Daily Times

Last month, the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 were postponed to 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the first such delay in the Olympic Games’ 124-year modern history, as the global outbreak of COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the international sporting calendar. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the decision after speaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organisers, ending weeks of speculation and uncertainty about the Summer Games –– initially scheduled to kick off on July 24, 2020. The rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games will open on July 23 next year, with the Closing Ceremony taking place on August 8. Agreement was reached by Tokyo 2020 and the IOC on the new dates. Dates in both the northern hemisphere spring and summer had been considered by organisers, following the declaration that the Olympics would take place ‘no later than the summer of 2021’ because of the coronavirus outbreak. The postponement marks the first break in the four-year cycle for the Summer Olympics since the 1940 and 1944 Games were cancelled because of World War II. The Olympic Games is the world’s biggest sporting festival. Biggest in the numbers of its competitors, its spectators, the global reach and television coverage.

History of the Olympic Games: Beginning in about 776 BC, the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years in the valley of Olympia in Southwestern Greece. The opening of the Games was marked by the lightening of a flame at the altar of Zeus. When the Games were completed, the flame was extinguished. Later the scope of the Olympic Games also grew, drawing contestants not only from Greece, but from throughout the Macedonia empire and the Roman empire. A month long truce suspended warfare to allow athletes safe passage to and from the Olympic Games. Originally the Olympics were for men only, but eventually women were allowed to compete. After lasting for more than 1100 years, it would be another 1500 years before they were revived.

During its brief modern history of just 120 years, the world’s great cities have sought right to host it and generations of men and women have willingly dedicated years of their lives in efforts to be part of its quadrennial celebrations. Some have done so for gold, silver and bronze medals and the prestige those bestow on their winners. Some only for the privilege and pleasure of taking part because, in the words of the Olympic Creed: “the important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight, the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.” All have played their part in ensuring that this modern adaptation of an ancient Greek festival, the brainchild of a French aristocrat seeking to promote the importance of sport in education, not only survives but continues to surpass itself in its success. Although there had been previous attempts to create a modern revival of the ancient Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France was the first person to possess the perseverance and organizational skills necessary to make it happen. Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, leading to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority.

Pakistan at the Olympics: After division of United India in 1947, new country Pakistan first participated at the Olympic Games in 1948 in London, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except when they participated in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Soviet Union. Pakistan athletes have won a total of ten medals, all at the Summer Olympics with eight of those in men’s field hockey. At the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, Pakistan’s Syed Hadi Haider Naqvi did pick up a bronze medal in the demonstration sport of taekwondo, but as the sport was not given full status then, the medal was not recognized in the official tally. Pakistan has won two individual medals in the Olympics to date, both bronze medals: one in wrestling in Rome 1960 and one in boxing in Seoul 1988. Rome 1960 has been the most successful Olympics for Pakistan so far, with Pakistan winning two medals: a gold medal in field hockey and a bronze medal in wrestling. Pakistan’s first ever participation in the Winter Olympic Games was at Vancouver 2010 when Mohammad Abbas became Pakistan’s first athlete to qualify in the Alpine Skiing (Giant Slalom) category. Pakistan also participated in 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics but was not able to win any medal. Pakistan has not won a single medal at the Olympic Games since 1992 Barcelona.

At the Rio Olympics in Brazil, Pakistan, country of 212 million, was represented by only seven athletes, who competed in the qualification phases of their respective events and none of them went beyond this stage and neither did they look close to competing with their highly skilled, trained and battle-hardened opponents. Rio 2016 had been no different from London 2012, Beijing 2008 or any of the preceding Olympics going back to Atlanta 1996, with Pakistan returning empty-handed from each of the last six Olympic Games. Each time, there had been a hue and cry over the dismal state of affairs but the fact is that Pakistan continues to nosedive further as time passes. Weak infrastructure, lack of star players, substandard coaches, an illogical domestic calendar, dwindling sponsorship money and the ever-shrinking national circuit have left Pakistan sports in poor shape. It is little wonder that Pakistan has not won a medal at the Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Rio 2016 had been no different from London 2012, Beijing 2008 or any of the preceding Olympics going back to Atlanta 1996, with Pakistan returning empty-handed from each of the last six Olympic Games.

Why not patronise and prioritise sports: Governments all over the world keep sports and education as their top priority, build infrastructure, hold talent development programmes for players and promote medical sciences in sports to compete the world of sports. India spends billions of dollars on sports, but in Pakistan it is totally opposite because sports are not our priority. Patronising only cricket and ignoring other sports is very unfair. Cricket does not have the kind of global competition which others sports have as its playing is limited to a handful of largely Commonwealth countries. At the same time, both in the national sphere and the sporting arena the root of our dilemma is the notorious system of patronage and imposed cronies, to the exclusion of merit and professionalism. Under the powerful patron’s benevolent gaze, the pick and choose appointees can survive scandals and failures that would crush an ordinary mortal. To rise from nothing, against all adversity, and reach the pinnacle, that is a dream that is as powerful today as it has ever been. More than any other sporting occasion, the Olympics denote a country’s progress or the lack of it. Olympians are marked by their heroics, their endeavour, their struggle against the odds. Pakistan has no Olympian of note for our present generation.

It is lamentable that Pakistan hockey, a strong medal prospect at every Olympics for the country, failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics 2016 and even the Tokyo Olympics 2020. As Pakistan returned empty-handed from the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, small nations like Kosovo, Fiji, Puerto Rico, Jordan, Singapore, Tajikistan and Ivory Coast won gold medals. Pakistan have not won any medal for the last six consecutive Olympic Games, which makes it more than 24 years. And it does not seem like the Tokyo 2020 Games would be any different. Should we expect Prime Minister Imran Khan to interfere? Despite being a sportsperson himself, he doesn’t seem to have taken much interest in the area since coming into power. Sports are neither a burden on national economy nor an impediment to development, but an engine for economy and development and means to strengthen the socio-economic order. It is indeed a force multiplier to strengthen the federation and promote peace and harmony among provinces. In this fast changing milieu, Pakistan needs to take a fresh start with a new, realistic and scientific sports narrative that may lead to a comprehensive sports policy and develop Pakistan as a powerhouse of sports. Pakistan sports desperately need qualified human resource in terms of coaches, trainers, physios, sports psychologists, administrators, sport medicines experts, and referees. The dismal state of sports affairs at the 73rd anniversary of the country should be a wake-up call for the government, and the country’s sporting authorities.