Sascoc follows letter of the law, ignores the Olympic spirit

On the face of it, our Olympic mandarins are perfectly justified in denying Sive Speelman a chance to compete at the Winter Games in Sochi.

After all, the 18-year-old slalom skier from Barkly East, in Eastern Cape, had failed to qualify under the International Ski Federations' points system, having narrowly missed its B qualification standard. But the International Olympic Committee awarded him a place at the Games on the basis that he had achieved a secondary qualification standard.

After much consideration and consultation, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee decided not to send Speelman - whom it noted was 2290th in the world rankings - to Sochi.

''Sascoc will continue to adhere to its selection policies in order to ensure that participation at the various multi-coded sports events is of the highest quality,'' the Olympic body said.

Sascoc is technically correct. It would have been against selection policies that have been agreed with the various sports codes to have sent Speelman to the Winter Olympics.

Sascoc's commitment to ensuring that South Africa's participation at future Olympics is of ''the highest standard'' would also be welcomed by many sports lovers.

But, in denying a talented young man a chance to realise his dream of competing at the highest level, Sascoc has acted against the spirit of the Olympics.

Participating in an Olympics is not only about medals and nationalism. It is about infusing youngsters with the belief that excellence is achievable through hard work. It is about being mesmerised by the sight of the Jamaican bobsleigh team. It is about inspiring future generations of young South Africans who want to emulate their Olympic heroes.

Sascoc did not say so, but had it allowed Speelman to compete it could have opened up a hornet's nest of claims by athletes who miss the cut at the forthcoming Summer Games.

So now, for the first time since 1994, South Africa has no one representing it at a Winter Games. Makes you proud, doesn't it?