RNOC can’t have both ways!

The 2012 Olympic Games are barely 90 days away but for whatever reasons, Rwanda will once again send participants rather than competitors to the games in London. Two weeks ago, the Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOC) announced a Rwf214 million budget for the preparation and participation of the country’s 50-man Olympic and Paralympics contingent.The country plans to send participants in athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, swimming and taekwondo plus 14 officials to the games. But the Olympics spirit has not caught on in Rwanda yet; while other countries are busy putting final touches to their preparations, our athletes are still pursuing qualifying times.The local Olympics committee and the Ministry of Culture and Sports are expected to spearhead early and adequate preparations for the team, yet in the absence of a viable plan, the country’s Olympics medal jinx looks certain to continue, at least for another four years.There is clearly lack of seriousness, ownership and organisation for the country’s preparations for major competitions, such as the Olympic, which should be a real concern for all.Why does the RNOC, Sports ministry and the individual federations wait until the last minute to start running around, yet they had four years to prepare?Unless these officials change their attitudes, Rwanda has no chance of getting any medals in any international event. You either plan for success and work smart or you don’t plan, do shoddy preparations and fail. You can’t have it both ways.

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RNOC can’t have both ways!