WEEKLY NEWS 17: Africans at the Winter Olympics: Inspirational - or glory-hunters?

Africans at the Winter Olympics: Inspirational - or glory-hunters?


Last month (February), for two weeks, the winter Olympics has took place in South Korea.
From the opening ceremony, we noticed something rather unusual, which was the handshake that took place between the sister of North Korea’s leader and the leader of South Korea, since the two sides of Korea have had a long, on-going war between each other. Even though they decided to be at peace for the sake of the Winter Olympic Games, some people might be feeling unsure if this will remain the same in the future.
 However, this is not the main issue regarding the Games, for the issue has been turned into whether or not Olympians from Africa taking part in the winter games are seen as an inspiration for young Africans to look up to or if they are there to seek attention from the public based on ethnic differences between the Olympians who are usually known for taking part in the winter Olympic games and those who are not.
The Nigerian Bobsled team who were the first African team to make it to the Winter Olympic Games and were praised for making it that far to the games and being good role models to young athletes, although they have been largely criticized because they were not born in Nigeria, but have chosen to represent the country.
It has become a concern according to a Nigerian, Public Relations expert, Korede Oluwole.
He says, “I am concerned as to why a government of a serious country would send a contingent they never trained, that had no history in a competition – which this same country has never participated in – to the Olympics.”
Going against his view, an athlete who was born in Togo, but competed for France in the Sochi Games, who goes by the name of Mathilde – Amivi Petijean  who is a cross-country skier, says, “It’s not because there is no snow in my country that there shouldn’t be any skiing.”
“ There are no borders – we are after all in the 21st Century, and anyone should be able to do whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it.”
Compared to the normal Olympic Games (that take place in a city that has been selected by the Olympic Committee every 4 years), there has been no issue brought up about athletes representing countries that they were not born in, but originate from.  
Just like what the athlete, Mathilde – Amivi Petijean said, “ There are no borders – we are after all in the 21st Century, and anyone should be able to do whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it.”, it shouldn’t affect the athlete’s position in the games.
 The story comes from BBC news which is run by the BBC trust and are paid by the Public.

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