Greatest show on earth

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WITH smog in the skies and political tension in the air, the 29th edition of the Olympics, the greatest show on earth, will get under way at eight minutes past eight on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 2008 — today that is — in the Chinese capital of Beijing. For a fortnight from now, the tussle between man and his spirit to stretch physical limits will capture the fancy of billions around the world. Though the tussle itself is potent enough to override both the ecstasy of success and the agony of failure, it is always so much better to end up with a medal than without it. Unfortunately there is enough reason not to have much hope from the 37-member Pakistani contingent, of which as many as 16 happen to be officials who are accompanying two swimmers, two athletes and a shooter in addition to the 16-member hockey squad. Pakistan has never been a big force in Olympic history, having won just two individual medals — both bronze — in wrestling in 1960 and boxing in 1988. As for the hockey team that has stood on the podium eight times, three of them as the ultimate winners, it was way back in 1992 that it found itself among the medals. The last 16 years represent nothing but a dry run. Worse still, in Beijing they are not expected to do much beyond making up the numbers. The hockey team qualified only because China got an automatic place being the hosts. Otherwise its bronze-medal finish in the Asian Games was not enough to take it to Beijing. Against that backdrop, the team will surprise many — maybe itself — if it makes it to the knockout stage ahead of either Australia or Holland.

If the hockey squad made an entry through the back door, the case with the three other disciplines is even worse; all the five individuals are at the Games courtesy wild cards that are meant to promote sports across the globe. Worryingly, not a single boxer will represent Pakistan in Beijing. For a country that has always taken much pride in its achievements in the sporting arena, this is as disappointing as it could get. Prediction in sports is hazardous but it is safe not to nurture hopes. Somehow who represents Pakistan at Beijing, President Pervez Musharraf or Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, will keep the nation more engrossed and amused than the performance of its sportspersons in the days to come.