On the train yesterday I sat next to a family with some very excited children who were off on holiday. You couldn't help being caught up in their sense of excitement and anticipation. I know just how they feel. I keep wanting to say: Are we there yet? For the past five years as head of Multi-faith Chaplaincy for the London Organising Committee I've seen the Olympic site grow from a brownfield construction area into a park providing world-class sporting facilities and beautiful riverside parkland. In the east of the park is the Olympic Village where thousands of athletes and officials from over 200 nations have moved in during these past two weeks in time for tonight's spectacular opening ceremony. Up until a couple of weeks ago the Village seemed empty of life, lots of activity but no real buzz. this week that's all changed. It's come alive as the sun has shone and thousands of young athletes from all over the world have made it their home, staying in beautiful well equipped rooms and apartments. A state of the art gym and training facility is housed in the new school building, as is the Multi-faith Centre. This is in the heart of the Olympic Village, and houses prayer rooms for all the different faith communities. A team of over 50 chaplains is on hand, working on shifts to offer spiritual refreshment and help, to support and befriend, and to serve the Games community, which consists of 16,500 athletes and officials, and across the Games 200,000 staff and volunteers, and reporting it all 20,000 media and broadcasters. We are there for those of all faiths and those with no faith. St Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, "May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another."I was very moved last week as the Christian chaplains on the team helped their Muslim colleagues prepare a large hall for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan moving over 300 chairs. A bare young Muslim man who as he left hugged me to say thanks for providing such a facility. This week I've witnessed young men and women from all over the world living side by side greeting each other, making new friends, laughing and sharing their love of sport. This is all truly in the Olympic spirit. I pray that the world may watch and learn to live in harmony.",
昨天在火车上，有一家人坐在我旁边，正值学校放假，孩子们都兴奋不已。大家都不由得被他们的激动与期待之情所吸引。我感同身受，一路上不停在想：我们到了吗？在过去的五年里，我作为伦敦奥运筹委会多信仰教士的领导，见证了奥运场馆从废弃的轻污染建筑工地变为河水环绕的提供世界级运动设置的绿色公园，公园的东边是奥运村，在过去的两周内，为了能及时参加今晚精彩绝伦的开幕式，来自200多个国家数以千计的运动员和官员下榻此处。就在两周前，奥运村还显得毫无生气，虽然十分热闹，但人们并不太兴奋。这个星期，情形大不一样。阳光明媚，奥运村开始焕发生机，世界各地的上千名年轻的运动员在这里安顿下来，住进设置齐全的公寓。 先进的健身房和训练器材放置在新教学楼里。多信仰中心也在那里。它位于奥运村的中心地带，为各个信仰的团体提供祷告室。在祷告室附近有一个由50多位教士组成的小组，他们轮流值班，帮助众人赶走心灵的疲惫，提供精神上的帮助，给予支持与照顾，为整个奥运社区服务，其中包括16500名运动员和官员，20万名员工和志愿者，以及两万家媒体和广播电台。我们在那里为任何有信仰和无信仰的人服务。圣保罗在给罗马人的信中写道，“愿上帝能鼓舞你们，让你们坚定信念，和睦相处。”上周，基督教的教士们帮助他们的穆斯林同事为首个周五斋月祷告布置大厅，搬动了300多只椅子。我被他们的行为深深感动。一位年轻的穆斯林在离开时拥抱了我，对我们提供的帮助表示感谢。这周，我目睹了来自世界各地住在相邻的房间的年轻男女相互问候，结交朋友，在欢声笑语中分享他们对运动的热爱。这正是奥运精神倡导的。我恳请全世界都去留意这一点，并学习如何和睦相处。
