BY MULUGETA GUDETA
The results by Ethiopian runners at the recent world athletics competitions once again brought to light the fact that you need not be a global economic power to become an internationally acclaimed athletic power. In the past, athletic success at the world stage was often associated with economic power, the availability of the latest training and coaching techniques and state- of- the- arts training grounds. The United States, Russia, China and many European countries shined at the Olympics and other international competition because they are economically rich and much more learned in sports as they are in other endeavors.
Ethiopia finished second at this year’s World Athletic championships, so far its highest achievement at the highest stage of competition. Was this a matter of chance or a reflection of economic might? Why Ethiopia shined at the games while many countries did not even make it to the medal table? Was this a contest between material wealth and mental resilience? These are some of the questions that inevitably come to mind as we ponder over or celebrate what can be described as a moment of national glory that came in the midst of a not so glorious national achievement in other fields of endeavors.
As the sports’ gurus tell us, sports are both team and individual performances. Modern sports require an advanced training program and the financial and material requirements that support successful performances at local and international competition. The advocates of modern physical education also tell us that in order for a country to shine at big sporting events, it has to meet the financial and material requirements because sports are increasingly become reflections of the ‘soft power’ a country has or it is sometimes considered a projection of big power in the general sense of the terms. Sports are therefore powerful image builders and that is why countries give them such a high importance.
Physical education goes back to ancient times. “Originally, in ancient times, physical education consisted of gymnastics to improve strength, agility, flexibility, and endurance. The Greeks considered the human body a temple that housed the mind and the soul, and gymnastics kept that temple healthy and functional. Eventually, structured gymnastic and callisthenic exercise was abandoned in favor of sports.”
Physical education developed together with economic development of countries and the big economic powers could also develop a strong physical education tradition integrated in the school curriculums.
“In modern times, especially from the 19th century on, in the U.S., physical education was a required course in most school programs. As school curricula became less formal and structured, physical education became an elective subject. Because physical education is the only subject that is directly concerned with motor behavior, it has, however, maintained its popularity. Emphasis on the meaning of human movement, physiology of exercise, sport sociology, and aesthetic appreciation of movement, as well as the acquisition of skills, are included in today’s curriculum.”
In Ethiopia, the advent of physical education as part and parcel of the school curriculum system dates back to the post-Italian invasion and liberation period and the modernization drive introduced by emperor Haile Selassie. The generations of students who went to school at that period must have vivid memories of the gymnastic periods that were routine events. At that time the schools had large compounds and football fields and physical education teachers who dutifully taught youngsters the basics of sports.
The physical education philosophy and programs tried to imitate the Western model. However, it is a pity that the big Ethiopian athletes did not graduate from the physical education programs in schools. As an academic discipline, the philosophy of sport has been in existence for a relatively short period. Although the philosophy of sport as an academic endeavor is relatively young, the philosophical view of sport itself is not new. Although sport was a major activity according to the Greeks and Romans, it lost its importance during the Middle Ages. After the Renaissance, education came to be seen as a necessity. With its incorporation and utilization in the educational curriculum, physical education obviously became more common in the curricula of the Renaissance and Reformation than it had been in the Middle Ages. Opinions about sports of ancient times have influenced those of the modern era. The evolution of physical training from the renaissance to the enlightenment is important because this period has laid the foundations of modern physical training and sport perception.
In Ethiopia sports in general and athletics in particular became relatively more popular after the end of the monarchy and the advent of a quasi republican government modeled after the former Soviet Union where sports enjoyed a very respected and prestigious status. The new government in Ethiopia shifted its focus from the West to the Soviet Union and launched another period imitation of a foreign model. Imitation may not be bad in itself, provided that it is done critically, it was not however conducive to the resurgence of traditional or national sports practices. Although Ethiopian athletes at that time did well in international athletic competitions, there were however no concerted efforts to modernize traditional sports practices. Ethiopia’s participation in international competition was limited to cross country or long distance races that did not require much theoretical knowledge or technical training with modern sports gadgets
Some researchers trace back the history of the sport in Ethiopia to military and school organizations in 1897. “The organization was formed on 4 June 1961. The ability of East African athletes was announced to the world in the 1960 Olympics as barefooted Abebe Bikila took the gold medal in the Marathon. Legendary Abebe Bikila had pioneered what we may call a talent-oriented and natural way of training for endurance coupled with a mentality of winning against the odds. “Abebe was an Ethiopian marathon runner who was a back-to-back Olympic marathon champion. He is the first Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, winning his and Africa’s first gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome while running barefoot. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he won his second gold medal. In turn, he became the first athlete to successfully defend an Olympic marathon title. In both victories, he ran in world record time.”
For the last many decades, Ethiopian athletes have repeatedly confirmed that what Abebe pioneered was in fact a model for winning races based on Ethiopia’s climates, the natural talents of the athletes and the spirit of invincibility that came together to make them powerful, resilient and top winners. There is nothing magical about the achievements of Ethiopian athletes. They work hard under a climate suitable to long distance race, something that is repeatedly confirmed by the sports gurus as far as advising their athletes to go to Ethiopia for training. Some of them have indeed benefitted from their advice.
At one time or another, sports insiders were talking about using Ethiopia’s climate and topography to promote sports tourism, which is a relatively new suggestion at that time. Ethiopia’s high altitudes are often singled out as favoring factors for Ethiopian athletes. However, not all countries that have highlands and mountains, have not become great sporting nations. Their athletes may be lacking the natural talent or the spirit of resilience required for victory in long distance races.
In the final analysis, the contest seems to be between technology and nature and that latter is for now the winner. The athletic boys and girls from Arsi , Oromia region as well as the new and upcoming stars from the highlands of Amhara region are both running for a single objective: to maintain and perpetuate Abebe Bikila’s legacy of resilience and the winner mentality in order to make Ethiopia great again. The recent international athletic competitions have also taught us some lessons in this regard. Athletics is not of course a regional performance but a national one but diversifications in regional climates and topography may play a role in shaping the physical and mental conditions of Ethiopian athletes. Other athletes from other country can learn from the successes of Ethiopian sportsmen and sportswomen; but they cannot recreate Ethiopia geographic and climatic conditions in their own countries.
It is only by training together and planning a race together with experienced veteran athletes that they could seal Ethiopia’s great victory in the face of more powerful competitors. This can also serve as a model for building the great Ethiopian nation; togetherness, and commitment to changing the image of the motherland are two most powerful assets that have sealed their victories. This is not however unique to Ethiopian athletes. Every country that took part in the games know that their athletes love their countries whether they come from the US, China, or Brazil. One of the requirements for athletic greatness may be the love of country and people although financial and other considerations may also positively impact behind the results as inspirational factors.
The challenge for Ethiopian athletic authorities now is to institutionalize the athletic tradition as well as the legacies of the great pioneers in order to prepare worthy replacements for the future. The modern culture of physical education should also be re-introduced and rebuilt so that schools too could take part in this nationwide endeavor to create great athletes who will represent Ethiopia at the highest levels in the future. This is particularly a must if we want to go beyond long distance races and participate in competitions that require advance preparations backed by modern techniques and technology such as in short distance race, high jumps, the pole vault, cycling, swimming, etc.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 29 JULY 2022
