XENIA, OH (ANS) -- As the world's best athletes prepare for the Summer Olympics in London, Christian ministries are looking for ways to connect sports with a positive message of faith and hope.

International sports ministry Athletes in Action wants to help through a film showcasing Olympians' stories of struggle, faith and triumph. The ministry’s new video, ‘Struggle and Triumph,’ is now streaming online, for free, and in 33 languages.

“This is a great tool that any person/church/ministry/missionary could use for outreach as the world begins to focus in on London 2012,” said Shawn Keith of Athletes in Action.

Available free for online streaming in 33 languages, Struggle and Triumph is a 26-minute film featuring current and past Olympic athletes, including:
**Allyson Felix (United States), 2008 Olympic gold medalist (4X400m), two-time Olympic silver medalist (2004, 2008 in the 200m) three-time 200m World Champion, and 2012 Olympic contender;
**Candra Wijaya (Indonesia), 2000 Badminton Olympic gold medalist;
**Catherine Ndereba (Kenya), world-class female marathoner and two-time Olympic silver medalist (2004 & 2008);
**Dieudonne Disi (Rwanda), world-class half-marathoner and 2004 Olympian;
**Hendrawan (Indonesia), 2000 Badminton Olympic silver medalist;
**Julian Bolling (Sri Lanka), three-time Olympic swimmer.

“Representing the highest in personal achievement, these athletes share not only a passion for sport, but also a passion from which they are able to draw strength for competition - and for life,” said Keith.

Keith said Struggle and Triumph is also available in 36 languages on a single DVD for organizations to use in conjunction with the Olympics both in the U.S. and around the world.

He quoted Baron Pierre de Coubertin, father of the modern Olympic Games, who said: “The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”

Speaking of her Christian beliefs, Allyson Felix said: “My faith really plays a part. I’m able to look at the bigger picture and know that God has a plan for my life and this is also a part of it. My speed is a gift from God, and I run for His glory.”

Indonesia’s 2000 Badminton Olympic silver medalist Hendrawan added: “I believe that career and fame will end…Just like an old river my popularity will automatically dry up. Jesus taught that there are more important things in this life, that there is eternal life. That is what I was looking for—not fame as a badminton player or popularity. Because I know Jesus Christ, I am certain that I have found eternal life.”

Julian Bolling, Sri Lanka’s three-time Olympic swimmer, commented:
“We can talk about achievements in terms of success, but I (like) that the Olympic motto says the struggle is more important than the victory.”

Athletes in Action works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sports to help people around the world with questions of faith. For more information about Athletes in Action, visit www.athletesinaction.org.  More information about the new video can be obtained by logging-on to:http://olympics.athletesinaction.org

Meanwhile, looking forward to the next soccer World Cup competition in 2014, AIA already has online a video intended to make the link between soccer and faith. More details can be seen here: http://theprize.com/

Keith said that while this video has been online for awhile, AIA plans to post it in many languages sometime in the future. 

To purchase copies of Struggle and Triumph, visit www.aia gear.com  or call 888.244.9159. For special 501c3 pricing for 50 or more copies, please contact Shawn.Keith@athletesinaction.org  for more information.

** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter