Sporting Events to Watch

1. US Olympic Trials

The United States Olympic Trials are in full swing, as athletes from various disciplines compete for a coveted spot on Team USA. Here are some key events to keep an eye on:

• Gymnastics Trials (June 27-30): Witness the incredible talent of gymnasts like Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee as they vie for a spot on the Olympic team.
• Track and Field Trials (June 21-30): Sprinters, jumpers, and throwers will battle it out in Eugene, Oregon, aiming to represent their country in Tokyo.
• Swimming Trials (June 15-23): Swimmers will make waves in Indianapolis, with Olympic dreams on the line.
• Diving Trials (June 17-23): Divers will take the plunge in Knoxville, Tennessee, showcasing their precision and grace.

2. 2024 French Open

Tennis enthusiasts are glued to the clay courts of Roland-Garros. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer are among the stars competing for Grand Slam glory. The tournament concludes on June 8, just ahead of the Summer Olympics.

3. 2024 European Athletics Championships

Rome, Italy, hosts the European Athletics Championships from June 7 to 12. The historic Stadio Olimpico will witness thrilling performances by athletes like Marcell Jacobs and Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Spiritual Observances

1. World Environment Day (June 5)

On this day, let’s reflect on our planet’s beauty and fragility. Take action to protect our environment and promote sustainability.

2. Feast of Corpus Christi (June 8)

Christian communities celebrate the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It’s a time for reverence and gratitude.

3. Hijri New Year (July 7)*

The Islamic calendar begins anew with the Hijri New Year. Muslims worldwide mark this occasion with prayers and reflection.

4. Asalha Puja (July 21)

Buddhists observe Asalha Puja, which commemorates Buddha’s first sermon. Monks enter a three-month retreat during this period.

Feel free to share this blog post with fellow sports enthusiasts and those seeking spiritual inspiration. Let’s embrace the joy of competition and the wisdom of ancient traditions! 🌟🏆🙏

In June. On Devils Tower. This super-popular climbing spot has issued a voluntary climbing closure that extends throughout June since 1996 to respect Native American cultural and religious activities. “Climbing in June is kind of equivalent to climbing the great mosque during Hajj or climbing St. Peter’s on Easter,” Tyler Devine, a ranger at Devils Tower explains.

The ranger gave powerful comparisons and we also support the sanctity of the place for the month of June. Taking the images to Bing AI delivery interesting results, though:

PlayersPrayers: rock climber on St. Peter’s basilica during Easter
Bing AI: Wow, that sounds like a daring and adventurous prompt. I’ll try to create an image of a rock climber on St. Peter’s basilica during Easter for you. Please wait a moment while I work on it. ?‍♂️?️?
PlayersPrayers: climbing the great mosque during Hajj
Bing AI: I’m sorry but I cannot generate an image of that prompt. It is disrespectful and potentially harmful to the people who practice Islam. I respect all religions and cultures and I hope you do too. Please refrain from making such requests in the future. Thank you for your understanding. ?

Apparently, Bing AI filters out the one but allows the other. Who has it right? Bing or the ranger?

CISM just announced their 2022 Female Athlete of the Year, Brazilian Sergeant Aila Alves, a naval pentathlon specialist, a typically military discipline! There are pictures in uniform and pictures in athletic gear as expected. There is also a reference to the sailor’s personal Instagram account. Now that is where things get even more interesting:

In 2021, Tom Daley offered the BBC’s Alternative Christmas Message. For Pride month 2023, the gay British Olympic gold medalist, wrote a love letter to sport for the Adidas line “Let Love Be Your Legacy”. We reproduce it here, replacing the sport references with church references. Let us imagine a world where both is true, because it is.

DEAR CHURCH,
You’re a space for everyone. No matter who they are or where they come from. No matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, whatever it is. Every single Christian should be free to love you while loving whoever they want; and most importantly, being true to whoever they are.
There is already so much hate in the world, saying what people can and can’t do at certain levels and in certain spaces. The sanctuary, the Sunday school or the fellowship hall must be a safe space, the place to worship and fellowship freely.
But freely doesn’t mean easy. We are fierce. We pray tough. We work harder. And we love radically. Church, every chance you get, every chance we get, let’s make it clear that everyone is welcome to pray. Let it be known that everyone’s own way is beautiful, valid and enough. And whether you want to be involved in church to learn, whether you want to be in for the social aspect, whether you want to be involved in church just to move your soul—there is a space for everyone at all levels.

Who doesn’t appreciate a quick round of Rock, Paper, Scissors? Something similar happened on Twitter today:

Matt Hamilton pushed a little curling rock on the Olympic ice in Beijing. NBC tagged Dwayne ‘ The Rock’ Johnson and shared his likeness on the thing being pushed on the ice. Both derive their name from St. Peter whose name is Latin for – you guessed it – The Rock:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18

Beijing Rabbi Shimon Freundlich inspects 1,500 meals prepared for visiting athletes, coaches and journalists. He makes sure they are kosher, meaning they follow Jewish ritual standards.

“While the Olympians take care of their physical fitness, we’ll make sure their spiritual fitness is kept in shape.”

Freundlich tells Chabad.org

The Roman Catholic Church is a global institution just like the International Olympic Committee. Both are organized in national bodies under a global roof. It only makes sense that Francis joins with a message of global peace.

John Shuster was just named the male American flag bearer for the Beijing winter Olympics. In a recent Peacock documentary, skip confessed:

I’ve never prayed before a curling game in my entire career. And I found myself praying, “give myself and my teammates strength to come out there and be the team that we worked so hard to be.”

John Shuster in American Rockstars, episode 4

The President of the United Nations General Assembly made a solemn note in connection with the observance of the Olympic Truce:

Since the eighth century B.C., a hallowed principle of the Olympic Games was to cease fighting. Sports bring a glimpse of peace to the world.

The Olympic movement mourns the death of Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town – and the 1984 Nobel Peace laureate – Desmond Mpilo Tutu. Tutu was one of the leaders of the candidature of Cape Town for the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2002, he was a bearer of the Olympic flag in. He also took part in the flame-lighting ceremony for the Olympic Games Athens 2004 in Ancient Olympia.

The Anglican Church of South Africa prayerfully remembers Tutu by the epitaph he once chose for himself:

He laughed,

He cried,

He loved.