The celebrations have come to an end and the medals are safely packed away. And, having returned from Melbourne after what is being hailed as the most successful performance by a South African team at a Commonwealth Games to date, things are looking bright for the country’s so-called minor sports.
As South Africa’s cricket, soccer and Super 14 rugby teams flounder, that’s good news for success-hungry sports fans.
But what’s next for the swimmers, athletes, weightlifters and the like who graced the Melbourne podium? And are their performances Down Under (where they claimed a total of 12 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals to finish fifth overall) of any major significance in the greater scheme of global competition?
While their achievements were admirable in their own right, the next focus is the Beijing Olympics in 2008 — and there will need to be plenty of work done and support given to bridge the gap between doing well in the 71-country-strong Commonwealth and success among the 200-odd-strong contingent that competes at the Olympics.
Speaking to Sapa on the team’s return, South African Sports Commission and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president Moss Mashishi pointed out that other teams’ success could be put down to the massive financial investment in sportspeople.
‘Other countries such as Australia and England put millions into their sportsmen and women, so when you consider the disparity of investment, our athletes have performed miracles,†said Mashishi.
‘What we need to do now is to identify a core group of around 100 to 120 athletes,†said Games team chef de mission Gideon Sam.
‘And then we need to put our resources behind them now to build to Beijing. The talent is there, now we need to provide the support.
‘Preparations for Beijing need to start tomorrow and not next week. We need to consider rewarding athletes for the efforts they put in. Secondly, we have to review the Act that governs the Lotto and how the money is distributed in sport. We do have resources in this country, but much of it is just misplaced,†said Sam. ‘Thirdly, if the problem is with bumbling administrators in our the sporting bodies, then Sascoc needs to crack the whip.â€
Mashishi said he would be appealing to government for support. ‘In this regard I would like to thank the team for doing so well in Melbourne. It makes the case so much easier to present,†he said.
Adding to the strength of the case is the fact that so many of the younger athletes showed at these Games what they’re capable of.
Apart from regular trips to the podium by established stars such as Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling, what was truly encouraging were the performances produced by several of the younger swimmers in particular.
There is a crop of up-and-coming youngsters, the likes of Lize-Mari Retief (who claimed bronze in the 50m butterfly), Suzaan van Biljon (bronze in the 200m breaststroke) and Troyden Prinsloo (bronze in the 1500m freestyle), who, given the right support over the next two years, could be challenging for medals in Beijing.
Former world junior champion, Khotso Mokoena, is another top prospect for the future. In a few years, he will no doubt be converting his fourth place (in the long jump in Melbourne) and silver (in the triple jump) to golds.
South Africans are getting understandably tired of hearing the usual ‘we are still learning a lot†excuses for below-par performances.
But the next two years will indeed be a building phase for Team SA for the Beijing Olympics. At least the country has now been given a taste of what can be achieved, and the abundance of the talent available.
And if it wants to see similar sorts of results on the podiums of China, corporate South Africa will have to invest now to reap the rewards in 2008, when it really counts.