Tales of Tanzania - part V

Buza Olympics
A loud toot of the whistle and their off. The sound of out of sync hooves crushing petrified sand particles gets louder and more threatening as each millisecond passes. This was the 100m event during our sports day event in Buza, Dar es Salaam. In 14 seconds it’s all over, and grins get progressively bigger higher up the table. Results mean points, however what matters most to the participants is freedom. The freedom gained while taking part in sports is overwhelming, and sports day gives the students the perfect opportunity to unwind and enjoy themselves.

They’ve trained for this event on a weekly basis, and this is the climax. The Buza Olympics, which every single runner, sprinter, javelin throw and spoon – and – potato racer took very seriously. This was a chance to express themselves, and a chance to show off their athletic capability and potential.

It was an event for all ages, for all builds and physics, and here in Buza, everyone is a winner. And despite having a shoddy bit-part track marked out by green school benches, these facilities were the equivalent to the Soccer City stadium in South Africa, and certainly seemed safer than the Commonwealth facilities being built in Delhi, India as we speak.

Wearing make shift card numbers for identification and having the Mzungus as race day officials, the athletes were all set, and soon a crowd of local school kids gathered to egg their fellow Africans on, in an event organized in good spirit, for the good of the whole community.

The athletic presence of the majority of the students impresses us. They’ve got the height, the right weight and the perfect build, however all is useless without the right resources and mentalities. They run on dirt roads, dodging daladalas and speedy bajajes, while praying for balance on the slippery sand. All this is done barefoot, and with leathered souls their feet cope, however ours in Europe are softened by our luxuries.

The lack of resources kills any potential. The social responsibility comes first, and sadly though some of these runners can make it in the world of athletics, none of them will. The social structure does not allow for anyone to prioritize sports, frankly there is no money, and that is what you need to climb up any sort of broken ladder here.

Physically they can cope, however a sick lack of motivation doesn’t permit them to run. Anyone can run, it is a sport that does not require any sort of resources, as they prove to us, impressing us all on their weekly jog and sprint routine. Their feet wear the best pair of invisible Nikes available, and their disadvantage on the sandy road would make them much faster on a flat, balanced track. Sadly however, hardly of the students opt to keep fit, as discouragement leads to procrastination, which in turn brings about laziness. There is no need to run, as physical fitness is not drilled into their systems from a young age. With a life expectancy of 55, physical fitness can contribute to its raise, however changing the mentality of a whole country will take decades.

The diet often includes a breakfast containing deep fried chicken and bananas, which is completely unheard of in more developed states. A breakfast like this contributes to general lack of fitness, and sadly these fundamentals are completely overlooked. Nutritionists would have a heart attack at any breakfast buffet, but the lack of knowledge makes change impossible. People who “make it” in life or school opt to leave the country for a better future, and the brain drain that results is incomprehensible.

It’s a case of having squandered potential, and the broad smiles on the track prove us all to be correct. The athletes ignore the lack of resources, facilities and general safety and run for freedom, expressing themselves in the best way possible.

Any problem can be stamped out as each foot crushes the ground, any worry is blown away in the wind as you break your own mould and records, any frustration is left behind in a swirling dust patch, and any physical ache is burned by the sheer motivation of every individual.

A prize giving ceremony followed the races, where everyone was a winner, as participation, fairness, effort and result were all considered. Medals were handed out to competitors based on different categories, and each athlete, big or small went home a champion. Our aim in three weeks of sports was not to create the next Usain Bolt, but rather install a new mentality and promote the vital importance of sports in any society. The medals would serve as tokens to remind the students about the importance in sports, and indeed any form of recreational activity. The next day, some still wore their medals proudly, and clutched them as a souvenir showing their athleticism and determination, which would hopefully steer them on through their different racecourses in life.