This is, relatively, a deceptive Olympics for Mother Africa. Some African superpowers came out of this with no medals at all. Nations like our dear Nigeria and Ghana come to mind.
Some could argue that it is not so bad after all but the reality is that, in comparison, a relatively minute nation like Grenada came off with a gold Medal. Grenada has a population of just 110 000 people and got independence in 1974. Nigeria is a sport loving nation with a population of 160 million.
The last Olympics in 2008 saw Nigeria win four medals; one silver and three bronze. Ghana was last decorated with a medal 20 years ago in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. What is wrong?
The Olympics gold is something you barely win by chance. Preparation and hard work is paramount.
Barely had the closing Ceremony been concluded and several world nations immediately started their preparation for the next Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Focus has been shifted to the venue, accommodation, climate and security that these nations have to deal with.
Reports reaching us were that some African nations had accommodation problems in London once again due to bad preparation. The closure of Africa Village was a clear illustration of our ever present administrative failures or lack of administration. How on earth do we expect our athletes to perform when even the minimum is not put at their disposal?
Of course Africa is not so endowed financially at the moment like the Europeans but it is no secret that even the minimum resources that are supposed to be used for the athletes disappear or appear at the very last minute.
The gold-winning Nigerian soccer team of 1996 had to lodge in “love motels” for the semifinals and finals in Athens due to the lack of foresight from the administrators.
The point I am trying to make here is that we should have started our preparations for the next Olympics yesterday if we want to do better.
Even Kenya, our usual best in the Olympics, has performed below standards in London. The Kenyan athletes were 13th on the medals table four years ago, with a total of 14 medals. They dropped to 28th place in London, with 11 medals.
Our Athletes are criticised for not putting in their best. This I feel is quite unfair and even criminal. These athletes all know that it is in their best interest socially and financially to perform at the Olympics but how on earth do you want them to effectively compete on “an empty stomach”. Must it be painful to prepare for and serve your beloved fatherland?
Unfortunately, seven of Cameroon's athletes vanished from camp days into the Games, for reasons unknown to us at the moment, but possibly envisaging prospects as asylum-seekers in the United Kingdom or Europe in general.
We should applaud African Athletes for achieving what they did. Thanks to South Africa for its three gold medals that got us 23rd place on the medals table as a continent.
Surely in Africa probes will be set up to find out what went wrong and, eventually, other probes will be set up to probe the probes - further bureaucracy that our dear people could do without.
As far as I am concerned, I honestly do believe that Africa is the most gifted nation from so many perspectives. We Africans are our own problem, due to short-sightedness and the non-realisation of the benefits that long-term planning and meticulous implementation of those plans brings.
The Olympics is the greatest sporting event in the world and it is so special because in so many ways the field is level. Conditions are aimed so the athletes get equal treatment. It is also a means for nations to fight friendly wars and measure up against the world. Unfortunately for us, some see it as a means to fatten their pockets and rob its citizens of the joy that the Olympics brings.
As long as we Africans do not start our preparations early and have competent and honest administrators to lead, we will not take our rightful place in the world of sports, which is at the top!
