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
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment