From strangers to teammates: The Olympics forges unity in many ways

Undoubtedly, the Olympics represent worldwide unity.

Every two years, sports are the reason countries put aside their differences. They join on the playing field, and sports becomes the glue between them. 

On a global scale, the world needs the Olympics to keep opposition in check with humane competition, even if it is just for two weeks. 

The games represent a sense of hope for peace. Through the Olympics and athletes' stories, we realize we’re not all so different at the end of the day. 

But let’s zoom in on a smaller scale. 

Let’s not focus on athletes. Let’s not focus on events. 

This story involves college students from America. 

Twenty-five LSU Tigers, with really no prior knowledge of each other, came together on a study abroad trip for the games. 

All from the Manship School of Mass Communication, students had some common ground to bond over right away. There was a mutual understanding and respect between the students. Each of them knew what it took to get to this moment. 

They were given two weeks to travel around France and come together to create stories. 

Yes, they were on this trip to work and complete personal assignments. But, something beautiful happened along the way. 

Day by day, they grew closer while experiencing new scenarios together. They laughed through the hard times and built resiliency together. 

Getting lost on the metros became shared funny stories. Cheering the loudest for U-S-A together at sporting events became shared funny memories.  

Most didn’t realize it at first, but what makes the Olympics so special on a large scale was happening for each student. 

They used each other’s strengths to work as a team, and like athletes in an Olympic event, each carried their own weight to create one-of-a-kind content. 

Their prize for their hard work wouldn’t be a medal. It was a grade for a class. But the journey itself was the real reward. 

Now the two-week experience is over, and each student will take core memories with them for a lifetime. 

It’s weird to think they wouldn’t have necessarily met if not for the trip. Spending 14 continuous days together will make you forget there was a time you didn’t know each other.

One question now stirs. Will their bond continue when life returns to normal? 

The ending to their story feels similar to the ending of John Hughes’ 1984 movie, “The Breakfast Club.” 

When classes start, will these students talk again? Or will they take the lessons learned on the trip and go their separate ways? 

Probably the first. Their time together was too special to last for only two weeks. 

However, no matter what happens, each individual was part of something larger than themselves. 

The bond created in such a short period of time compares to the same goal of the Olympics: Unity.

The games represent togetherness, whether it’s rival fans bonding over good competition or athletes from two fighting countries coming together. 

These students were lucky enough to see it happen for them, putting differences aside for a common goal. 

Overall, this group of 25 students were the athletes. Their three professors were the coaches. 

They were all a team, wanting to take their game to the next level. 

As one unit, this team won gold in creating something special and entirely new for the Manship School. 

Undoubtedly, the Olympics Project will represent unity for each of these members.