Towards London 2012

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Much has been made of this country’s poor performance at the recently concluded Beijing Olympics and different individuals and groupings have adopted varying positions on the way forward.

What are our options and how could we make certain that this country gives better account at the London 2012 Olympic Games?

Here we take a look at some of the options.

Effective administration

National sports associations responsible for sports included on the Olympic Programme must steel themselves with competent leaders and effective administration as a prerequisite to ensuring good performances of their respective athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. There can be no shortcuts.

Associations must work individually and collectively to lift the standard of administration such that adequate planning is undertaken.

Thus far only one national sports association has produced a strategic plan for London 2012 and that is the governing body for athletics. When the plan, Project 2012, was launched two years ago not a single media house expressed interest and took the time to even so much as entertain discussions on its content.

The reality is that it is perhaps already quite late for some associations to begin planning for 2012 given the very stringent mechanisms put in place by their respective international federations (IF) in respect of qualifying for the prestigious London 2012 Olympic Games.