Although it is painful to admit, epic is not enough in the Olympic Games. Thus, a large part of our national representative has purchased a return ticket, failing to reach the final stages of Paris 2024.
In group sports, The men’s football, volleyball and hockey teams that have finished on the podium in previous editions have been eliminated from the race early on.
The handball gladiators have not achieved positive results in a very competitive group, while basketball, which won gold medals in Athens 2004 and bronze in Beijing 2008, could not even make an appearance at the great ecumenical event.
The path for female representatives has been even more difficult. who retain in the Leonas the only competitive bastion in collective disciplines.
It is a find to find national athletes in individual sports, such as gymnastics, athletics, swimming or rowing.
Nor in Judo or Taekwondo, even though gold medals were obtained in these latter disciplines, as in the case of Paula Pareto in Rio 2016 or Sebastián Crismanich in London 2012.
Unusually, boxing, after being the sport that historically contributed the most medals to Argentina’s Olympic harvest, today has no representative in the French capital.
Only José “the evil” Torres, with his gold medal in BMX Free Style, off the radar of friends and strangers, is the great exception to the rule.
As the Argentine volleyball coaches Daniel Castellani and Marcelo Méndez have pointed out, Argentine sport has its breeding ground in its clubs and in the epic of many of its players who feel and defend their jersey like few others, an additional plus that is constantly used.
More and more in these games it has become evident that it is no longer enough to be the “most amateur of professionals.”
Nor with the national leader attending the opening of the Games or saying goodbye to the athletes, when Then there are enormous difficulties in finding decent gyms where one can train, participate in preparatory competitions or receive minimum travel expenses. that allow for exclusive preparation.
While the powers invest in Olympic sport, We depend on players who are competitively nourished in other leagues, but also on individualities. from whom we expect heroic responses.
Football was perhaps the most striking demonstration of this, with a good squad of players who did not know how to play as a team and who did not find a savior in any individual.
The departure of iconic players from the Gladiators such as Federico Fernández, Pablo Simonet or Federico Pizarro, and the doubts about the continuity of the standard-bearer Luciano De Cecco, perhaps reflect the weariness of the lack of response to the need for change.
It is particularly painful because of his selfishness and lack of empathy with the country that saw him born and raised, to see a former lion as Gonzalo Peillatt, Olympic champion in Rio 2016, celebrating his own goal, with which the German team eliminated us 3-2.
In a country where poverty has grown so much, it is worth considering whether Olympic sport deserves different treatment or not.
Even more so when lThe very organizers fail in such basic matters as providing a minimally comfortable Olympic village, in protein-rich food, beds suitable for resting or room cooling.
Not to mention when we talk about the lack of sanctions for aggressions such as those received in their debut by the Argentine soccer team or allowing them to represent another country after having played for their own or when there are no clear regulations regarding not allowing trans or female athletes to compete, when their testosterone levels generate advantages over their opponents.
Even with so many subjects to complete, those of us who consider sport to be a perfect bisector between health and education will never doubt that poverty is also fought through these paths.
With the epic, the passion, the love of the shirt and the talent, it is not enough today.
In order to avoid becoming a history book in Olympic-sports matters, decisive official support is also essential.
*Lawyer. Nat. Prof. of Physical Education. University Professor. [email protected]
2024-08-07 03:36:00