Light the Flame and Let It Burn

 

Those of a certain vintage can relate to many events and cultural aspects of the year 1984. For others a bit of a history lesson. The Aids virus was first identified. Apple came out with its first Macintosh personal computer. Sally Ride became the first woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Michael Jackson released his iconic album Thriller. Ghostbusters was released in movie theatres and the top TV shows included Magnum PI and Dynasty. And the Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles.

 

The 1984 Olympics were affected by the Soviet Bloc boycott. American Carl Lewis won four gold medals. Canadians relished in a best-ever result of 44 medals to finish in sixth place. But for Olympia Sports Camp historians something else came out of Los Angeles that summer and it was created by Brazilian composer Sergio Mendez who wrote the theme song for the Olympic Games.

 

The name of his song? Olympia. Yes. That song. 

 

The hero’s journey calls for the ‘vibe’ of our passion and energy to be shared as far and wide as possible. A microcosm of that takes place weekly at Olympia Sports Camp, where the opening ceremonies start it off with a level of energy that inspires, and the closing ceremonies put a bow on an amazing week of transformation for many. Some campers, those maybe in their first year witnessing this, are initially shy and reticent to involve themselves fully in the dance steps while the Olympia veterans all around them are whooping it up with abandon. I am always amazed that at the closing ceremonies a week later these same kids are confident and at ease with their ‘new normal’ and are right in there dancing with their newfound friends, perhaps friends for life. I envision some parents who have witnessed their child one Sunday and then see them transformed into an Olympian by the next Saturday wondering how on earth the camp brought this out of their child. 









The powerful songs used throughout the ceremonies whip the staff, coaches, and campers into a frenzy, and a real sense of community. Each song has a choreographed set of steps that the crowd performs at various levels of proper technique, but none lacking in the vitality of the moment. The concluding song is always Mendez’s dedication to sport in 1984, where the staff takes the spirit of the hero to a whole other level, with a climax “Big O” circle of passion that inspires the whole camp. 

 The Big O may be one of the iconic images of Olympia.

 

The hype machine that is the opening and closing ceremonies involves the energy and passion Dave Grace and Greg Rogers but, like most things at Olympia, it’s a team approach. The dance steps were created by a litany of staffers over the years, either by a crew of leaders taking on the assignment of creating dance moves to a song, or by creative staffers who come up with a song and put steps to it and convince Greg and Dave that it should be added to the catalogue of songs. At every ceremony that I get to experience I think of the legacy of so many staff people who have brought the camp to life through their passion for music and dance. I also think of those same staff reminiscing everything Olympia on the dance floor filled with Olympia people strutting the steps like old times at weddings or reunions. Like the goal of every opening and closing: Listen to the Music, hear the message, and have fun dancing!

 

 To steal a line from “Olympia” these songs must:

 

“Light the flame and let it burn”

 

 

 

 

HELP WANTED!!! 

Email responses to coachdools71@gmail.com

 

There is a chapter in “A Hero’s Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp that is called THE SONGS. It takes a village to write this chapter. Below is a list of the songs ( probably missing a few). What I’d love from readers and Olympians is to take the bat off the shoulder and share your stories about the songs and the memories they have created. Just a couple of paragraphs will bring a personal side to the very important role in the hero’s journey played by THE SONGS.  Why is your favourite song your favourite song? Any wedding or reunion stories that can be shared in a book?

 

 Email contributions to coachdools71@gmail.com. Thanks in advance. If you just want to Youtube and let the songs take you down memory road, that’s great too. Great playlist. 

 

  1. Jai Ho—Pussycat Dolls
  2. Olympia-Sergio Mendes
  3. Five Hundred Miles
  4. Sweet Caroline—Neil Diamond
  5. Olympia E-Type
  6. Waving Flag---K’Naan
  7. Holding Out For a Hero—Footloose
  8. I Believe—Yolanda Adams
  9. Jump On It—Sir Mix a Lot
  10. Build Me Up Buttercup—The Foundations
  11. Chicken Dance

 

 

The link to the blog is TuesdayswithDave.blogspot.com

This blog is about the journey of the writing of the book A Hero's Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp. The blog will contain excerpts from the book and my personal thoughts on what the place and the people that make up Olympia's journey is all about. The title comes from the great book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The blog's title is recognizing Dave Grace as Camp Director, but all content is my own.

 

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