There was a time we had runners in all departments from 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m , obtaining global renown with Filbert Bayi in the Christchurch Games early 1970s, then slipped to long distance for the better part of two decades.
It may just be changing. It is not easy to say where the change emanates from, but usually it is helpful to "follow the money", where is it that someone is putting resources on the ground to nurture talent in schools and even the streets, etc.
For one thing, there is even a change in what people (pundits, stakeholders), if they are distinguished from state agents in terms of sports department executives.
It is unclear how far this official group of sports managers may raise the stakes in what they want from the government.
If they aren't exactly in a position to do so, sports entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and pundits are doing it for them, setting the agenda for acceptable levels of engagement of the ministry charged with sports.
One pundit thoughtfully wondered why it is that various ministries have a major development projects component in their budget estimates but the sports and culture portfolio singularly has salaries or periodical allowances where the need arises.
This is what they want to see being changed, so that the ministry can say how many stadiums it has built, track fields, etc.
Sports enthusiasts started the change in being attached to schools, some avowedly known as academies with a strong sports component, where in some spheres there is visible success.
An interviewed coach for youngsters moving into soccer (and another for those doing swimming, or other sport) had similar stories to tell, that young people are finding their way to Europe, North America and elsewhere as their skills are increasingly being recognized.
They are becoming a new face of Tanzanian athletics, and the difference is that they were nurtured, not just noticed.
That takes us back to a preliminary problem, as to what was taking place for nearly four decades since we practically abandoned the field of active athletics to focus on occasional long distance runners where we have retained a minimum of renown around the world.
The latest addition is Gabriel Geay (born 10 September 1996), described as a Tanzanian professional long-distance runner who finished second at the 2023 Boston Marathon.
He adds his name to Alphonce Simbu, more anchored in the past generation of talent that came up on their own, not academies.
That there is room for some kind of athletics revival is shown in the possibility that a portion of 'surplus' cash in a manner as that which sponsors soccer be directed at athletics.
The point is that sports investors wish to use their surplus funds for a visible social cause where they don't firstly target the profit, though those they task to assist them are often required to break even.
Or they have a specified ceiling in expenditure, so that a sports outfit doesn't start living above its means, to then fail.
Starting to figure out how sports financing at the level of government could begin to change has to take into account at least two aspects, one being whether there is a visible change in resources available to the government, and second if there is real demand from sports administrators, not just other stakeholders.
There is a certain mood of enthusiasm for instance with the 'Samia goals fund' where the city rivals have chalked up tens of millions of shillings for continental tournaments' goals.
Still it is anchored in the past as occasional funding not really systematic nurturing.
Not surprisingly, so far it is just the two long distance runners who have already qualified for the next Olympic Games on the basis of the commentators, but the current expectation is that we at least send a squad of ten real competitors.
It is a bit of a change from the dark days of the past decade where we came down to nearly zero in athletics, though it must be said that never lacked at least one long distance runner still in the sport, like Gidamis Shahanga, Juma Ikangaa, and others.
From what is being heard of the preparatory stages there are some bright flashes of light, for instance Tanzanian coming 12th out of upwards of 50 African countries in a recent athletics international meeting for young athletes in particular. That is way below potential, or more accurately far below Kenya, Ethiopia or Uganda, but it is still promising that something is happening.
How far this can make a change for the coming Olympics can't be said, but the sponsorship spirit and demands on the government for serious development projects in the sports arena, it will in due course make a difference. A crying example is field events like shot put, javelin, discus throw and some others which need an adapted stadium preserving the landmarks and incorporating specific facilities.
It cannot all be piled up at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam in Dar es Salaam, nicknamed '˜Estadio Lupaso', or accommodated at a fairly specialized facility like the Jakaya Kikwete Youth Park at Gerezani in the commercial capital.
Athletics needs facilities to develop, not just parasites on soccer.
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