Olympic Games and Paralympics

Resources for Olympic Games and Paralympics Prayers

Liturgy Commission 2016

Australians love their sport, and the Olympic Games are analogous, in our post-Christian national culture, to a four-yearly spiritual pilgrimage for the chosen few which is observed and vicariously enjoyed by the many. Vast amounts of money, time, resources and advertising are associated with the Games, as well as many heartwarming stories of individual and team discipline, sacrifice, striving and glory. The cultural fascination with the Games is an obvious point of connection for Christian faith-communities to use with the non-church-goers around us. We could create a simple event to which we can invite neighbours, local sporting organisations, friends and others to "pray for the Olympics." We could team it with a shared meal somewhere that a big TV screen is available, in a home, clubhouse or on church premises, where the wider group could watch some of an Olympic telecast of a featured event. We could focus it around the Olympics, or the Paralympics, or both. We could actively invite representatives from local sporting clubs and organisations, and perhaps even hold the prayer service on the premises of a local sports club or venue, rather than in a church building.

There will be both cultural and counter-cultural aspects of the connection we make with non-church-goers. With the culture, we want to affirm the blessings of being embodied human beings, capable of great efforts, self-discipline, teamwork, committed to health and fitness in honour of the God who created us. With the culture, we want to affirm that sporting competition is a much healthier way than war for nations to express their rivalry. Counter to the culture, we want to assert that winning is not everything, and that physical prowess is not the be-all and end-all of human existence. Counter to the culture, we want to insist that the health and wellbeing of all its citizens (through adequate food, clean water, education, health care and so on) are more important indicators of of a nation's vitality than the number of medals a few of its citizens may win at the Olympics.

There will be various faith-claims we want to make alongside various petitions and thanksgivings in the prayer we offer. We want to claim the victory of Christ over sin and death as the most important victory ever won, on behalf of all people. We want to insist that commitment to spiritual disciplines, to growth in the strength of our faith, and to success in our endeavours to do justice in the world are for everyone to be involved in, and are not just the task of an elite of religious professionals. We want to point out that beyond the "good" of teamwork there is the gift of community and communion, and beyond the "good" of personal achievement there is the possibility of sacrifice that gives life to others.

There are some Bible passages using sporting metaphors that could be read in a service of prayer for the Olympics. Paul, for example, uses sporting images from his own culture to highlight the importance and cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In a service designed to be accessible for non-church-goers, it is often important to read a Gospel passage as well, in order to help people meet Jesus himself and recognise his radical way to victory through humility and gentleness. Bible readings for an Olympics prayer service might be chosen from among the following:

An order of service outline, litany and prayers are available to be adapted locally.