Uganda must target 2016 Games
Aug 25, 2008
YET another Olympiad is over with Uganda nowhere on the medal standings. It’s actually 12 years since Davis Kamoga won Uganda’s last Olympic medal. Interestingly, as the nation mourns, some authorities are hiding behind the Olympic ideal of participation taking precedence over medals.
I SAY SO - James Bakama
YET another Olympiad is over with Uganda nowhere on the medal standings. It’s actually 12 years since Davis Kamoga won Uganda’s last Olympic medal. Interestingly, as the nation mourns, some authorities are hiding behind the Olympic ideal of participation taking precedence over medals.
Well, Beijing is now a past story so it doesn’t pay to lament.
I will instead maintain a tradition I’ve have had for almost 15 years of giving our authorities a few tips on how to win Olympic glory.
For starters, if there are any Ugandans who harbour any dreams of a medal at the 2012 Games, they had better know that that’s merely fantasy. It’s simply too late.
Our target should be the 2016 Games. We should start identifying primary school talent now and embark on a nurturing project.
Beijing Olympics superstar Usain Bolt was spotted as a 13-year-old while fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell, a five-time Olympic medallist, started sprint lessons at an even younger age.
A deliberate and consistent plan not only entails talented youngsters, but also coaches and managers adept at modern coaching methods.
With the recent increase in the sports budget, the ministry should be able to identify and facilitate pilot schools where such talents are groomed for consistent local and international competition.
St. Patrick Iten, a secondary school in Kenya’s Rift Valley, has such a talent development program and is largely the reason Kenya is impressing today.
Jamaica, a country of 3million people and a land mass almost five times smaller than Uganda, should in getting its sports equation right also provide a classic lesson.
This tiny Carribean island — which besides sports is better known for growing yams and the Reggae genre of music — has thrived on a vibrant sports presence in its schools curriculum.
Surely, Uganda must have more potential than Jamaica.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug
YET another Olympiad is over with Uganda nowhere on the medal standings. It’s actually 12 years since Davis Kamoga won Uganda’s last Olympic medal. Interestingly, as the nation mourns, some authorities are hiding behind the Olympic ideal of participation taking precedence over medals.
Well, Beijing is now a past story so it doesn’t pay to lament.
I will instead maintain a tradition I’ve have had for almost 15 years of giving our authorities a few tips on how to win Olympic glory.
For starters, if there are any Ugandans who harbour any dreams of a medal at the 2012 Games, they had better know that that’s merely fantasy. It’s simply too late.
Our target should be the 2016 Games. We should start identifying primary school talent now and embark on a nurturing project.
Beijing Olympics superstar Usain Bolt was spotted as a 13-year-old while fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell, a five-time Olympic medallist, started sprint lessons at an even younger age.
A deliberate and consistent plan not only entails talented youngsters, but also coaches and managers adept at modern coaching methods.
With the recent increase in the sports budget, the ministry should be able to identify and facilitate pilot schools where such talents are groomed for consistent local and international competition.
St. Patrick Iten, a secondary school in Kenya’s Rift Valley, has such a talent development program and is largely the reason Kenya is impressing today.
Jamaica, a country of 3million people and a land mass almost five times smaller than Uganda, should in getting its sports equation right also provide a classic lesson.
This tiny Carribean island — which besides sports is better known for growing yams and the Reggae genre of music — has thrived on a vibrant sports presence in its schools curriculum.
Surely, Uganda must have more potential than Jamaica.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug