Jobseeker’s Diary

Just days into the Olympics and there’s plenty of drama for enthusiasts like myself. Voula Papachristou’s expulsion from her country’s Olympic team restored my hope that maybe someday, racism will be stamped out. I loathe racists and so I feel the punishment suits the crime. On second thought, I think she should have been banned for life. Racial issues really get to me. None of us chose to be African, Asian, Mexican or whatever else. We all have a right to walk this earth and I wish people like Voula would “wake up”. It’s 2012, not 1800! Four years she waited to compete and she just wasted the opportunity. As she waits four more, assuming she’ll still be fit to compete at the next games, I hope she’ll use this time to rally her kind against racism. Then there’s the North Korean Women’s team that walked off the pitch because a wrong flag was displayed. A flag! If I were representing Uganda and a Rwandan, Kenyan or even South African Flag was flagged, I wouldn’t storm off the pitch like a brat. Most likely, I would frown or perhaps wonder aloud about what was going on and that would be it because I would quickly realize that it was a mix-up. Everybody knows North and South Korea aren’t exactly buddies but surely, it was just a mishap. What with one Korea called Republic of Korea (South) and the other Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North)? Gosh I’m also confused now! North Korea’s coach, Sin Ui Gun, didn’t help matters, urging his team not to participate unless “the problem was solved properly.” Had there been best coach medals, he wouldn’t have won any if I had my way. Other athletes to miss out on medals include Morocco’s 1,500-meter runner Mariem Alaoui Selsouli and marathon runner Abderrahim Goumri over doping. I like the Moroccan Sports Minister’s stance on the scandal. He believes his country’s representatives should be held accountable for their actions and is considering taking them to court. Take note all you Sports Ministers who go sightseeing during major tournaments. Now, what I’m about to say may anger some of you but I really have to say it and I know I’m not the first nor will I be the last to say it. Is Bolt really clean? Really? While I’m a fan, I can’t shake the thought that one of these of these days, some test is going to turn up positive and all the magic will dissipate. I sincerely hope I’m wrong. There are other track races I’m looking forward to besides the 100 and 200 meters. You guessed it. It’s the 400 meters and the 4×400 meter relay. Oscar Pistorius’ story is simply inspiring although it also makes me feel useless. Here I am, with two arms and legs and I can’t even jog 100 meters without panting like a dog! I wish him well though. If anyone deserves that gold, it’s him. Away from the Olympics, how sad it was to learn of John Atta Mills’ death? Even sadder were Jerry Rawlings remarks. Sometimes, even smart people say dumb things. Mills’ family and friends can take comfort in the fact that most Ghanaians including members of the opposition have nothing but respect for their fallen leader. Even more impressive is how the country handled the tragedy. I liked the honesty of the senior figures who told it as it is. No lies about the president still being alive or other tricks to play with the Constitution. I had to look at my map twice just to check that Ghana is really an African country.To be continued...