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Local chaplain serves Team USA in Pyeongchang

The Seminole resident served as spiritual adviser to the world's greatest athletes.
Asif Shaikh served as the official chaplain at the Olympic games.

Asif Shaikh sat in his office the day after returning from South Korea, proudly wearing a bright red long sleeve shirt that read ‘Pyeongchang 2018’ across the chest.

“Getting asked is an honor,” the Seminole resident said.

Shaikh served for 10 days at the Olympic Games as an official chaplain to the world’s top athletes. While in Pyeongchang, Shaikh, a former University of South Florida chaplain, ministered to athletes dealing with some of the difficulties that take place away from the competitive stages.

“There is a loneliness and a stress that sets in being away from home,” said Shaikh, who has served as a Team USA chaplain at four different Games. “We have chapels that they can come and get away and it’s just a time for us to come alongside them and give them a word of comfort that they can get through the week.”

The duties of an Olympic chaplain depend on the situation and the athlete that needs attention. Many athletes share Shaikh’s Christian faith, but some came from countries without religious freedoms. Competitors from communist countries visited Shaikh and other chaplains at some of the many chapel services held in the Olympic Village. There, they learned about some of the Bible teachings Shaikh hoped to share.

Asif Shaikh served as chaplain to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games.

“I’m there for a job and to encourage an athlete and their families,” he said. “They say, ‘Hey, I want to know more about this God and this religion.’”

Shaikh did get a chance to see a few of the competitions while in South Korea. He took photos at the women’s hockey game between the United States and Canada and watched luge and skeleton events at the Sliding Center. He even got a photo of himself holding the Olympic torch.

“There really were glad we were there. We were very honored to be there.”

Shaikh served at the Games in London (2012), Sochi (2014) and Rio (2016) as well. He plans to minister as an official chaplain in the 2020 Toyko Summer Games if asked.

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