Nagano, Japan was a city that was largely unknown by the world until it was awarded the honor of hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics. Now it is the center of attention. For 16 days the eyes of the entire world will be focused on a single town.

We watch as athletes from across the globe take the risk of a lifetime; they compete against the best of the best in hopes that all of their practice will pay off. It often takes nothing less than perfection to place in the top three and receive the ultimate award any athlete could dream of: an Olympic metal. The moment that is spent on the podium is an honor not only for the athlete personally, but a chance for the country of their origin to be united in a sense of national pride.

For 16 days, Olympic fever runs wild. People rush home on their lunch break to find out the latest results; others spend hours mesmerized in front of their television sets. Everywhere, the Olympics become a subject of conversation, and “Did you watch (insert your favorite winter Olympic sport here)?” can be heard. I still try to catch some of the footage of my favorite athletes and events, but I am not up on every event like I was in high school. It just seems natural to keep up on what is happening.

Why do the Olympic games cause such a stir around the world? Other multi-national sporting events like the World Series draw attention of their own, but nothing in comparison to the media frenzy and cult-like following that revolves around the events in Nagano.

These games deserve our attention, as many of these athletes have spent every waking moment of their lives focused on a single goal — to perform to the very best of their ability at their given moment in the spotlight. This pressure is more than most of us could ever imagine, let alone endure. An enormous crowd to witness your success or failure live, to say nothing of the millions watching on TV, and those from your home country counting on your victory.

As we watch these athletes we hold our breath, and for an instant, we are able to imagine ourselves in their place, successfully completing the jumps and turns of a figure skating program, rushing down a luge course in record time, or scoring the winning goal in the final hockey game. Most of us are lacking the natural talent, dedication, or opportunities that have gotten these athletes that far. It is, perhaps, easier to imagine ourselves as a part of these games than other major sporting events, because the athletes are of every nationality and background imaginable, and most do not receive the million dollar contracts some other athletes do.

The Olympics bring together people that would not ordinarily have the opportunity to interact with each other, and for the duration of the games, these individuals interact with each other in a friendly manner. There are always exceptions, like the whole Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan scandal, but overall, these very different people are able to coexist in peace. Whole countries find themselves united for a moment as they all support the athletes from their nation. All of the countries competing put aside their differences and extend a sincere respect for one another.

This peaceful coexistence is what holds the attention of the world. It makes one wonder why this sort of existence is the exception and not the norm. For the time set aside for the games, individuals and entire countries put aside the differences that normally divide our planet and focus on what we all share. Instead of looking at our differences as ways to become divided among ourselves, we need to look at them as ways to expand our personal horizons.

If each person was just a carbon copy of the last, we wouldn’t find any reason to go on with our existence. If everyone was an engineering major, or if everyone was an LAS major here at Iowa State, I am sure that I would have chosen a different school. It is the diversity among races, religions, morals and ideas that have made this university what it is today.

Everyday we find ways to further divide ourselves. This division cannot be the answer. Eventually, if we continue dividing, we will end up all alone. If this division is not what we are seeking, we must focus on ways that we can learn from this diversity. The Winter Olympians are one example of a diverse group of people who are united with respect for one another.

Someday, maybe this campus and this world will wake up and realize that this shouldn’t only be something that happens every few years; it should be something that happens every day.

Laura Luiken is a sophomore in English from Webster City.