By Theodore M. K. Viwotor

In about two months, precisely from July 27 to August 12, the Olympic Games, dubbed London 2012, would take place in London, United Kingdom, gathering various athletes to compete for medals for their countries.

Considered the greatest sporting event on earth, the London Olympic Games would bring together almost all the nations in the world to participate in 35 sports, 30 disciplines and nearly 400 events. In view of its importance, all attention is being directed to the summer games that promise to change London’s outlook. The city of London is well prepared to receive the numerous athletes and preparations are afoot to put finishing touches to the requisite facilities for the event. It wouldn’t be easy for London to receive millions of visitors who would be thronging the city for such a huge event; but, what they started years back since they won the bid, would certainly yield good results at the end. Nations are putting their athletes in shape to ensure that they grab as many medals as possible to bring honour to themselves and their people. The excitement is not only in London but in all the countries that are sending athletes to the London event. It’s not just a game but an expression of patriotism. Winning a medal does not only bring honour to the athlete but the nation as well.

In Ghana, the qualified athletes have also arranged training programmes to ensure that they do not just add up to the numbers but also get mentioned on the medal table. Nations are at the end of the tournament rated based on the number of medals they haul, with gold, silver and gold gaining points in that order. Officials, media personnel and other tourists are making their travel arrangements to London, as the British High Commission soaks the pressure of increased visa applications for the games, in addition to the usual summer travellers. Available information indicates that special provision has been made for those travelling specifically for the Olympic Games, so that their processes are not affected by the normal day-to-day applications that the Commission handles. This is very commendable on the part of the British High Commission. For Ghana, these games present athletes with the opportunity to reverse the poor performance its representatives put up at Seoul 2008, where Ghana had no medal. Both Men and women athletes failed to fetch any silverware in one of the worse performances ever. It was heartbreaking for a nation to spend much on its athletes without getting any returns.

This year, expectations are higher and Ghanaians would be expecting more from the men and women who would be representing them at London. Failure to win a medal would be an indictment on their part and perhaps, would lead to calls for another look at the need to even send athletes to any Olympic Games at all. In 2004 in Athens, Ghana failed to win a medal so if it happens again, one can imagine the reaction.

Interestingly, at the Paralympic Games in the same years, Ghana could not win any medal with the three athletes (2004) and two athletes (2008). Nkegbe Botsyo, in athletics, took part in the men's 100m, 200m and 400m, in the T54 category. Ajara Mohammed entered the women's 800m and the marathon, also in the T54 category. Alfred Adjetey Sowah competed in powerlifting, in the men's up to 52kg. All in these happened during Ghana’s first appearance in 2004. In 2008, Botsyo and Mohammed returned to compete again in the Summer Paralympics in Beijing, the former in the men's 100m and 200m (T54), and the latter in the women's 200m and 1,500m (T54).

Talking about the Paralympics brings into focus Ghanaians awareness and knowledge of the competition. A few Ghanaians surveyed by this writer indicated that they did not know about it but were quick to identify with the Olympics that are better known. This not surprising at all, considering the fact that Ghana was participating in it for the third time this year. That notwithstanding, one can say that the reason for the low awareness and knowledge about the Paralympic Games could be traced to a general attitude that has been shown towards disabled athletes over the years.

Before addressing the attitudinal issue, it would interest readers to know that, the Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their respective Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Paralympics have grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to become one of the largest international sport events by the early 21st century.

Generally, we have not done much for disability sports in terms of infrastructure and motivation for the physically challenged to also bring more medals for the nation during competitions. On some critical occasions, we have relied on disabled athletes for medals but we continue to neglect them when it comes to creating the right atmosphere to boost their morale. The nation cannot boast of a disability sports centre solely devoted to developing talents to represent Ghana at international competitions.

In the developed countries, it is common to find various disability sports centres in cities and towns scattered across the geographical extent of the nation. These centres do not only train the disabled for competitions but also to develop their skills for easy integration into mainstream society as a way of eliminating discrimination against them. It is yet to be heard of, a sports centre purposely for disability sports in Ghana. There is a rehabilitation centre in Accra for the disabled but the least said of its conditions and facilities, the better, let alone its ability to do anything for the development of disabled athletes.

The disabled athletes in the country struggle to train in the facilities designed for able-bodied persons so when it comes to international competitions, they are not able to easily adapt to facilities put together for disability games. For instance, many of them train at the stadia in Accra and Kumasi which may be a bit disability-friendly but not built for the disabled. Here, reference is being made to facilities built strictly for the disabled with their specific needs in mind. It is, therefore, not surprising that very little is expected of them during Paralympics and others.

This year’s Paralympics would witness very few disabled athletes from Ghana because many of them could not qualify and more so because the country does not have the facilities to create more avenues for them. Of the 20 sports and disciplines and about 420 events at the Paralympics, Ghana would be participating in just cycling, athletics, power lifting, and others if others qualify. The few who have qualified are making do with their own improvised training facilities.

Alem Mumuni, the first Ghanaian cyclist to ever qualify to the Olympics, is being trained by Right to Dream, an NGO supporting some athletes to develop their skills, as well as the Ghana Cycling Association. Alem, who competes in the C2 category, is one of the only two cyclists from Africa to qualify in that category for the summer games; the other cyclist is from South Africa. Alem is the current African Champion in the C2 category, having defended the title on three consecutive occasions. Charles Narh Teye, one of Ghana’s para-lifters, is another person with physical disability to be participating in the Paralympics this year. He is a medal hopeful that can brighten Ghana’s chances in London. Ajara Mohamed, Nkegbe Botsyo, Alfred Adjetey Sowah and Anita Fordjour are some of the athletes likely to be at the games, as the process for qualification continues.

It is the hope of Ghanaians that these athletes would come home with some medals, the first ever for Ghana but we as a nation should not be too surprised if they don’t bring back much, especially when we are all aware they are going to compete with their counterparts from countries like Australia, United Kingdom, the USA, among others, who have practically prepared their athletes for such events. Alem Mumuni for one is training with a bicycle that does not match what his counterparts from developed countries have. A bicycle of good quality costs around $12,000.00 and this is too high for him.

In spite of these challenges, some of us who have observed these athletes over the years are very hopeful they would come back to Ghana with medals to show for their participation in the summer games. The typical resilience and determination they have exhibited over the years in the face of challenges would be demonstrated in London when the games begin. They may not have the good facilities to compete with other competitors but there is hope that they shall make a remarkable impact.

This writer joins other Ghanaians in wishing all the athletes participating in both the Olympics and Paralympics well in their pursuit of a good cause. We would be observing from far and near to offer you the best of our support as you lift the flag of Ghana high. Gallant men and women, go out there and make Ghana proud!!!

Comments could be sent to mviwotor@yahoo.com

The Writer is the Administrative Secretary of the Ghana Amputee Football Federation (GAFF), also the News Editor of The Daily Democrat. He is also a Columnist of Multi Sports, a weekly sports paper.