WINNING AT ANY COST-IS IT WORTH IT?

As we watch the Olympics and root for our country, it is always wonderful to see the best and those who do their personal best. Canada making it to number 5 from 8th in Women's Gymnastics was amazing. The little swimmer from Lithuania winning that gold for a country that does not come first. Concerns about cheating again in the pool is a reminder of the 1972 Olympics. We Canadians with our terrible Ben Johnson scandal makes us more vigilant to take ownership of cheating with drugs or doping. Besides the continued use of any drug could compromise the longevity of a person. Is it it worth it for a moment of glory to die before your time? Does anyone really want to face that consequence? There are enough events and medals to go around that can be shared by athletes of the world so many nations can be proud of their heroes. Olympics give incentive to todays' children and youth to try to excel in sports with lifelong benefits. We are told exercise has many wonderful possibilities for good health. Good clean competition is wonderful to see. May the best man or woman win in each event. But is pushing your athletes to win just a gold as a silver or bronze does not count  seem somewhat barbaric? State run programs work in some countries. However taking young children from their families in their childhood to live elsewhere denies them a chance, well to have a family. Does it give the emotional grounding needed to live as a well rounded adult? Where do you belong? To the state or to your family? We Canadians saw what such a move did to our First Nation people a couple of generations ago when young children went to residential schools. It was a blight on our history that we are still correcting. Winning is good but with the support of family, the immediate community, friends then comes the nation. I would not want to sacrifice one child for the sake of a Gold medal if it meant an adult without an identity. One moment of glory often does not account for decades of living out of the spotlight. What do you think is winning at any cost worth it?