Despite the pictures of athletes and the fact that the world's biggest multi-sport event is still taking place, it comes as no suprise that the main point of discussion is still videogames.
Before the games, French and Greeks amongst others on this site critcised British athletes for their seeminly poor performance on the world stage, and that only serevd to make them seem foolish. Now Britain sits third in the medal table with a strong chance of staying there.
I do not believe that sport is an indicator of a country's status, because after all the majority of these other athletes do not compete for their countries, and the people who sit around debating about it, but themselves. However I'll jump at the oppurtunity to rub the "failure" of the Greek and French Olympic teams to put up a creditable performance to match their "rival countries" in the faces of those who can only see achievement when it is painted in front of them in the form of a medal table.
And before anyone pulls the race card, I'd also like to put forward an argument to those who believe skin colour is actually a factor. The only countries where a sport is dominated by a certain ethnicity are those with litte genuine equality. In the past we saw black American athletes dominating sprinting and other sports like professional boxing in America, and they did so because these sports require little money to become adept at. In country's where there is more equality, such as Britain, it's obvious that black and white atletes can be just as talented. As a Briton I feel I should point out the fact that the last white 100m Olympic champion was British in 1980 (albeit at a boycotted olympics) and I write this as the British 4x400m rely team (consisting of three white athletes) posts the fastest qualifying time in Beijing. Britain also has the so-called "fastest white man on the planet", Craig Pickering. In America too, white Athletes like Jeremy Wariner and Nick Symmonds are clearly world beaters. This is simply a cycle where when told a person cannot do well because of his skin colour he is made more determined. The same is true of black athletes who are now taking part in traditionally white sports like swimming (Nesty of Surinam and Ally of Barbados) and motorsports (Lewis Hamilton). This model can be applied to British sports as a whole as the public have tire of seeing poorly equipped facilities for British athletes. The change has been made possible by the fact that the UK is one of the most developed nations in the world. Unlike Greece and previously East Germany and probably Russia, the former Soviet Republics and China who seek to find a shortcut to success and a means to proving their "superiority", Britain does not as I feel that the majority of British people do not see sport as a indicator of a country's greatness but rather as an "appendage", so I say with caution that British athletes are far less likely to cheat or dope.
I hope the majority of you already know this but its clear some of you don't.
You see, you have gone an posted a well thought out logical and sensible piece there my friend and its about to get ripped to shreds by some of out more err mentally challenged members yet enthusiastic
But none the less your correct, I would also like to point out a lot of this success has come about by emulating Australian practices or organisation, identifying what we are good and and focusing on those areas. Now that’s done it time to branch out into other sports and 2012 is shaping up to be a very good Olympics for us
"And before anyone pulls the race card, I'd also like to put forward an argument to those who believe skin colour is actually a factor. The only countries where a sport is dominated by a certain ethnicity are those with litte genuine equality. In the past we saw black American athletes dominating sprinting and other sports like professional boxing in America, and they did so because these sports require little money to become adept at. In country's where there is more equality, such as Britain, it's obvious that black and white atletes can be just as talented. As a Briton I feel I should point out the fact that the last white 100m Olympic champion was British in 1980 (albeit at a boycotted olympics) and I write this as the British 4x400m rely team (consisting of three white athletes) posts the fastest qualifying time in Beijing. Britain also has the so-called "fastest white man on the planet", Craig Pickering. In America too, white Athletes like Jeremy Wariner and Nick Symmonds are clearly world beaters. This is simply a cycle where when told a person cannot do well because of his skin colour he is made more determined. The same is true of black athletes who are now taking part in traditionally white sports like swimming (Nesty of Surinam and Ally of Barbados) and motorsports (Lewis Hamilton). This model can be applied to British sports as a whole as the public have tire of seeing poorly equipped facilities for British athletes. The change has been made possible by the fact that the UK is one of the most developed nations in the world. Unlike Greece and previously East Germany and probably Russia, the former Soviet Republics and China who seek to find a shortcut to success and a means to proving their "superiority", Britain does not as I feel that the majority of British people do not see sport as a indicator of a country's greatness but rather as an "appendage", so I say with caution that British athletes are far less likely to cheat or dope."
As someone who as criticized Sport in Britain a lot, I need to give team GB credit. They blew me away with their performances, quite impressive. But it still doesn't change the fundamental flaws within British sport. The fact that their is lack of space and that space is usually reserved for private clubs instead of the general public. You mention race, how many non white athletes of the British team were in Sailing? Or Rowing? Or Cycling for that matter? In the U.S their is a lot less stereotypes that keeps minorities out, you have black golfers, tennis and swimmers. In Britain this isn't the case, Lewis Hamilton is an exception. Tennis is a great example where Britain has failed. Only 12,000 kids under 17 compete annually. In France it's 60,000. Problem is I see Britain as a nation that is a great sport's following nation than actual playing. It's a culture that needs to be changed to get people more involved, as well as investing for the general public not just private clubs that only the wealthy and upper middle class can afford.
brazilpride why do you constantly mention Lewis Hamilton as a success in your post?
what has this little runt achived in GP apart from walking into one of the fastest seats in Formula 1...Nothing mate,he had the championship to win last year with a 13point lead with 2 races to go and he went out of his way to lose it! he has constantly made mistakes this year which is unusual for someone of his GOD given talent LOL. What Lewis Hamilton has "achieved" in F1 I can fit on the back of a stamp!
Put Lewis in the back of a Force India or Torro Rosso and he will still be in the back of the grid, F1 is driven by the technological prowess of the engineers and a small percentage by the driver imho...
"if Christiannity and Turkish occupation hadn't stopped the Greek civilization from its advanced progress in mathematics , chemistry and physics the Greeks could have been to space 600 years before the Americans"
(Arthur C. Clarke)
6 words for the Turks to remember:-
Eurofighter TBA (Air dominance fighter)
S-300PMU-1 (unrivalled SAM technology)
SCALP (First Strike capability)
Leopard GR2 (Latest Gen Competitive MBT)
ERIEYE (AEW&C capability)
Type 214 (has AIP technology )
"if Christiannity and Turkish occupation hadn't stopped the Greek civilization from its advanced progress in mathematics , chemistry and physics the Greeks could have been to space 600 years before the Americans"
(Arthur C. Clarke)
6 words for the Turks to remember:-
Eurofighter TBA (Air dominance fighter)
S-300PMU-1 (unrivalled SAM technology)
SCALP (First Strike capability)
Leopard GR2 (Latest Gen Competitive MBT)
ERIEYE (AEW&C capability)
Type 214 (has AIP technology )
French criticism of British sporting success? I cannot think of any French here who did that, except maybe during the traditional France vs England rugby or football. And by Greece, do you mean Adonis and Landos?
Congralution Britain for your good olympic performance. It's the first time maybe in 20 years you harvested more medals than France.
---------------------------
De Gaulle to the General Koenig, Norman hero of Bir Hakeim: "Hear and tell your troops: the whole of France is watching you, you are our pride."[
I wouldn't heap too much praise on Team GB success, as i said they were on lesser sports i.e Kayaking, Yngling, Cheese rolling or some made up marble game
"if Christiannity and Turkish occupation hadn't stopped the Greek civilization from its advanced progress in mathematics , chemistry and physics the Greeks could have been to space 600 years before the Americans"
(Arthur C. Clarke)
6 words for the Turks to remember:-
Eurofighter TBA (Air dominance fighter)
S-300PMU-1 (unrivalled SAM technology)
SCALP (First Strike capability)
Leopard GR2 (Latest Gen Competitive MBT)
ERIEYE (AEW&C capability)
Type 214 (has AIP technology )
Canoeing and kayaking are hard sport, I doubt you have ever tried to kayak before.
@ BrazilPride
It is the culture. Look at Australia... Most are Anglo-Celtic stock who win medals. Granted we have sunshine to train in...
Siege of Tobruk - One German POW said: "I cannot understand you Australians. In Poland, France, and Belgium, once the tanks got through the soldiers took it for granted that they were beaten. But you are like demons. The tanks break through and your infantry still keep fighting." Rommel wrote of seeing "a batch of some fifty or sixty Australian prisoners ... marched off close behind us—immensely big and powerful men, who without question represented an elite formation of the British Empire, a fact that was also evident in battle."
The Olympics are getting too stupid. They have too many obscure sports few in the world should care about, that a very insignficant minority actually participate in.
"It is the culture. Look at Australia... Most are Anglo-Celtic stock who win medals. Granted we have sunshine to train in..."
Thats my point, GB culturally speaking is a very avid sports following nation, but you have very few Brits actually playing. And it's not even a money issue, because their pouring billions upon billions of dollars.
