We love the glory, don’t we? (Well, Backside does, although I couldn’t possibly comment.) No wonder we won so many skirmishes in far-flung places over the years. The Olympics are our chance to relive those special moments when the rest didn’t like it up ’em. Continue reading “A thoroughly British affair”
Category: Sport
By jingo!
This is the Daily Telegraph Medals Table, as it stands:
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| 1 China | 18 | 11 | 5 | 34 |
| 2 United States | 18 | 9 | 10 | 37 |
| 3 South Korea | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 4 Great Britain | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| 5 France | 6 | 5 | 6 | 17 |
More importance is attached to the number of gold medals, and after that silver, than the overall medal tally.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/
However, USA Today displays them as follows:
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| 1 United States | 18 | 9 | 10 | 37 |
| 2 China | 18 | 11 | 5 | 34 |
| 3 Japan | 2 | 6 | 11 | 19 |
| 4 Great Britain | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| 5 Germany | 5 | 8 | 5 | 18 |
The news paper attaches more importance to the overall number of medals. I wonder what would happen if China were to win fewer gold medals but more medals over all. Would USA Today put China in first place?
Taking part
Jacques Rogge, the IOC Pres, opened London 2012 with this observation: “And to the athletes I offer this thought: your talent, your dedication and commitment brought you here; now you have a chance to become true Olympians. That honour is determined not by whether you win but by how you compete”. A much-derided clichè, I know, in this world of fast money and instant celebrity. But I suspect that the two camps (pro and anti London 2012) are divided by a simple criterion: have you been a competitor in sport yourself? Continue reading “Taking part”
Proud Father
‘unbelievable’ ‘indescribable’ ‘look, he cries, just like me’
We get all the coverage but of course not the BBC continuity nor interviews. JM brought this interview to my attention (thanks JM) it’s titled ‘The media moment of the games so far’ at only 1:45 it’s short, entertaining and well worth a look. (Link to BBC interview)
It’s how you do it that counts, allegedly
From those wonderful folks who gave you Pearl Harbor (thanks to Jerry Della Femina for the quote), it is now clear that the true spirit of the games has been revived at last. Their pommel-horse gymnast fell off. But after due consideration the judges decided he did it really nicely – so he could still help his team to the silver medal.
This is all because new events involving really nice falling are soon to be added to the Olympic corpus. They’ll do it from bikes, horses and pole-vault poles, into ditches, ponds and pits respectively.
Jolly good show, chaps! Continue reading “It’s how you do it that counts, allegedly”
Gold
Forgive my indulgence, it is after all South Africa’s first gold medal since Athens, (we achieved a solitary silver in Beijing) it’s been a long wait.
Hot in the city
Well done, London!
Love us or hate us, you can’t ignore us! And Danny Boyle’s extravaganza confirmed all we have always believed about ourselves. We’re inventive, self-effacing, humorous – and bloody good value! How marvellous to celebrate the real milestones in our history – the human race! Like the industrial revolution, votes for women, mass immigration, the NHS, the WWW and our musical heritage. And M (for Monarch of course) behind the whole thing – with a bit of help from 007.
There’ll be the usual post mortem, yes. No creative enterprise ever gets through with a perfect 10. But it’s satisfying to think that every 50 years or so Britain can make such a proud statement to the watching world.
One for Christina
Here are some of the Olympic medal contenders – all from Africa. Can you spot the odd-person-out?
Banyana Banyana
My Olympic viewing started yesterday evening, the ladies football has started, and if I’m honest it was certainly watchable.
Banyana Banyana (The Girls, the men’s side is nicknamed Bafana Bafana, The Boys) are currently ranked a lowly 61st in the world rankings while Sweden, their opponents last night are ranked a mighty 4th. After going 3-0 down early on our girls held the Swedes for the next hour or so. (final result 4-1)
South Africa’s goal was a Beckhamesque lob over the Swedish keeper from almost the centre circle, exquisite.
The first London Laughable Moment arrived earlier than even I expected Continue reading “Banyana Banyana”
Boadicea's Chariot 
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