"These three words, 'the Olympic family', have a very different connotation within the Olympic family than it may hold for those watching from the outside," M V Tronson notes.
Although there are different layers throughout the international community, the IOC has consistently held a view that the Olympic movement crosses over political and religious affiliations, in that the IOC stands alone in Olympic sports regardless of what country or religion one might be.
This sentiment, M V Tronson says, has certainly created its own problems. However, it should be noted that the IOC has held this objective aloft in the face of political coercion. Some examples are the running of the 1936 Berlin Games, and then in recent times when different nation groups boycotted for one reason or another: the Games in Montreal, 1976; Moscow, 1980; and Los Angeles, 1984.
"Into this hard line bullish approach to retain a total independent life from that of politics and religion, the IOC and its member Olympic national associations, have maintained an internal family atmosphere to a fault," M V Tronson explained.
The Australian Olympic Committee is just one example of this 'family' motif. There are Olympic dinners held in each state for current and past Olympians to continue the building of bonds and friendships. Once an Olympian, you become a member of the Olympic family and are accorded the respect and honour of that rite of passage.
"It is into this pool of good-will and mutual respect that the term, 'the Olympic family' has taken on a life of its own with the IOC," M V Tronson mused. "Such great sway is given to this position, that great sway is given to an Olympians' request, even more so if it is an Olympian of great achievement."
There is a sense of ownership and mutual protection within 'the Olympic family', and many notable Olympians (past and present) are committed Christians.
"Herein lies another misnomer," M V Tronson explained. "The Religious Service provision for an Olympic Village is a very different animal to the mutual respect and support a Christian Olympian has within 'the Olympic family'."
'Host city village Religious Services' is an institutionalized situation, 'Religious Services' manager and team members are almost always not former Olympians. They are outside 'the Olympic family' movement.
For Olympic Christian athletes, it is to 'the Olympic family' that much of the meaningful ministry is engaged as they are inside the loop, and ministering to fellow Olympians is a part of the Olympic experience.
"One of the considerations of the host city Olympic Village Religious Services Protocol was to highlight this difference, especially after the Barcelona and Sydney Religious Services experiences," M V Tronson noted. "Sometimes, sadly, figures within Religious Services feel they are the centre of the 'family', rather than realising that they were outside this 'family' loop.
"The actual nature of 'the Olympic family' is that it allows evangelical Christian Olympians to be evangelical Christians."
The Beijing Olympic Village Religious Services allows bible distribution, whereas in Barcelona and Sydney, for whatever reason, this was not permitted. Yet 'at any time' regardless of Olympic city, one Olympian can hand a bible to another Olympian as mutual members within 'the Olympic family'.
As the Beijing Olympics get under way, there will be two levels of operation and neither will have influence over the other. The Chinese Government will operate one, whereas 'the Olympic family' will have its own fellowship at a totally different level. They will be almost oblivious to one another. In other words, 'the Olympic family' meets every four years, but in a 'different city'.
It is in this personal fellowship within their 'Olympic family' that Christians who are Olympians consistently illustrate the warmth of Christ's sacrifice and true giving.