Just when you're ready to write off the Olympics – for crass commercialism or nationalistic medal fetishism – the true beauty and power of sport reveals itself.
The biennial showcase separates itself from most professional sports by the fact that sportsmanship isn't subsumed to the win-at-all-costs mentality – not totally, at least. An example came Tuesday, in the qualifying for the women's 5,000 metres.
With four laps to go, New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin tumbled heavily to the track, unwittingly tripping the United States' Abbey D'Agostino. The American got up, shakily, and tapped the prone Kiwi on the shoulder. "Get up, get up, we have to finish this," she said, according to Ms. Hamblin. Except Ms. D'Agostino had injured a knee in her fall, which quickly buckled. So her rival stopped and helped her up. Before Tuesday, the two had never met.
Sometimes, the Olympic ideal lives up to its billing. Winning isn't everything. After the race Ms. Hamblin alluded to it in saying "that girl is the Olympic spirit right there."
Contrast that with an earlier incident. Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby was sent home Monday with a rebuke from the International Olympic Committee for refusing to shake hands after losing to Israeli opponent Or Sasson. Mr. El Shehaby was under severe pressure from religious and media figures to forfeit the match. That it took place at all was hailed as progress by judo's world governing body, which is a sad statement in itself.
Mr. El Shehaby should have accepted the handshake, obviously, but he's less culpable of boorishness than members of the Lebanese delegation who blocked Israeli athletes from boarding what was supposed to have been a shared bus to the opening ceremonies – and the Lebanese officials who applauded them for doing so.
Geopolitical reality is always quick to intrude on the Olympic truce. Sometimes, it can be transcended by a spontaneous act of kindness. For a few days, at least.