able to get where they are,” he said.

The choir that performed at the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony will again be performing in connection with the Games, this time for a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the Paralympics. The Dockhead Choir will perform during the Mass of Thanksgiving at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on September 8.

“It will be a slightly different version of Jerusalem on this occasion to that sung at the opening ceremony,” Canon Maclean, Dockhead’s parish priest, who will be directing the choir, said. “However, above all the young people—and their parents— are both delighted and honoured to be taking part in this special liturgy.”

—The London 2012 Paralympic Games begin on August 29 and run until September 9.