The Olympics

[HarryBosch]

For those who believe it's all in the stars: Donald Campbell, Sir Roger Bannister, Mike Atherton, Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny, Mo Farah and Joe Calzaghe were all born on 23^rd March.

 

Not forgetting, also born on that day, Fernando Hierro, ex-Bolton and the new manager of Real Oviedo.

 

What date was Connor Brown born on?

[LaticsPete]

Nicola White to deliver gold or silver for Oldham tonight in women's hockey

 

Last Oldham silver medalist? Was it Dorothy Shirley in1960 in high jump?

[ChaddySmoker]

Nicola White to deliver gold or silver for Oldham tonight in women's hockey

 

Last Oldham silver medalist? Was it Dorothy Shirley in1960 in high jump?

Gold. And to score the Equaliser in a game of daylight robbery. Great viewing though!

[24hoursfromtulsehill]

Oh. I always forget about it till it happens. Every time our lads and lassies in the amateur sports do well, football gets a distinctly moralist or classist working over in the loftier press. Not a word to be seen about drug cheating, corporate interests, backhanders, and bent judges. Good riddance Olympics. See you when the :censored:e circus starts up again in four years.

[nzlatic]

Oh. I always forget about it till it happens. Every time our lads and lassies in the amateur sports do well, football gets a distinctly moralist or classist working over in the loftier press. Not a word to be seen about drug cheating, corporate interests, backhanders, and bent judges. Good riddance Olympics. See you when the :censored:e circus starts up again in four years.

I've seen this a bit on social media this morning. Syed's article about respect and that one in the Telegraph a few days ago are just argument starters. Clearly there is no moral basis to champion the Olympics over football, but can comparison not be drawn between elite sports in this country? Yes the funding and facilities are in place for elite Olympic sports thanks to the National Lottery, but the athletes themselves have got to deliver, in the most pressured circumstances with the eyes of the world on them (unless the bbc are showing another montage about someone's "journey") - for many it's not just their pride/personal glory on the line but their funding etc if they don't perform.

 

Can't we compare that to the England football team and ask questions about their consistent failure on the highest stage, given they also benefit from plenty of money and top notch facilities/coaching?

[24hoursfromtulsehill]

I've seen this a bit on social media this morning. Syed's article about respect and that one in the Telegraph a few days ago are just argument starters. Clearly there is no moral basis to champion the Olympics over football, but can comparison not be drawn between elite sports in this country? Yes the funding and facilities are in place for elite Olympic sports thanks to the National Lottery, but the athletes themselves have got to deliver, in the most pressured circumstances with the eyes of the world on them (unless the bbc are showing another montage about someone's "journey") - for many it's not just their pride/personal glory on the line but their funding etc if they don't perform.

 

Can't we compare that to the England football team and ask questions about their consistent failure on the highest stage, given they also benefit from plenty of money and top notch facilities/coaching?

Not really. Therein lies a crucial difference. Football players have to do it every week (and sometimes twice a week), not once every four years. Are you saying that doesn't require a shed load of character, as the Victorian middle class press (still operating) would call it?

 

I don't begrudge the Olympians their medals and their never-refused Royal trinkets, but they're not having the moral high ground. (Some of them cheat or benefit from judges' decisions more than your average footballer.)

 

And the funding for footie players depends on people wanting to watch them do their stuff, on TV or at the ground. Why should Tarquin Rowface get funding from anywhere when he's televised once every four years and otherwise watched by friends and family only? And what is "talent" in rowing (or cycling) without the right genes, lungs, heart, blood and legs? Timing? Don't think so. Training gets you some of the way, but you can train all you like and go nowhere without those crucial accidents of birth.

 

Is what we're really watching a festival of minority sports, preferably with a eugenics subtext? Is that what the press are celebrating by comparing football unfavourably with the Olympics?