The saga continues

The current affairs giude

As the nation gasps once again over yet another matter of concern one just cannotr escape the niggling feeling that all is now liost when it comes to morals in South Africa.

Too great an expectation.

The current affairs guide



MIRACLE:South African's expectations require miracles sometimes.<www.widecircus.com>



So with all the jubilation and elation that comes from the entire nation and is normally  demonstrated firsthand by the multitudes that swarm ORTIA(Oliver Tambo International Airport) every time our athletes return from a major sporting event.I cannot get out of my mind, the high degree of expectations that were placed on our athletes in London.From the big names to the not so big. I  could almost touch the fervent expectations that were visible in everyone.Every athlete who took part was expected to come back with a Gold medal or a Medal at least. A very funny scenario comes to my mind,This happened during the Men's 200m Final in which Anaso Jobodwane;a South African, took part.Now to say that he didn't stand a chance would be an understatement(What, with Usain Bolt,Yohan Blake and the rest of the top Six finishers during the Men's 100m final, gunning for the medals).



HAD ENOUGH: an irate fan.<www.chitty.wordpress.com>



Now I must to my defence point out that the South African's  Running Gear was very similar to that of the Jamaicans.And so as Bolt and Blake were leading the pack,all of us at res watching were clenching our fists and grinding our teeth  because we thought the South African was the Third guy.I tell you when they all  reached the Finnish line, all of us were jumping up and down hugging each other, only to realise about 5 minutes after the race that the Third guy was actually Jamaican.This had me thinking about how insanely we expect our athletes to perform miracles although we don't support them with  the same enthusiasm whilst their still training or preparing.

Notable examples of  such unfounded expectations which is preceded by a  great lack in support of the athlete can be read in an article where Swimmer, Roland Schoeman blasts SASCOC(South African Sports and Olympic Committee) and the Government's lack of support leading up to the Olympics

http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Olympics2012/Schoeman-slams-gov-Sascoc-20120804.

Other athlethes that spring into mind include:

• Caster Semenya-Who despite being a previous world champion was surviving on only Two sponsors (with the government taking care of her education)http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/sponsors-shut-door-on-caster-1.1362704

The last thing any of us ever think about is the relentlessness these athletes have to posses even to make it to such events as the Olympics.Maybe the next time around we should start by supporting the athletes every step of the way and not begin when they actually qualify for an Olympic final.











Sports:a nation's unifier

The current affairs guide



VICTORY:Its not a colour thing.Sourcewww.iol.co.za

It never siezes to amaze as to how an apparently divided nation like South Africa; which is plagued by division between diffent races,ethnic groups and even between the haves and have-nots. seems to disappear even if its for a matter of weeks, when sports is involved.

The currently underway olympc games have seen us as a country rally behind all of a our Athletes regardless of the skin colour or the language or their home language.

COLOURFUL: Team SA.Sourcewww.herald-dispacht.com

Our first Swimming Gold medal and coincidently that first to come from a home grown swimmer(A Swimmer that had not been trainng in overseas) had everyone jumping up and down for joy.It did not matter whether you were at a squatter-camp,a township or a suburb.Cameron van der Burgh's record-breaking feat, followed by Chad Le Clos's  win over Michael Phelps and the surprise package which came in forn of the rowing team,joined South Africans in a common purpose,celebrating.

Scenes from the various venues at the Olympics show jubilation last seen during the world cup.I can only hope that some day soon, the South African spirit that is ussually evident during major sporting matches and events is showcased even when they aren't any sporting events. Even Julius Malema spoke something positive for a change when he said commented on South Africa's performance thus far at the Olympics.

"Cameron told me that what happened to Banyana in Coventry should not damper the country's spirit, as the South African flag would be raised high when he accepts the gold medal,"Said sports minister,Fikile Mbalula.www.dailytimes.ng