Olympics 2008
Okay, It has been an almost unbelieveable Olympic success story for Team GB, a horrid name, another terrible americanism corrupting our culture. Yet, this aside Great Britain has done remarkably well. 2 points which really needs dealing with.
1 - Crumbs, after Sydney and Beijing our 2012 effort fills me with nothing but complete pessimissim.
2 - Athletics. Okay this is a pet soap box, but this is the most funded area of our Olympic sports and the Performance of our athletes is, quite frankly, just not good enough. Within four years there seriously needs to be a radical re-think of our performance management. I don't know how many more times I can sit and listen to Athletes who say 'it's been a great experience' or 'i didn't do myself justice'. The point of throwing all this lottery money is to get Athletes to turn up and say, actually, 'i am here to win'. Athletics has so often bemoaned its lack of funding inhiting its ability to turn out world class athletes, now they have been blessed with vast fortunes over the last few years this reason will no longer stand up to argument. And after listening to Brendan foster today, UK athletics really does need a massive shake up if it is to make an impact in 2012.
It is encouraging to see that Great Britain still excels in sports that the middle and upper class participate in, such as shooting, equestrianism and sailing, rowing. Showing that at posh sports Britain can still hold its head high.
1 - Crumbs, after Sydney and Beijing our 2012 effort fills me with nothing but complete pessimissim.
2 - Athletics. Okay this is a pet soap box, but this is the most funded area of our Olympic sports and the Performance of our athletes is, quite frankly, just not good enough. Within four years there seriously needs to be a radical re-think of our performance management. I don't know how many more times I can sit and listen to Athletes who say 'it's been a great experience' or 'i didn't do myself justice'. The point of throwing all this lottery money is to get Athletes to turn up and say, actually, 'i am here to win'. Athletics has so often bemoaned its lack of funding inhiting its ability to turn out world class athletes, now they have been blessed with vast fortunes over the last few years this reason will no longer stand up to argument. And after listening to Brendan foster today, UK athletics really does need a massive shake up if it is to make an impact in 2012.
It is encouraging to see that Great Britain still excels in sports that the middle and upper class participate in, such as shooting, equestrianism and sailing, rowing. Showing that at posh sports Britain can still hold its head high.
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