Delroy ChuckTHE RECENTLY concluded Athens Olympics brought infinite joy to Jamaicans. At first, it was disappointment as Asafa Powell failed to medal in the 100 metres. Then, Veronica Campbell's bronze lifted our spirit. However, nothing compared with the sense of sheer delight and overwhelming joy when Veronica raced to the tape for gold in the 200 metres. Again, Jamaicans held their breath and exhaled in a burst of untold happiness as the women's sprint relay team notched another gold.
Enough praise cannot be heaped on our Olympians who have made Jamaica proud and swelled our eyes with tears of joy. I am not normally an emotional person but when I saw Veronica winning the 200 metres and carrying the relay team to victory, my whole body shivered with pride and elation. I suspect that for Jamaicans everywhere, similar emotions overwhelmed them as they witnessed little Jamaica taking on the rest of the world, and triumphed.
How wonderful were the words of Veronica Campbell who spoke of her lifelong dreams of winning an Olympic gold and hearing our anthem played. She and other members of the relay team deserve our highest commendation and, hopefully, an appropriate occasion and a lasting monument will be provided for the nation to show its appreciation and to remind us that great achievements start with a dream. At the same time, we must not forget those who also ran and wish them success in the race of life. Maurice Wignall, James Beckford, Asafa Powell, Aleen Bailey and others reached the finals and barely missed out on an Olympic medal.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
For all the athletes who competed at the Olympic Games, it was an outstanding achievement that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Few Jamaicans will understand the enormous effort, sustained training and unbelievable sacrifice that athletes have to endure to reach the peak of their sports. When one reads about huge successes such as Michael Phelps, who won six swimming gold, a silver and bronze, it is easy to assume that he was destined for greatness but to think that he trained 365 days per year and literally lives in the pool, the preparation is simply unthinkable.
Similarly, our Olympians have trained for years, nay, decades, to reach their heights of greatness. We must also give credit to the coaches, managers, mentors and parents who are behind the scene, put in much work, sacrifice a lot, but are usually forgotten.
As happened, and should happen, we should use the successes and competitive spirit of our Olympians to inspire our fellow Jamaicans to great achievements, however greatness may be defined. Understandably, few of us will reach the heights of our Olympians but in dreaming of noble accomplishments and with determination to reach them, we define our character and bring out the greatness of which each of us is capable. To be sure, if only the competitive spirit and togetherness shown in sports could be duplicated in our national life, Jamaica would be a shining example to the world.
In politics, if we could compete fairly and openly then live and work together for the benefit of the nation thereafter, politics could become a noble vocation. Sadly, except in sports, we have not demonstrated the love and understanding of competition, which is so necessary if we are to make Jamaica a better place. Imagine, we did not and could not ask the rest of the world for any special favours and preferential treatment in sports competition, yet we have demonstrated that we can compete with the best. Why then do we not understand that in trade, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and economics, we have to compete for and in markets with the rest of world and, once the playing field is level, we must stop complaining and just compete. If we are uncompetitive in agriculture then focus fully on tourism and outperform everyone else.
VISION
To be sure, whether it is the CSME, FTAA or the WTO, our leaders must ensure that the rules and safeguards are the same for everyone but once that is satisfied, the creative effort and determination of our people must be inspired to put Jamaican products, services and successes on the stands of the world marketplaces. I must admit that even while enjoying the successes of our athletes, my dream and vision of a great Jamaica is one in which we are successful on the economic front, bringing untold benefits and rewards to our entrepreneurs and enough jobs and opportunities for our people. It is my hope and dream that the remarkable achievements of our Olympians can inspire our leaders and entrepreneurs to appreciate that in the fields of economics, banking and businesses, we too, through our efforts and successes, can parade on the world stage it is a goal we must embrace.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com.
