Competition works
So the Olympics is over, and my word didn’t Paris do a grand job? It was well run, well organised and showed Paris and France off to best advantage. Next stop LA, although there might have been a chance for some serious practise at the Commonwealth games in 2026, except at the moment it is not going to happen.
Just as the UK pins all its hopes not on Europe but apparently on the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth turns round and says no thanks, the game is not worth the candle. Maybe a British city will step in and try to run the games, but there is little point in the Commonwealth games if it is only ever held in the UK, it looks a bit pathetic to be honest.
UK governments desperate to persuade the world that the Commonwealth is anything more than a nice talking shop, will doubtless continue to throw hundreds of millions at the games, but what is the point?
We could use the money to invest in grassroots sport, or better facilities for schools or pretty much anything rather than trying to pretend that the Commonwealth is a power in the world, a significant string to our bow, or anything other than a group of distant nations, linked by memories of Empire.
It is really just a sign that we have jumped the wrong way, decades after jumping the right way, when the writing was already on the wall in the 1950s.
By the way the country miles ahead in the Olympics medals table was the EU with 309, except it isn’t a country. It is made up of dozens of independent countries who get great results by competing against each other.
Where is the monolithic super-state that has trampled on all their sovereignty now? Ever seen a Swedish or Greek athlete not proudly waving their countries flag?
No, me neither. A bit uppity these serfs aren’t they?
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
By Jonty Bloom Media
“UK governments” - ie, mostly the tories, and especially the right-wing gammon brigade.
Great post - as ever.
“Just as the UK pins all its hopes not on Europe but apparently on the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth turns round and says no thanks, the game is not worth the candle. Maybe a British city will step in and try to run the games, but there is little point in the Commonwealth games if it is only ever held in the UK, it looks a bit pathetic to be honest.”
“World Series” Baseball?
Keep up the good work!