Romania at the Olympics: laurels and thorns

29/08/2008

Although it did better than other Balkan countries, Romania's overall medal count in Beijing was the lowest of the last nine Olympics. Bloggers are glum.

By Paul Ciocoiu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest – 29/08/08

Sandra Izbasa of Romania won the gold medal in the women's gymnastics floor exercise at the Beijing Olympics. [Getty Images]

Romania was the most successful Southeast European country at the Beijing Olympics. Its athletes won eight medals -- four gold, three silver and one bronze. The country was 17th worldwide and fourth among former Soviet bloc countries, behind Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Such results, however, were not what Romanians hoped for. Their country was a powerhouse in the Olympics during past eras -- in 1988, for example, it took home 24 medals. Four years before that, in Los Angeles, the Romanian medal tally exceeded 50, including 19 golds. No wonder many bloggers express dismay.

"No more medals!" declares journalist, poet and blogger Ioan T. Morar. "All the calculations for Romania end here in Beijing. We're not winning any medals anymore, there's no way to, there's nobody to do it."

"This time, only women won gold medals. As concerns men, silence and other metals," he adds, referring to fencer Mihai Covaliu's bronze. "Does it seem to you we could do more? That referees are to blame? That we are not wanted in the top position? That we didn't treat the contests seriously?"

"We could do more," answers Nedormitul. "There's no point in finding the referees guilty because many problems lie with us … Our problem is that we don't have a sports culture for amateurs. We have few competitions, and these are poorly organised. It's not all about the money."

Steluta is more enthusiastic. "We should be glad to have made it to many finals," she writes. "Above all, we have to be proud of our athletes. They didn't embarrass themselves, and I don't think we should criticise them. It's rude to start uttering words of dissatisfaction and reproach. Sportsmanship must remain the best and cleanest part of the spirit, both for athletes and people in general."

"Sports are going down the drain in Romania," counters Mitache. "We'll get fewer medals at the next Olympics. Sports nowadays in Romania rely on enthusiasm on the part of passionate people who forge ahead without any money, means and rewards. How long can it go like that?"

Magnus takes the big view: "Sports are sports -- regardless of the number of medals. It's important to take part in such a grand event once in four years. The rest is gibberish. Sports are meant to unite people, not to divide them."