‘Olympics journey with a new dream’

Participating in the Olympic Games has always been a token one for Bangladesh since its maiden appearance in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 but the Bangladesh officials this time, are thinking differently ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics by tagging a slogan -- Olympics journey with a new dream.

Yet to win any medal from the Olympics so far, Bangladesh had previously participated in all nine editions of Olympics till Rio Olympics with all wild cards entry except one for golfer Siddikur Rahman, who was the first athlete to represent Bangladesh in Olympics with his own capability. And this time around, archer Ruman Sana became the second Bangladeshi athlete to achieve the same feat.

The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) yesterday had a media briefing as three out of six athletes will leave here for Japan tomorrow and BOA is dreaming on the back of those three athletes – shooter Abdullah Hel Baki, archers Ruman and Diya Siddique while swimmers Ariful Islam, Junayna Ahmed and sprinter Jahir Rayhan are scheduled to leave from their respective places on July 19 and 25.

"We are dreamers. Yes, Ruman made all of us dream after qualifying directly for the Olympics. That's what we wrote about the new dream. It is a big dream alright, but we believe in it, even though dreams often doesn't come true," said chef de mission of Bangladesh's 18-member continent and BOA vice president Sheikh Bashar Ahmed at a city hotel yesterday where ITO Naoki, ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh, was present along with other BOA officials.

 "This time the Olympic Games will be different due to the Covid-19 situation and there will be a lot of restrictions for both athletes and the officials but I guarantee you that we will hold a safe and secured Games with the athletes and officials travelling to Japan without any worries," said Naoki.

Referring to the discussion with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BOA secretary general Syed Shahed Reza said, "Honourable Prime Minister ensured us in providing all types of support for the betterment of the country's sports. She also instructed us to focus on direct participation in the Olympics in future and arrange better training for the athletes."