A great win and a moment of pride

There is a moment of great pride when a country’s flag flies highest at an Olympic competition, a moment of indescribable joy that few others can equal. 

For Jordanians, this magic moment happened in the early hours of Friday when 20-year-old Ahmad Abu Ghaush won the coveted gold medal in the taekwondo -68kg event after beating Russia’s Alex Denisenko.

His win is an example of what hard work, passion and a fair opportunity can accomplish.

He is a model our young people should emulate in many other spheres and many other sport disciplines should analyse his win, to see what makes one successful.

His road to the pinnacle, to the Pantheon of sports heroes, must have been arduous. And before winning, he had to fight even harder equally good sportsmen, but determination to excel and, no doubt, very long and hard work paid off and he became the proud Jordanian bearer of a gold Olympic medal.

His Majesty King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein, drivers of initiatives that breed excellence, called Abu Ghaush to congratulate him on the big victory, and express their pride and joy at the occasion.

His win is a win for the entire country and gives all Jordanians a great sense of pride and accomplishment.

It proves that it is not the size of a country that generates distinction, but great resolve and even greater effort.

Sports should be encouraged in schools at very early ages.

Mens sana in corpore sano, the Romans used to say, and rightly so, for, a sound mind can only exist in a sound body.

Physical exercise is as essential to one’s psychological well-being as it is to one’s body. And a pleasant way to spend some idle time that might otherwise be employed to not-so-healthy ends.

The young gold medallist deserves all our respect and congratulations.

If he serves as inspiration to others, the accomplishment will be so much greater.

But for that, the country needs to spend more on sports infrastructure and on encouraging physical education, at the beginning, simply through school curricula.

Abu Ghaush’s win should also be seen for its wider implication: when people follow their dreams, if they are given a fair chance in life, they most often succeed. 

Recognition of merit should be given to those rightfully deserving it, not to those with the “right” contacts.

Only when that happens can we ensure that the country progresses as it — seeing the potential it has — rightfully should.