Athletics: A Jewel under Threat

Ever since the immortal bare-footed marathon runner Abebe Bikila printed Ethiopia’s successful tricolour at the Rome Olympics, long distance race seems to have been inculcated in our athletics culture. Athletes, such as Mamo Wolde, Mirutse Yifter Sileshi Sihn, Haile G.Selassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Gezahegn Abera, Fatuma Roba, Gete Wami, Berhane Adere, Derartu Tulu, Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba, Genzebe Dibaba, Almaz Ayana, Mare Dibabe, Sembere Teferi and Gelete Burka are some of the names who have carried the torch of success which they relayed from generation to generation.

In spite of all these shining achievements, Haile G.Selassie, who has become a celebrity in his own right, regrets that the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) has not played a better role. Ethiopia’s voice and place in the world athletics hierarchy could have been promoted so that all the privileges that the country deserves could have been earned as rights.

Internally, despite the belated results mainly achieved by women athletes, many experts in the field including veterans the likes of Kennenisa and Gebreegiziabher G. Mariam are of the opinion that the athletes could have done better had there been a much more coordinated effort and due commitment. Centres around the country could have done better throughout the process, from screening up to applying tactics during the completion.

Some of the coaches, who had proved to be worth their names in the past, have resentment for being pushed to the margins for no fault but lack of diplomas or degrees from somewhere, deserved or not. We are now in a defining moment to do something. The Olympic Games are only about two years ahead. All the stakeholders – including athletes, coaches (degree holders and experienced) – should sit around the table and be able to work out a road map for executing success in the upcoming Olympic races.

We know that relaying tactics of gear changing at different distances by alternatively running faster does the trick, like during the reins of Haile and Sileshi. The 5,000-metre race of Beijing has shown us that it still works on our archrivals. We should not waste a single second as athlete Haile had once emphatically asserted that a second in time could mean an issue of winning or losing millions.

In this time and era of information, we cannot totally discredit holders of certificates or diplomas. They may have read books or done research to earn knowledge through references obtained after years of practical experience. But it does not mean that those coaches with adequate experience should be ignored either. They complement each other. They better do so for the good of the motherland.

It should be noted that money is also at stake. The affluent society has of late lost its interest in distance running, a feat that is given to East African countries. The interest has changed to short distance races which are more or less the competitions of the Jamaican or American athletes for the most part.

Our concentration on the 800 metres or 1500 metres distance is a growing trend in the right direction. Eventually, we can work hard to excel in these threads. I do not have to mention  the other fields like cycling or martial arts as there seems to be more interest in these fields.

Judging by what the veteran athletes have implied, some of the incumbents in the athletics federation are not knowledgeable in the field. One typical incident could be mentioned here. They were watching the marathon race when this official delegate asked if the race was a screening one or not!

These officials could have fought hard and shown dedication during the war for freedom. They could be assigned where they fit best. Nepotism or partisanship does not help in professional fields.

When we say that all the stakeholders should sit around the table to discuss common plans, we know there are some fears overwhelming coaches. They cannot speak their minds openly and freely. It is essential that such matters should centre the country and its flag.

Money matters cannot be ignored. We have seen the plausible investments made by athletes. That should be encouraged very much. There are certain lucrative races in the world. But races, like in the Olympic Games, the question of national name and fame must be given priority.

Ethiopia, through her gallant athletes, has projected a positive image in the field of distance running. We have almost made the race a national symbol. But that should not make us feel complacent.

Medium and shorter distance runs are yet to be attempted. We have to see what our archrivals are doing. They have posed in the javelin throw and triple jump and have placed the country among the ranks of big nations. There is no reason why we cannot follow suit.

We can make arrangements for the able athletes to go and compete in the lucrative races. If we deny them these opportunities, it would be committing them to impoverishment. That can never be fair. We should accept that their future is in their own hands. Look how many people are earning their daily bread getting jobs in many of the enterprises owned and run by them.

Schools and inter-school games in sports are the sources of athletes, both boys and girls. I remember in the early 1960s, the Emperor and his entourage were present at the stadium to watch the competitions and to decorate them with medals and award them cups. Names like Yewhoalashet Sigu of the Empress Mennen School Negussie Roba, Makonen Dori, Gedle Gessesse of Tefri Mekonnen, Hussen Roble, Sora Jarso, Belete Awoke and other young athletes from all over the country were competing and making names for themselves.

The present trend of inter-regional competition has to be encouraged seriously. Some of them, like Yewholashet, were sent abroad to the Eastern Bloc countries to pursue their higher studies and had come back and served as physical trainers. I have no idea about their whereabout at present.

Woldemeskel Kostre (PhD) and Nigussie Roba have also done quite a lot in molding the now famous athletes, who, in their turn, have left a golden heritage for the generation that succeeded them. I can say the same about our footballers of the past in due course. I close by congratulating all our athletes who came in colourful victory.


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