Olympic heroes: It's not just the medals. It is the journey.

There are some places and athletes who just don't seem to get it.

Winning the medal is wonderful and all, and being near the top of the country-by-country medal count is exhilarating.

But the bottom line is it is the journey, the effort and the symbolism that make an Olympic story so special.

And there are plenty of those -- and plenty of medals -- this year for U.S. athletes.

But that does not mean that everyone believes in the Olympic creed or vision.

In the wake of the badminton scandal -- top-ranked international teams tanking on purpose to earn a better draw -- it is important to remember that while we should cheer for Team USA, we should also remember what the Olympics are supposed to be about -- fellowship and good-natured competition.

We should not condone idiot comments from our own athletes, or participate in the cheating that takes place to gain a competitive edge.

The Olympics are a time for people from around the world to share their talents, their stories and to learn about one another.

While others might not see that, we should make sure we -- and our athletes -- never forget it.

Published in Editorials on August 1, 2012 11:44 AM