Venezuela in poor shape wrought by inflation ~ Yulimar Rojas won gold in triple jump

An extremely Happy Day for the Nation today (7^th Aug 2021) At Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win the gold medal in the men's javelin throw finals, after defeating the likes of world number one Johannes Vetter. This was also India's first medal in athletics in the history of Olympics.  Neeraj kicked-off the proceedings with a gigantic 87.03m and then aced it up in the second attempt by reaching the 87.58m mark. However, the third and fourth attempt by the Indian didn't count. In the fifth and final attempt, Neeraj threw 84.24m.  Neeraj's opening 87.03m was enough to secure him the yellow metal at the Tokyo Olympics as none of the twelve participants touched the mark.

There has been some unnecessary posts on social media on why a Nation with 130 crores of people is not able to win medals and how smaller Nations are doing ! – there are physiological, biological and many other factors besides the mental toughness and aim of people besides the financial support – here is a moot study of another Nation which did win a Gold !!

Venezuela is a federal republic located on the northern coast of South America. It is bordered by Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, Dutch Caribbean ABC islands and  the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.  The territory now known as Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522 amid resistance from indigenous peoples. In 1811, it became one of the first Spanish-American territories to declare independence which was not securely established until 1821, when Venezuela was a department of the federal republic of Gran Colombia. It gained full independence as a separate country in 1830. During the 19th century, Venezuela suffered political turmoil and autocracy, remaining dominated by regional caudillos (military strongmen) until the mid-20th century.  After years of turmoil, in  new constitution was written. This new constitution officially changed the name of the country to República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).

Venezuela took part in the Parade of Nations wearing bright blue, marching 160th in accordance with the Gojūon order, based on the names of countries in Japanese.

Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas set a world record - the first to be broken in athletics at the Tokyo Games - as she won Olympic gold in the triple jump. Rojas, the silver medallist at Rio 2016, jumped 15.67m to smash the previous best of 15.50m set by Ukraine's Inessa Kravets in 1995 - two months before Rojas was born.  The 25 year old set a new Olympic Record as also a World record.  

Yulimar Rojas became the first female Venezuelan Olympic gold medallist in stunning style as she shattered the 26-year-old women’s world triple jump record with her final jump – and then thanked Facebook’s algorithm for connecting her with the coach who guided her to glory. Rojas, who is also a proud lesbian and prominent LGBT activist, jumped 15.67m to beat the previous world record of 15.50m, set by Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets in 1995 in Sweden.  The 25-year-old Rojas, who has already won two world titles and a silver medal in Rio in 2016, paid credit to her coach, the legendary Cuban long jumper Ivan Pedroso, with whom she linked via Facebook. After its algorithm suggested they be friends, she wrote to Pedroso to say how much she admired him. He replied that he rated her as well and then invited her to train with him in Spain. “It was destiny,” she said. “It was meant to happen. I think that meeting Ivan through Facebook was definitely a turning point in my life. I just broke a world record and have an Olympic gold medal. This is priceless. I am making my dreams come true.”

Rojas, who had initially wanted to be a volleyball player only to find there was no team in her local sports centre in Anzoategui, beat Patricia Mamona of Portugal and her training partner, Ana Peleteiro of Spain, into silver and bronze respectively. “I was looking for the world record, I knew we had that distance in my legs to get it,” she said. “I could hear the ‘wow’ from the crowd and Ana screaming – I didn’t have to look because my head, my heart, my body already knew. My coach was screaming and jumping and cheering. It is incredible!”

When told that she was the first Venezuelan female gold medallist, she said: “I think I am opening doors – and not just for myself. I am also opening doors for people who want to achieve great things and to write great things for my country.”

Moving away from Sports and Olympics – do read this too :  Venezuela slashed SIX ZEROES from its inflation-battered currency to make it easier to use amid the country's worst economic crisis in its modern history.   'All monetary amounts expressed in national currency will be divided by one million,' the central bank said in a statement a couple of days back on 5^th Aug 2021.

Sadly Nicolas Maduro's socialism has bankrupted the once prosperous oil-rich nation and  Venezuela will slash six zeroes off its inflation-battered currency the bolivar to make it easier to use. Maduro's socialism has bankrupted a once prosperous oil-rich nation. Crumbling infrastructure, lack of water and healthcare has forced 5 million people to emigrate. The twin effects of the pandemic and failed oil industry mean Venezuela is enduring its fourth year of hyperinflation and its eighth year of recession.   

In the country with battered and bruised economy, prices have risen 265% from Jan to May this year. People mainly deal in American dollars because the currency is so devalued.  Back in May the government tripled the minimum monthly wage but the new amount was still not even enough to buy a kilo of meat. With the currency overhaul, the central bank will issue new notes with face values of five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 bolivars and a one-bolivar coin, Communications Minister Freddy Nanez said on Twitter. The changes will come into effect on October 1 with the issuance of new currency notes. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure with biting sanctions and refusing to recognise the president.    A coalition of nearly 60 nations backs opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader, saying Maduro's 2018 election was a sham because the most popular opposition candidates were banned from running.

Maduro and Guaido are due to come face-to-face later this month for talks hosted in Mexico. The dictator claims he is willing to negotiate with the opposition but insists that talks must focus on lifting sanctions first imposed by former US President Donald Trump.  Previous talks between the two sides have not produced significant results.  He remains in power, backed by the military and with international support from Cuba, Russia, China and Iran.

When countries are plagued by such ills, WE should feel very very happy in leading a peaceful and comfortable  life in INDIA.  MERA BHARAT MAHAN HI

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
7^th Aug 2021.