Opposition to Jamaican Olympians Getting Cash Gifts – Bad Mind?

London 2012 Olympic medals made by The Royal Mint, Llantrisant / Medalau Llundain 2012 wedi’u cynhyrchu gan y Bathdy Brenhinol, Llantrisant (Photo credit: Welsh Government / Llywodraeth Cymru)

I am really hoping that it is just a few, disgruntled Jamaicans who are upset that the Government of Jamaica has decided to award cash gifts to our Olympians and Paralympians.

Each individual gold medalist will receive $1m (per gold medal), silver medalists – $750,000, bronze medalists – $500,000, relay gold is worth $600,000, relay silver – $400,000, relay bronze – $360,000, and finalists will receive $350,000.  Other participants and support staff will also receive cash gifts.

I support this move 100%. I wish we could give more. But here’s what some of the critics are saying.

 

We have other things we should be spending money on.

Sure, we will always have other things to spend money on. Should we instead be spending the money on education? Sanitation? Cleaning gullies and drains? I guess it comes down to how much value you attach to the athletes’ performance. I attach tremendous importance to education. Put simplistically, it uplifts people and improves their chance of a better quality of life. But I can’t even begin to value the euphoric feeling I – AND MOST OF YOU- received from our athletes’ performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the World Championships in Berlin and Daegu and the 2012 London Olympics.

It was a feeling that finally, after being beaten down  and depressed for years because of our corruption, political

london 2012 olympics – mens 200m final (crowd) (Photo credit: jon smith.)

violence, lack-lustre economy, and crime, crime, crime, we had a reason to hold our heads high. We could wear our national colours, the black, green and gold, and proclaim that we were proud to be Jamaicans! Sure there are other bright spots, but very few like the last two Olympics.

Personally, I always receive a jolt of personal inspiration in watching our athletes perform and excel. I can’t value any of that, but heck, a couple hundred thousand Jamaican dollars is at least a start. And just a reminder here – many of these athletes operate for much of the year outside Jamaica. A million Jamaican dollars (the highest incentive) is just a little more than US$11,000.

Some people point to the value of the free tourism exposure Jamaica received all over the world. But even if not even one additional tourist visited Jamaica as a result of the Olympics and Paralympics, I would still say the money is well deserved.

They are competing for themselves

This is almost too nonsensical to comment on. Sure, they benefit personally, but they could benefit running for any country. We have athletes who would be able to jump ship at the drop of a hat. They stay with Jamaica out of love and patriotism. At the end of a race, what do they reach for first? Jamaica’s national flag. What is played when they are on that podium? Jamaica’s national anthem. What do the commentators say when they take the track? “The Jamaicans!” What do English, Japanese and other nationalities do to show their support? Wear Jamaican colours. Nuff said.

We ought to give them houses and land instead?

I disagree with this. I just think money is a lot more neutral and more useful. Property can be a hassle, and you then you have to try to ascertain what is a suitable location, and a suitable house. Do they all get houses or land in the same location? Who says they want land? Does an athlete living overseas want property in Jamaica? Maybe or maybe not. But why bother? Everybody can use money.

Usain Bolt after his victory and world record in the 100m at the bird’s nest, during 2008 Beijing olympics, august 16th (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bolt/Asafa/Shell-Ann/Veronica are rich enough – we don’t need to give them anything

Are you kidding me? Wow, that’s a great message to send. “You’re doing so well, we’ll just ignore you when we’re handing out incentives for doing well.” Folks, that is called reverse discrimination. It would be guaranteed to engender resentment and is a non-starter. Forget that.

Are we going to give all our other athletes cash gifts as well?

I certainly think we should maintain this for any athlete excelling at the highest levels of international competition although the exact sums to be given out would probably vary. I think it is a great incentive for athletes, many of whom struggle to remain in competition and have tremendous financial difficulties. If we are serious about developing sports why not show it by tangible, financial contributions to our athletes?

Why should we give them anything at all?

This is where I would ask my fellow Jamaicans to bury the mean-spiritedness and pettiness, please. Let me remind the people who have clearly forgotten, as I said before, many athletes struggle to remain in international competition once they leave college. Many give up. Those who have the grit, the core strength, the resilience and determination to keep going are among a tiny cadre of elite athletes. See my interview with Olympian Jason Morgan here.  Lack of sponsorship and expensive training gear are just some of the things that they have to deal with. Yes, many get SOME financial assistance, but they will tell you that it is hardly ever enough to cover costs. One bad injury can end a season, and perhaps a career. Medical costs are ridiculous.

But you know how I would sum up why I think these cash gifts are well-deserved? They are one small way of saying THANK YOU from a grateful nation.

London 2012: Athletics (Photo credit: Daniel Coomber)

Losing That Loving Feeling – Jamaica 50

Emancipation Park, Kingston
DJ Miller Photo

Between the Olympics and the Independence celebrations. Jamaicans were feeling good. But can we keep that feeling going? Sadly, past experience says no.

Thanks to the coincidence of the London 2012 Olympics, and the celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of political independence, patriotism was on full display in July and August. Public spaces, as well as buildings, both public and private, were bedecked using the national colours in creative and colourful decorations. Jamaicans were wearing, day after day, black, green and gold clothes, the hashtag #teamjamaica was trending, and most people were declaring themselves “proud to be Jamaican.”

This wasn’t new. During the previous two IAAF World Championships in particular, and when the Reggae Boyz made the 1998 World Cup, there were similar expressions of patriotism. None of them lasted, and I doubt this one will.

KSAC building
DJ Miller Photo

It’s not hard to figure out why. Life in Jamaica is hard. Not as hard, sure, as in some developing countries, but for many people, hard nonetheless. The grind of poverty, and the fear of crime and concern about issues like heath, education and corruption are never-ending. Advances are few and glacially slow. Events like the Olympics are actually a pit stop, a welcome break from reality.

So when the closing ceremony is over, and the accolades for the athletes have ended, when the remains of the Grand Gala have been cleaned up, it’s back to that reality of everyday life, which for many, isn’t fun.

I’ve been trying to figure out how to keep that fantastic energy going on a national scale, to harness that patriotism for national and economic development, and I must say I don’t have the answer.

It seems to me that while one problem lies in leadership, and that a 2008 Obama-style visionary could help, that could create problems of its own. The problem with hitching your hope to a political star, is that when the star starts to fall, as Obama’s undeniably has, and as Michael Manley’s did in the 1970s, you end up with a disillusioned and bitter populace.

So if we can’t draw inspiration from our leaders then where should we look?

The curb in Liguanea painted in the national colours
DJ Miller Photo

The only answer I can find is that we have to find it within ourselves and from whichever sources we draw on for personal inspiration. The incredible achievements of people like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have to be harnessed by each of us individually to propel us to greater heights in our individual lives. We can all then lift Jamaica together. It might sound inadequate, but as they say, the only person you can change is you.

Balloons for sale at the Denbigh Agricultural Show
DJ Miller Photo

If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.

 

 

Related articles

• Forget Politics and Crime – It’s Olympics Time in Jamaica! (newsandviewsbydjmillerja.wordpress.com)
• London 2012 Olympics: Jamaicans celebrate ‘one, two, three’ medals in men’s 200m final with lively carnival atmosphere at O2 (standard.co.uk)

Jamaica and the London 2012 Olympics – Want to Help Our Athletes? Back Off!

London 2012 banner at The Monument. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Olympic fever is now at a level never before seen in Jamaica.

That’s great and how it should be. The Olympics Games are, as far as I’m concerned, the greatest show on earth (sorry, football fans!)

The problem I am having, though, is the unrealistic expectations. It is understandable on one level. After all, our athletes gave Jamaica’s best ever performance at the Beijing Olympics, at a level that electrified the world –led by the wonderful, colourful, charismatic record breaker Usain Bolt.

Usain Bolt in celebration about 1 or 2 seconds after his 100m victory at Beijing Olympics 2008, breaking the world record. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Then came the World Championships in Berlin and Daegu, and we cemented our place on the world stage – and painted targets on our backs. The loud-mouthed American Justin Gatlin has been talking about taking down the Jamaicans.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/25/oly-us-athl-atm-idUSL3E8HP1C520120625

Justin Gatlin in Helsinki, 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, after he won 100 Metres. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s all part of the hype and the trash talking that goes along with most sports. If we’re honest, it’s part of the fun.

Unrealistic Expectations

But all the media hype about gold gold gold is having a more dangerous effect. It’s raising expectations, which were probably unrealistic to begin with. All that talk of gold is making us think nothing else is worth cheering for.

I watched to my shock, Jamaicans in Half Way Tree watching races at the World Championships, walk off without making a comment or cracking a smile if Jamaicans didn’t stop the clock in first place. Only gold is worth cheering for apparently. It’s not a new attitude, though I think it’s getting worse. I remember being perplexed some years ago to hear a radio announcer grudgingly congratulate a relay team although they “only” got a bronze.

We are a country of 2.5 million or thereabouts, with a PHENOMENAL record of achievement.

We have won over 50 Olympic medals so far, almost all in track and field (special big up to David Weller – Olympic bronze in  cycling, Moscow, 1980).

I checked the medal table for the Beijing Olympics.

Gold Medal Jamaican Men’s Relay Team (Photo credit: Reese the Law Girl)

Jamaica came in 14^th IN ALL with our 11 medals, six of which were gold. The nations that placed higher? Largely economic powerhouses and developed countries  - China, USA, Russia, Great Britain and N. Ireland, Germany, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Italy, France, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Kenya.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/historical-medals-beijing-2008/countries

But that doesn’t mean that we will always do that well, either in terms of total medals or in their colours. The London 2012 Olympics will see 205 countries sending over 10,000 athletes to participate in 26 sports, with 39 disciplines, and 300 events.

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Document/Publications/StategiesPolicy/01/24/75/49/FactpackMay2012_Neutral.pdf?t=1336753281382

Elite Sports

Do the math. How many athletes will actually be able to make the finals of their events, and then medal on top of that? This is elite sports at its best. Which is why we need to temper our expectations. Cheer on our athletes, of course!

But this ridiculous Jamaican attitude many of us have that only gold medals count has got to change.  For any athlete, making an Olympic team means you’re among the best in the world. We need to recognize that and applaud all those who are in London wearing our black, gold and green, whether they make the finals or not, whether they medal or not.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/olympics/news/Remember-our-competitors-in-field-and-other-events-

And as we wait impatiently for the track and field to begin , let’s not forget to cheer on our athletes also representing Jamaica with much less hype and fanfare – Samantha Albert in equestrian

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/18/oly-eque-jam-albert-adv-idUSB86373020120718

Kenneth Edwards in taekwondo

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111210/sports/sports3.html

and Alia Atkinson in swimming.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Atkinson-makes-Olympic-qualifying-time_11622971

Then we need to give an extra loud cheer to anyone who makes it to the finals of their events. Stop for a moment. These are the best of the best, now competing among themselves. To actually get a medal? That’s a dream come true.

What does a bronze medal mean? That you are third best in the world! Silver – second in the world! Cause for celebration indeed!

To say it takes hard work and determination to even make it to the Olympics sounds too inadequate to describe what all these athletes have gone through. National record holder in the discus thrower Jason Morgan, spoke to me about that, and you can read my post on him here.

English: Olympic medals revealed in Trafalgar Square, London (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Back Off!

Unrealistic expectations only burden people, and that includes athletes. So want to help them? Back off  with the constant calls for gold, which, with the best will in the world, they may not be able to deliver.

Of course we all want to see our athletes win as many gold medals as possible.  We want them to perform at their best and fulfil their potential. We’ll be disappointed if realistic hopes and expectations are not fulfilled. But that’s the key word. Realistic. All I’m asking  is that we be realistic and temper our expectations.