Despite my dislike of most modern sport, I have been drawn to the Commonwealth games. They are slightly different from the slick World Championships (as seen last week) or the massive political production that is the Olympics.
This morning we had an English gymnast clinging on grimly to take silver despite injury, the English pairs were the first home in the Triathlon (Visually Impaired), with Northern Ireland taking 2nd and 4th in the Women’s event (they are twins). Wales took 4th in the Men’s event and an English pair were fifth despite having to repair a puncture in the cycling section. The male winners were unplaced at the Olympics after their chain snapped and the woman VI runner had a painful stitch during the running phase, which she ran off.
That’s a lot of news, plenty of drama and some human interest.
You know what the main story was on the news? Football. More particularly, our women footballers who are playing tonight. As usual, football trumps all other sports. As usual, I am tempted into making a number of comments on football being bad for sport in general, and for the moral health of the country.
A&BC Gum Football cards 1970
When my Dad died we were severely limited as to who could attend, and we had to sit apart, even though we had sat next to each other in the car for 60 miles, and we weren’t allowed to sing – we had to have recorded music. However, football fans were allowed to sit together in pubs to watch matches, hug each other and sing in each others faces. Two rules . One, strict, rule for a grieving family. One, relaxed, rule for football supporters. It’s a bread and circuses sort of situation isn’t it, with Princes and politicians all pretending to be football supporters when it suits them.
One of my kids went to a holiday football camp some years ago. He went because his mates were going and because he liked all sports. He was laughed at by other kids for his boots (they were rugby boots but still did the job) and criticised by the people running the course (all part-time players from the lower leagues) because he would never be good enough to be professional. What sort of people treat a ten-year-old like that?
Sorry about the photos, I don’t have many relating to sport.
Topical Times Football Cards
I am sorry your son was treated like that. It was no way for a 10 year old to be treated at football camp.
It was ridiculous. We mentioned it to a teacher who told us that they same people did weekly sessions at the school but had just been told they were no longer required as they were demotivating so many children.
You can use that picture of your son as often as you like
🙂 I really should take more photos, but I just don’t have your energy or social life.
My main take away from the Commonwealth games reporting was a national news report that an Englishman had got a bronze medal in an event without actually reporting who had won the race. I thought that was both excessively parochial and disrespectful. However, I agree that there is a homely touch to the games which makes a pleasant change from professional football and big international events.
It is embarrassing when things like that happen. The sportsmanship and camaraderie of the games is quite heartwarming, as is Adam Patty’s sensible response to defeat.