Tomhas na Teanga

Sept/Oct 2008

Is breá liom na Cluichí Oilimpeacha. I love the Olympics. Ní bhím ag féachaint ar chleasa lúith de ghnáth, ach bím ag féachaint ar an lúthchleasaíocht sna cluichí seo gach uair. I don’t usually watch sports, but I always watch the athletics in these games. Agus bíonn mórán le féachaint iontu. And there’s always a lot to see in them Sa snámh, bhí ocht mbonn ag Michael Phelps, rud iontach ar fad. In swimming, MP had 8 medals, a truly wonderful thing. Is cuimhin liom na blianta fada ó shin nuair a rinne Mark Spitz a leithéid, agus an seacht mbonn aigesean. I remember years ago when MS did such a thing, with his 7 medals. Agus sa chispheil, fuair na Meiriceánaigh an bua i mbliana, rud nár tharla an babhta roimhe seo. And in basketball, the Americans won this year, something which didn’t happen the last time Is iomaí bonn a fuaireamar, sa ghleacaíocht, san eitpheil, sa rásaíocht agus araile. We won many medals, in gymnastics, in volley ball, in racing and so on. Sea, deirim go bhfuaireamarna iad, mar rinne na lúthchleasaithe gach a rinne siad ar son a dtíortha. Yeah, I say that we won them, because the athletes did everything they did on behalf of their countries. Sin cuid mhór den spraoi. That’s a large part of the fun. Bíonn siad an-bhródúil go bhfuil siad ina n-ionadaithe dá dtíortha, agus bímid an-bhródúil astusan. They’re always very proud that they are representatives of their countries, and we’re very proud of them.

Bhí na seónna a rinneadh roimh na cluichí agus ina ndiaidh go hiontach. The shows they had before the games and after them were wonderful. Agus bhí na foirgnimh nua a tógadh le haghaidh na gcluichí thar barr ar fad. And the new buildings that were put up for the games were terrific. Chaith na Sínigh mórán airgid ar na cluichí seo. The Chinese spent a lot of money on these games. Is iontach an méid daoine a oibríonn orthu, mar óglaigh, an chuid is mó díobh. It’s amazing the number of people who work on them, as volunteers, for the most part. Bhí dhá chéad cúig tír ag glacadh páirte sna cluichí seo, breis is deich míle iomaitheoirí. There were 205 countries taking part in these games, more than 10,000 competitors. Fuair Éire trí bhonn, ceann airgead (Kenny Egan) agus dhá cheann cré-umha (Paddy Barnes agus Darren Sutherland), sa dornálaíocht. Ireland won three medals, one silver and two bronze, in boxing. Ní bhfuair siad aon bhonn óir. They didn’t get any gold medals. Fuair an tSín an méid is mó bonn óir, agus fuair na Stáit Aontaithe an méid is mó san iomlán. China got the most gold medals, and the United States got the most in all. Dar ndóigh, ní bhfaigheann an chuid is mó de na hiomaitheoirí aon bhonn. Of course, most of the competitors don’t get any medals. Ach bíonn siad go léir an-sásta a bheith páirteach san eachtra seo, agus lúthchleasaíocht a dhéanamh agus cluichí a imirt mar chairde le gach tír eile. But they are all always very glad to be participating in this event, and to do athletics and play games as friends with every other country Deirtear i gcónaí, más féidir linn go léir a bheith cairdiúil sna cluichí seo, cén fáth go mbíonn sé chomh deacair amanna eile? It is always said, if it is possible for all of us to be friendly in these games, why is it so difficult other times? Ach sin an saol mar atá. But that’s the world as it is. Agus níl na cluichí Oilimpeacha foirfe ach oiread. And the Olympics aren’t perfect, either. Is minic go mbíonn conspóidí ann. There are often controversies. Ach den chuid is mó, bíonn siad ina sampla maith don saol, mar gheall ar an dea-mhéin agus cothrom na Féinne a bhíonn iontu. But for the most part, they are a good example for the world, because of the good attitude and sportsmanship in them.

Bainimid an-taitneamh as féachaint ar na lúthchleasaithe sna cluichí seo. We enjoy watching the athletes in these games. Cén fáth go ndéanann siad an méad sin oibre, ar feadh na mblianta, chun páirt a ghlacadh i gcomórtais mar seo? Why do they do that much work, for years, to take part in contests like this? Uaireanta ní bhíonn ach cúpla nóiméad acu sa chomórtas, agus uaireanta eile ní éiríonn leo dul thar na babhtaí cáilithe, agus ní bhíonn siad sna cluichí ceannais. Sometimes they only get a few minutes in the contest, and other times they don’t make it through the qualifying rounds, and they’re not in the finals. Sin an rud a tharla do roinnt dár gcuid reathaithe sa rás sealaíochta. That’s what happened to our runners in the relay race. Ní bhíonn éinne sásta mura ndéanann siad a ndícheall. No one is happy if they don’t do their best. Ach má dhéanann, agus tá daoine eile níos fearr ann, bhuel, sin an iomaíocht. But if they do, and there are better people, well, that’s competition. Is é an déanamh agus an iarracht is tábhachtaí. It’s the doing and the trying that’s most important. Mar gach aon rud sa saol seo, is deacair aon chiall a bhaint as bonn óir nó a leithéid, ach go bhfuilimid ag obair le chéile, agus ag iarraidh spraoi agus spóirt a bhaint as an saol. Like everything else in this life, it’s hard to make any sense out of a gold medal or such, except that we’re working together, and trying to get some fun and joy out of life. Agus ní mór oibriú le daoine eile, agus sa chás seo, le tíortha eile, chun rudaí iontacha a dhéanamh le chéile. And we must work with other people, and in this case, with other countries, in order to do wonderful things together. Ní neart go cur le chéile. There’s no strength without unity.