Commenting on the change "IOC President Bach explained the link between the change and the original motto: 'Solidarity fuels our mission to make the world a better place through sport. We can only go faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger by standing together — in solidarity.'"(1)
This is not an isolated thought in the sporting world. The rugby world cup anthem has the following lofty ambition:
"It’s the world in union
The world as one
As we climb to reach our destiny
A new age has begun". (2)
The desire for unity is good. The Bible says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). The problem causing disunity, however, runs far deeper than sport can ever fix, even though there may be both personal and social benefit from involvement in sport and physical activity (3).
Breakdown in relationships can be traced back to Genesis chapter 3. When God challenges Adam as to whether Adam had broken the one commandment that he had been given, Adam responds, "'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate'" (Genesis 3:12). Eve also tried to shift the blame and we see that disunity had come in to mar the harmony of God's perfect creation. The problem of human discord can therefore be traced back to humanity's rebellion against God; the broken relationship with God being the root cause of all other discord. All attempts at unity without dealing first with this broken relationship will only ever be superficial and temporary.
A "sporting event" during the first Christmas of WWI gives us a hint as to where the solution is going to come from. On Christmas Eve on one sector of the trenches on the Western Front "we'd been singing carols and . . . the Germans had been doing the same . . . Eventually a German said, 'Tomorrow you no shoot, we no shoot'". The following day, among other things, a football was produced. Ernie Williams, one of the soldiers present relates, "It was a proper football. But we didn't form a team, it wasn't a team game in any sense of the word. You know, it was a kickabout. Everybody was having a go." (4)
Why would Christmas be a time when a mutual truce would be agreed? Perhaps the words of the angel on that "first Christmas" give us a clue, "Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord'. . . 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'" (Luke 2:10,11,14). God had stepped into time and humanity in order that on earth there might be peace. Reflecting on this event, the ordinary man in the trench instinctively felt that the celebration of such an event should bring about a truce from fighting.
The entering into the world of the Son of God is the key to unity. 2 Corinthians 5:19 tells us that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself". The great purpose for Christ coming was that the fundamental broken relationship with God might be restored, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). But we are also told that through Christ there is the possibility of a unique unity among humanity. Ephesians 2:11-22 speaks of the greatest divide, that between Jew and Gentile, having been broken down, and Christ "Himself [being] our peace" (v.14). Galatians 3:28 goes further to describe not only unity between Jew and Gentile, but also across class and gender, "for you are all one in Christ Jesus".
Unity of God and man, and then between His followers was the great prayer of the Lord Jesus in John 17. Verses 2&3 tell us that a relationship with God – eternal life – is through Christ, and He prays that the unity of His followers be so close that it resembles the unity between God the Father and God the Son (vv.20-23). When such a unity is seen, the world in general would have to acknowledge that it could only be a work of God (v.23).
Any aim for unity is always laudable. History tells us, however, that, if it is rooted in the effort of man, it will be doomed to failure, whether the word "Together" is added to a motto or not. (Ironically even the opening ceremony of this current Olympics has been noted for its potentially divisive content! (5)). May we be encouraged to seek the unity we need with God through the "one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5) and then, once a follower of Jesus, endeavour to keep "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3) between our fellow believers that the world might see that true lasting unity can only be found in Christ.
