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12:28Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf SMS Of The Day * WHY doesn’t NBC listen when they are criticised? The little red chairs on Good Morning Namibia have done their part and are dirty especially at the arm rests. Please listen for once. You interview professionals and internationals on those Food For Thought * MINISTRY of Education, in order to address the shortages of teachers at primary schools why don’t you consider employing us who hold a diploma in lifelong learning and community education for teaching posts? We also did health education Bouquets And Brickbats * MY fellow Namibians, I am not a Swapo member but a third term for President Hifikepuye Pohamba will be a step closer towards attainment of Vision 2030. Believe me His Excellency has made crucial bold decisions, and I don’t regret
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SPORT - ATHLETICS
| 2013-08-13
Usain Bolt: Athletics’ eternal firefighter
ICON ... Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates his IAAF World Championships men’s 100 metres victory with fans at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Sunday.
MOSCOW - Lightning lit up the Moscow sky as Usain Bolt regained his 100m world title, the big Jamaican taking on the role of fireman, extinguishing flames that have threatened to consume the sport.
It is not the first time the 26-year-old superstar has come to athletics rescue.
His record-breaking exploits at the Beijing Olympics, which saw him win three gold and break the 100m world record, served to divert attention away from the drug scandal involving the sport’s one-time poster girl Marion Jones and her ex-boyfriend and former 100m world record-holder Tim Montgomery.
Indeed at the time he was winning his three gold medals she was serving a six month jail sentence for perjury over the scandal.
He also restored lustre to the title of Olympic 100m champion when predecessor Justin Gatlin was unable to defend his title as he was serving an initial eight-year doping ban - which was reduced to four.
Those two worlds - the good and the bad - collided on Sunday as Bolt overcame 31-year-old Gatlin, who returned to competition when his ban ended in 2010, to take the gold.
Then the two appeared to bury the hatchet - Bolt had in a rare moment of irritation described the American as “annoying” earlier this season - as Gatlin hugged him and graciously shook his hand.
Gatlin has served his time but defeating Bolt would not have been the script the organisers and sport authorities would have liked for there were other ghosts for the track star to lay to rest.
Bolt’s recapture of his 100m title will drive into the background, for the moment at least, the doping scandal surrounding closest rival, and the second fastest man of all time, American Tyson Gay as well as Bolt’s close friend Asafa Powell.
Bolt, though, has never been one to point the finger or to lambast someone for failing a test, preferring to refocus people’s minds on his exploits on the track instead.
However, while the battle against doping and the seemingly endless sequence of positive tests - both at the top and the bottom - will go on, there is only a finite time left for Bolt to keep the sport on the front pages for the right reasons.
Bolt also has the common touch with the spectators, understanding that as well as competing in a sport it is also important to provide entertainment for the crowd.
And unlike other entertainers from the sporting world, who fall short when it comes to delivering titles, Bolt has an incredible ability to be able to play to the crowd before a final, then focus on his race and blitz the field.
He did not let them down on Sunday.
He mimed putting up an umbrella with heavy rain falling - and appropriately lightning bolts lit up the sky around the stadium - and stood there Charlie Chaplin-esque waiting to be called to the blocks.
He had them eating out of his hand and with the noise rising to levels where it would be difficult to hear the starter he raised his finger to his lips and the crowd went silent.
Bolt has made it clear why he feels obliged to give something back to the spectators.
“This is what I do. I’ve said it,” he said. “A lot of people come out to see what I’m going to do today, tomorrow and it’s fun for them.
“I enjoy showing them and giving them the joy I get out of doing this because they give me the energy to do it so I’m always hungry.”
The athletics authorities and the spectators will hope that his hunger is not sated any time soon for then there might be no-one around to fill his enormous shoes and save the sport. -Nampa-AFP
His record-breaking exploits at the Beijing Olympics, which saw him win three gold and break the 100m world record, served to divert attention away from the drug scandal involving the sport’s one-time poster girl Marion Jones and her ex-boyfriend and former 100m world record-holder Tim Montgomery.
Indeed at the time he was winning his three gold medals she was serving a six month jail sentence for perjury over the scandal.
He also restored lustre to the title of Olympic 100m champion when predecessor Justin Gatlin was unable to defend his title as he was serving an initial eight-year doping ban - which was reduced to four.
Those two worlds - the good and the bad - collided on Sunday as Bolt overcame 31-year-old Gatlin, who returned to competition when his ban ended in 2010, to take the gold.
Then the two appeared to bury the hatchet - Bolt had in a rare moment of irritation described the American as “annoying” earlier this season - as Gatlin hugged him and graciously shook his hand.
Gatlin has served his time but defeating Bolt would not have been the script the organisers and sport authorities would have liked for there were other ghosts for the track star to lay to rest.
Bolt’s recapture of his 100m title will drive into the background, for the moment at least, the doping scandal surrounding closest rival, and the second fastest man of all time, American Tyson Gay as well as Bolt’s close friend Asafa Powell.
Bolt, though, has never been one to point the finger or to lambast someone for failing a test, preferring to refocus people’s minds on his exploits on the track instead.
However, while the battle against doping and the seemingly endless sequence of positive tests - both at the top and the bottom - will go on, there is only a finite time left for Bolt to keep the sport on the front pages for the right reasons.
Bolt also has the common touch with the spectators, understanding that as well as competing in a sport it is also important to provide entertainment for the crowd.
And unlike other entertainers from the sporting world, who fall short when it comes to delivering titles, Bolt has an incredible ability to be able to play to the crowd before a final, then focus on his race and blitz the field.
He did not let them down on Sunday.
He mimed putting up an umbrella with heavy rain falling - and appropriately lightning bolts lit up the sky around the stadium - and stood there Charlie Chaplin-esque waiting to be called to the blocks.
He had them eating out of his hand and with the noise rising to levels where it would be difficult to hear the starter he raised his finger to his lips and the crowd went silent.
Bolt has made it clear why he feels obliged to give something back to the spectators.
“This is what I do. I’ve said it,” he said. “A lot of people come out to see what I’m going to do today, tomorrow and it’s fun for them.
“I enjoy showing them and giving them the joy I get out of doing this because they give me the energy to do it so I’m always hungry.”
The athletics authorities and the spectators will hope that his hunger is not sated any time soon for then there might be no-one around to fill his enormous shoes and save the sport. -Nampa-AFP
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