To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
London 2012 – a breath of fresh air
Share this:
Politics won’t be an issue; neither will pollution. London dealt with smog over 100 years ago, even though in Beijing, according to the latest website report: ‘The last reading carried out this week gave air pollution readings of over eight times the World Health Organisations recommendation.
‘The Chinese say that they will have the pollutant level down to accepted World Health Organisation levels shortly.’
In other words, run in the 2008 Olympics – but when you do so, don’t breathe in the air.
And I do believe in in the Olympic ethos, and I DO want our athletes to become involved in them, even though no Jerseyman or woman has come back with a medal (for more fastidious Islanders, I do know that David Hemery’s roots were in the Island).
And I am also conscious that, eventually, there may be a payback, in terms of Island Games, Commonwealth Games, or even Olympic selection.
For there are a tremendous number of kids (and, as a 56-year-old, I classify ‘kids’ as anyone aged 25 and under!) out there, wanting to be part of a world elite.
Last Tuesday I interviewed one of them: 18-year-old Sophie Twinam. Her ambition is to compete in the Commonwealth Games, not the Olympics. However, she’s No 5 in Britain for 400m hurdles in her age group.
She is also so self-effacing, that you wouldn’t know that she ‘does’ sport. As a ten and 11 year-old she would usually be beaten by bigger kids; but she persevered.
‘Now I can beat them,’ she said, not gloating, but merely telling the truth. ‘With the help of my coaches (including Andrew Winnie) I learnt to turn any ability I had to good use. I learnt how to run quicker. Before that I would finish fourth or fifth in a race.
Now, with that little bit of extra ability and training, and working on the track, I can do better than that.’
Sophie Twinam might not run for Britain in the Olympics. However, I hope that she does fulfil her ambition and compete for Jersey in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She loves her sport; and this week I loved talking to her, simply because of the enthusiasm she has for running and jumping as fast and as long as she can.
Football and rugby are OK sports in winter, and I will write about both at another time. But to simply run and hurdle because of the buzz it gives you – well, that to me is a summer’s delight.
Take money out of the equation, and sport is a very simple affair. You do it because you love it.
Related