Opinion - Editorials

Triumph of excellence

As the Olympic flame was extinguished at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing on Sunday night during a spectacular closing ceremony, every Chinese heart must have been filled with pride not just in having organised the ‘Ultimate Olympics’ without a major hitch, but also in seeing the host nation top the medals chart for the first time. Almost two weeks ago, every Indian heart too must have felt a pride rarely experienced before when rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra bec ame the first person from India to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. But that was not the end of Indian renaissance as two youngsters, of unprivileged rural background, full of confidence and dignity, added two more medals to India’s tally to make it the best ever for the country. Wrestler Sushil Kumar and boxer Vijender Singh showed promising talent and a brand of determination rarely displayed by Indian sportsmen on the global stage while winning bronze medals. The euphoria that has followed must be made the best use of by the Indian Olympic Association, though it has also to move seriously towards overhauling the structure that is still amateurish and flawed. Meagre budgets, primitive training facilities, and poor living conditions are not the stuff out of which champions emerge. The government should now look at infrastructure development from a long-term perspective in select sports to further build on the Olympics performance.

While the performance provides some comfort, it has to be seen in perspective in terms of the overall medals tally. India’s 50th position, with just one gold medal, is dwarfed in front of China’s awesome collection of 51 gold medals in a total of 100. On the other hand, China had set out to achieve a target and it comfortably crossed that while displacing the U.S. at the top. Not since the undivided Soviet Union took 55 gold medals in 1988 has a country amassed that many. China had to settle eventually for its acknowledged domination in weightlifting, diving, badminton, and table tennis after an ambitious plan to gather more from swimming and athletics came unstuck, except for a gold by 19-year-old Liu Zige from the pool. There were a few ‘firsts’ in rowing, boxing, and archery, but the biggest surprise was provided by the gymnasts who garnered nine gold medals as against one in Athens. But then, the undisputed superstars of the Games eventually were American swimmer Michael Phelps and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Phelps with his eight gold medals, following his six from Athens, has reached an incredible peak that looks unconquerable, while Bolt, a man of great speed and antics, picked up three gold medals, all in world record efforts.

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