Hartley Neita
When Jamaica took part for the first time in the Olympic Games in 1948, we were a colony of Great Britain. We were not entered as Jamaica. We did not have a flag of our own, and we did not have an anthem.
So when Arthur Wint won gold, the flag which was flown was the Union Jack, the red, white and blue of Great Britain, and the anthem played was God Save The King. Interestingly, when this occurred, it was the first time at the Games that these British symbols were seen and heard. God bless Jamaica.
This was the case until after we became Independent in 1962. At each Olympics, the glory was Britain's. There was even one occasion when we participated as a member of the West Indies team and the medals won were shared by a federation which no longer exists. Interestingly, too, after Arthur Wint and George Rhoden won the 400 metres in 1948 and 1952 respectively, and Jamaica won the 4x400 metres relay in 1952, it was not until 24 years later that we won gold when Donald Quarrie won in the 200 metres final.
The fever of enthusiasm we now see in Jamaica during these Games did not blaze in those early years. When we won the gold in 1948, Jamaica had had its own radio station only nine years before. These radios were electric and at that time, electricity was only in a few major towns in the island. News was only communicated once per day to most Jamaicans through the newspaper.
Level playing field
Unlike today when we can see the Olympics live and in colour, in 1948, we saw a couple minutes of George Rhoden's glory three weeks later when a newsreel in black and white, with items of international news (United States of America or England, depending on which country produced the newsreel), was shown in the cinemas before the main feature movie.
It is the combination of radio and television which has made the Olympics meaningful in our lives during the past 40-odd years. We have been able to hear and see the glory of our young men and women reaching beyond their known abilities. Without the use of a pharmacist, our athletes have given the world indelible moments of joy.
The playing field is now level in athletics. In the same way that the USA took scientists from Germany after World War 2 to make the atom bomb, so, too, did they import the techniques discovered by the East Germans to enhance the strength and speed of their athletes.
What are we going to do for our athletes to show our appreciation? It cannot just be a street parade, a one-day wonder.
The full-page advertisements in the newspapers look pretty and will be placed in their memorial albums and scrap books. They will not, however, provide shelter, clothing, medicine or food for them in their later years. Repairing the roads on which their families live and re-naming the roads in their honour are nice, but the roads will fall into disrepair some day and it will be hell to get them repaired.
Who will benefit from a public holiday? Not them. And placing their names on the roads is a public-relations gimmick if it is not accompanied by a complete overall of these communities. It is like putting on a tuxedo when you are wearing a pair of dirty brown shoes.
Let us hear about the measures which will be out in place to protect them from unscrupulous sponsors and 'friends'. Juliet Cuthbert's impassioned plea for a special health-protection scheme to be provided for them by the private sector to help them when they are injured is something we can all endorse.
Moments of joy
These athletes enjoy many moments of joy. One such was the unique tribute of singing 'Happy Birthday' to Usain Bolt by 90,000 voices this week. But they also endure many aches and pains and sorrows. They have to deny themselves the tasty pleasures of chocolates, cheesecakes and ice cream. While we are turning over for a last hour of sleep, they are doing marathon mornings to keep fit and in shape. Much of their life is lived away from home and loved ones.
And it can be a lonely life.
