1908’s massive success can be accounted for by the fact that only 22 Nations were involved, compared to some two hundred and odd taking part today.

Steve Ovett was saying yesterday that the success of the swimming and cycling teams was due to the fact that the coaching is done more by group than by individual. Not explaining this well I know but it seems that it is down to the fact that most of the cycling is done in Manchester with the cyclists getting together there to train regularly. Same with the swimming from what he was saying. The problem he sees with track and field is that the training is scattered across the Country. You have athletes training at their local clubs, but those who would be classed as elite aren’t centred in one place, therefore they often have only themselves to challenge. I suppose it would make good common sense for all the sprinters to train together regularly, the same with the long and middle distance runners and I suppose the field eventers. That way, they have other elite athletes to inspire them, rather than training more or less in isolation. That would require money and planning and I suppose it also brings into question the ‘amateur’ nature of some of the events, though that is already tainted by the inclusion of such commercial events as football and tennis.

They’ve done well. That can’t be argued. Whether there’s the will to put enough money into these sports to encourage further success in four years time we’ll have to wait and see.

Regards,

kev35

But has that not always been the case, why should things be different this year. I agree that the system seems unco-ordinated, but there has always been a well known, familiar athlete that has done the business, not anymore it seems, the media seems to be too obsessed with money making sports. Perhaps some of these footballers who earn more in a day than most of us do in a year should help out the athletes rather than spend it on their bloody kitchen tiles, they can always top up their earnings from exclusives to Hello Magazine if they feel that skint.

Brit Girl has just won a Bronze in 400m hurdles, just missed out the Silver. Another medel for the Track and Field team.

Interesting, I’ve heard nothing but critism from Brendon Foster over the attitude of the British Athletics Association, he’s concerned that their attitude and lack of proper preparation is going to undermine the performance of the other athletes. He has a point, I’ve never seen such an underwhelming team in such an important games. At this stage of any Olympics we are usually looking for the stars of track and field to perform and drag us up the medals table, but apart from some possibly unexpected results, who do we know, where are the Coe’s, Ovetts, Holmes, Christies, in their time household names prior to any competitions. We haven’t got any have we, so why not. Whats happened. Poor Paula Radcliffe, a brilliant athlete in her time, was chucked into the arena while not fit, thank God she was shoved of to one side and we weren’t subjected to the overblown trauma of her inevitable, failure. It’s not her fault, I reckon that the powers that be wanted a famous name to encourage the public and she was subsequently bunged into the arena to keep the public happy. I’m surprised that Mr Coe hasn’t taken off his trousers and had a go himself, he might have done better than the poor sod chucked into the 1500m and run down because he wasn’t obviously coached properly.
If you want to have a go at me, I used to be a pretty nifty middle distance runner myself, I just wasn’t prepared to take on the world for a pittance, is that the problem that we have, with lottery money being doshed out for all sorts of pathetic causes, why should our track and field athletes have to rely on that leading up to the next games, it’s very sad.

Amazing, good on you girl, I watched it live and I was in tears, I thought this might happen when I saw her in the heats, she’s the absolute dogs, go and give the other track athletes a good talking too, I’m sure she will, though they might not need it.
I’ve looked up the statistics, we haven’t done this well since 1908 when we had the advantage of hosting the games, though 56 golds is a bit over the top, can’t work that one out, but 16 so far is beyond dreams, I love it, I always get really into the Olympics whether we do well or not, this year is very special, it might go certain birds up, but it’s given us alot of fun neverthess, whatever happens next doesn’t matter really, we’ve done well so far, as as as I’m concerned, it’s been way beyond expectations.

Well don’t worry Finland, one of the worlds greatest nations, India, has only one medal so far, I’m amazed, perhaps they should put their money into their people rather than their nuclear weapons programme, it’s ridiculous and must be embarrasing for the multitudes that must be interested in these games.
Do we have an Indian member who can comment on this.
Incidentally, I’m really impressed that our so called no hoper has just won a silver medal in the high jump, it gives us confidence, anything could happen after this, it’s the same old story, once the tidal wave gets going, who knows where medals will come from, as long as it isn’t Australia, Steve.