So we all know that the 2008 Beijing Olympics are currently underway? Yeah? We all know this right?
Has anybody told Team South Africa? I’m looking, I’m looking but it doesn’t seem we are even featuring. Why is this? Do we have a severe lack of athletes? Is there a severe lack of skill? Or a severe lack of funding for training? Politics? Is there a whiff of politics playing a part like the quota system of our Springbok rugby team? These are not rhetorical questions and I wouldn’t mind hearing why, if of course there even is a reason. Maybe our best simply isn’t as good as other country’s best.
Ok we are not completely in the shadows. Apparently we have achieved one medal albeit it being a silver thanks to the gallant efforts of MOKOENA Khotso. You can see the results of the Men’s Longjump Final by {clicking here}.
Already I am hearing on the radio, “It doesn’t make a difference whether you win or lose, it’s the competing and representing your country that counts.” On the same radio I am also hearing, “Oh boo hoo, that’s what all mothers of losers say! We simply suck”
For the first time in a long time, I don’t even have an opinion. What do you have to say about it? Anything at all? What’s your opinion? Discussion board OPEN!
Footnote: I’m watching the highlights on TV now. The Woman’s Discus females aren’t very pretty now are they? Ladies Pole Vault? Yeah, pretty. Ladies Beach Volleyball? Yeah, pretty. Discus? Hell no! Are they even female? 
Hey Chook
Just thought i would let you knoe where Australia is on the medal count,
11Gold
11 Silver
12 Bronze
As of this moment that is, i know there are more to come.
I say it’s politics - as they stick their fingers in all SA sports
Education - whatever happened to compulsory athletics/ sport in Primary School - I have two nephews, both of which don’t do ANY sport - they don’t need to and so they don’t want to…
And then parents - parents give their kids SPS to keep them quite and out of sight, they grow up thinking sport is something you play on the television screen holding a control…
Well those are my thoughts anyway.
Spoonz - Ahhhh so YOU guys knicked them all. That’s why there’s none left for us. Did your mothers never teach you guys to SHARE???
Bean - I hated extra mural activities too but by golly it kept me out of trouble. If kids don’t get to take part in these activities how would any know if they were good enough to excel and strive for greatness? We are breeding lazy bastards! Look at the kids in the UK too. Sports in schools there are actually banned at break times for fear of an injury and someone getting sued! Now they are sniffing glue and stabbing each other in community halls at the age of nine. Its a sad world. Did you hear about that dude from a Krugersdorp school this week that dressed up as the drummer from Slipknot (apparently he looked like a ninja) and stabbed a mate in the neck with a sword killing him and then went on to injure a few others? Crazy place.
Medals at the Olympics cost loads of money and you sometimes need a freakish talent to throw the money at (i.e. Michael Phelps).
Each Gold Medal won by the Australians costs in the region of 50 Million Aussie Dollars (after working out spending on infrastructure, coaching, equipment, travel etc etc etc).
I doubt very much the SASCOC’s budget is anywhere 50 Million Rand, nevermind Dollars.
SA has one FINA sanctioned pool (Kingsmead) which sometimes can’t be used, I don’t think there are any world class cycling venues and the budget for olympic training just couldn’t be justified when there are other areas that desperately need the money (housing, medicine etc etc etc).
So in short, unless almost the whole of SA’s entire GDP is spent on funding athletes for the 2012 games, SA is going to be left fighting for 1 or 2 minor medals.
TP - Thanks very much for that. You strike an impressive arguement and I do see your point. I had no idea it cost just that much for training etc. and yes I agree that money can best be spent elsewhere: Government business jets, government officials housed in mansions, expanding the polititians waistline etc etc. Where is our dear tax going these days? Not into the traffic department as per a previous post. Anyway, moving on from
corruptionpolitics…Check out the medal standings:
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/medals
Does Kenya have 50 million dib-dabs (collective terms for foreign currency) to spend per medal? Zimbabwe?? We are Africa’s lowest ranking (Olympic medals) country and we are supposed to be Africa’s power house. I wonder…
Kenya 8
Zimbabwe 4
Ethiopia 3
Algeria 2
South Africa 1
Zimbabwe’s medals were won by a single person, Kirsty Coventry, who lives and trains in the USA (much like our golden boys of Ryk Neethling and Roeland Schoeman).
The Kenyans and Ethiopians are world renowned for producing distance runners, which is more about Genetics and natural ability than hard core training.
Algerias medals both came in Judo, in the higher weight categories.
When you start looking at the majority of the medals (Swimming, Track/Field, Cycling, rowing, sailing etc..) you need access to world class facilities, coaches and such like other wise you are going to go backwards.
In the case of our hockey players, it seems to be a lack of international exposure that is behind the lack of progression.
The Olympics now is all about the money, China spent something ridiculous like 22 Billion US Dollars on hosting this olympic games. The UK had a budget of almost 3 billion pounds which it has blown already and needs more cash.
Maybe its a good thing Cape Town didnt win the rights to host the 2004 Games.
Hoox, apparently the 2012 Olympics in London is to include both our new favourite sports, glue sniffing and stabbing, we could be in for an even bigger haul of medals…..yeeeeha
Did you get my mail?
The Pete - Hands up. I stand defeated. Thanks for setting the record straight!
I’m also quite relieved we never got the olympics. Just look at the meyhem the World Cup is producing!
Billy - Were you hoping to take part personally to represent Teesside (Or was that Tyneside?). I can help out with the stabbing. I still have a very unused Nokia 1100 which will work out perfectly. Also has an amazing element of surprise. What mail? When? Do you have the correct address? @gmail.com?