Olympics is more than medals and celebrations

By XN IRAKI

Every four years, the world celebrates the power of human mind and spirit; some would add the power of muscles too.

Through Olympics, the world showcases the best athletes, footballers and other games. The games are more than a celebration — they carry an economic tag. 

The sportsing extravaganza affords nations a chance to make peace with each other and forget the old enmity, which like septic wounds keeps recurring.

For the duration of the event, we will forget the battlefields as nations compete with each other peacefully for honour and prestige.

Through Olympics, we test our endurance unaided by machines. That is why record breaking is such a great feat in Olympics. We compete as human beings, no wonder the Greek Olympics encouraged athletes to compete naked!

In the fields, it does not matter whether you come from a super power or some third-rate war ravaged country — we all compete.

Olympics often remind us that we all are citizens of one planet, breath same air, love to be happy, and have one destiny. However, Olympics goes beyond the good feelings through medal hauls. It has an economic impact.

For the host nation, they act as an economic stimulus, with huge public works that lead to lots of employment and urban renewal. Anyone who has been to South Africa lately can see the positive effects of hosting the world Cup.

Tourism sector

The demand for goods and services are felt by the whole economy. The London Stock Exchange index (FTSE 100) rose after London beat Paris in hosting the Olympics!

Some could argue it is costly to host Olympics, but the returns can be higher. Think of the brand recognition for the host nations. For three weeks, all the eyes will be focused on the UK, her cultures and managerial prowess.

People come to know of her products and services, which can translate into future economic growth through demand.

The biggest beneficiary is the tourism sector. Nations showcase their hospitality and sites. Considering that most Olympians are young, chances of repeat visits are quite high. It’s no wonder that there is a fierce competition to host Olympics.

Successful hosting of the games, gives host countries lots of self-confidence. A feeling “that we can do it”. Think of the feeling of South Africans after successfully hosting the World Cup? Any country can ride on that “feel good” to jumpstart their economy.

What of other non-hosts like Kenya? The games are also a morale booster. They make us forget we are different tribes, but Kenyans.

I have never seen anyone refusing to celebrate the success of any Kenyan Olympian because he is not a tribesman.

As we start on the journey to 2013 elections, can we ride on unity of Olympics to forge a stronger and more confident nation?

Through Olympics, some youngsters labelled failures get a chance to flourish. Remember Samuel Kamau Wanjiru and other great Kenyans who made us proud by the medals they brought home.

We need to bring the spirit of Olympics home. Too many youngsters fall through cracks graduating into petty thieves and drug addicts because they never get a chance to try something else after being labelled “failures” by our schooling system.

We suggest that sportsing should become an integral part of the devolved system. Why can’t we have our mini-Olympics every four years with counties hosting. That would dissipate our dislike for each other. We can shout and yell to our competitor, which is better than hate speech.

Beauty of sportss

Other nations are kept busy by games which keep the young minds busy and away from bad influence. UK lives on soccer, we all know of Man U and other clubs. USA has basketball. Canada has Hockey and South Korea Golf.  We have athletics but have not promoted this game into the cult-like status enjoyed by English Soccer.

Our demographics show that 42 per cent of Kenyans are 14 years and younger. The equivalent percentage for Japan is 14. We are a very young nation, perhaps the unexplained reason we are prolific in producing gold medalists in athletics.

Such a young nation needs a steady diet of games to keep our young people busy. I have no doubt that police will report lower levels of crime during the Olympic season.

While we have a Ministry of Sportss, we can still do more to make sportsing not just a means to national cohesion, but an industry that can be reflected on national accounts.

The beauty of sportss industry is that the main “raw material” is already there, our young people, it just needs harnessing through organisation and provision of physical facilities.

A good case; from 2016, Golf will be in the Olympics. Have we made any preparation for that?

The spirits of Olympics should live beyond the three weeks stimulating our economy and our spirits.

Let us celebrate our heroes in London, but learn some lessons that can make Kenya a better nation, in our lifetime.  Finally, when is Kenya hosting Olympics? I suggest 2028, to test Vision 2030.