I have had a love affair with the USA since I was a child. We lived in New York when I was a baby and it was a city that was so good that my parents never had a harsh word to say about it. My Aunt did the Greyhound bus as she travelled around in 1968 visiting hospitals as she researched renal treatment before setting up a unit in London. As a child, I watched the US cartoons, I read their children's books. Nancy Drew, the Bobbsey twins, Sue Barton, Cherry Ames, they were as familiar to me as the Chalet School and Malcolm Saville.
I was part of the Americas living in Brasil and we had American friends and American imports. It was a county I felt I knew intimately except I didn't visit until I was 10 for Disneyworld and then I went round the States on a greyhound bus with the odd plane thrown in. It felt as though I was at home in Seattle and New York, Washington was extraordinary. The South was a foreign county, Texas spoke a foreign language (and I don't mean Spanish) while the Midwest was open and stunning. I did the tourist things.
Later I mourned the Twin Towers, celebrated the end of the Cold War, admired the Democracy and discovered Amtrak. America was great for me.
There are few countries that can have America's record on democracy - a tradition of a President handing peacefully to the next. A Congress, a senate and a judiciary separated from each other and th Executive designed for checks and balances. A nation that believed in 'Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness'.
It's a country that has great respect for its history, the Presidency, the Stars and Stripes. Few countries can get away with their leaders instinctively saying 'God Bless America' and you know it's sincere. There is a delight in success and an inate belief in righteous and patriotism that in this country would feel insincere, be mocked or talked down. In America it feels right.
And yet now Trump wants to make America great again. Why?
Culturally the USA is magnificent. It has Hollywood, independent filmmakers, superb television drama, music from Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, American Idol stars. It has created its own genres in jazz, the blues and rock while continuing the country tradition. It's justly famous orchestras and opera houses are privately funded.
Environmentally, think of the natural landscapes, the oceans, the Great Lakes. The National Parks founded as early as the 19th century. There is freedom to hunt and fish, hike and camp. That's before you think about the extremes of Alaska, the Florida keys, Yosemite, Niagara.
Economically it's been strong. Independence Movement 'no taxation without representation', oil, coal, nuclear, Natural resources aplenty and a workforce with an entrepreneurial edge. A rewards culture and a belief in the American dream. A land of plenty and a land of immigration.
The land of the free. The land of the immigrant, the land that welcomed the Irish when they were starving, the land that welcomed the Poles when they had nothing, the land that welcomed Russian refugees, the land that provided a sanctuary for the Jews when they had none.
And yet it has never been without its flaws.
Early wealth was built on slavery. Michelle Obama, a descendant of slaves, talked about living in a White House that was build by slaves.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President by the electoral college but the Southern States were not part of their that and their cessation led to the bloody civil war from which there could really be no winers. In the rebuilding of the Union the first Civil Rights Act was later condemned by the Supreme Court as unconstituenal.
During the period of industrialisation, the native Americans were driven from their homelands, Rockefeller bankrupted the competion while building his empire, Frick's Art Collection is now a gallery and the Carnegie Foundation has done countless good and the Rockefellers went on to public service.
Was American great in 1930s following the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Few would say so. Prohibition was inglorious. Roosevelt supported the war effort but American would only declare war onnce Japan had attacked Pearl Harbour yet that was a war to challenge Hitler and Stalin. Did Truman have to drop bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki or was that a way to prove military superiority to USSR?
1950s saw economic development but the liberal wing was persecuted by Anti-American McCarthy who included Robert Kennedy on his committee.
1960s - a glamorous age of Camelot and space travel but an era of protest against segregation and for Civil Rights. An age of assassination with the loss of John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy and many whose names are unknown to all but their families as they stood up for what they believed in.It was an age of protest against the draft and Vietnam. Was America great?
1970s saw shame in the impeachment of Nixon yet it was prosperous. It was the age of protest for women's rights. Can a country be truly great if it treats a large proportion of society as second class citizens and denies full health-care. It was the age of 3 mile island, a misjudgement on Iran.
Perhaps Trump wants to take USA back to 1980s? An age of deregulation, no gun control and the loss of more citizens including John Lennon and countless others. it was the age of Challenger and the Iran Contra affair. The USA invaded Grenada. Was it right to do so? California saw the spread of AIDS which became global.
1990s and the end of the Cold War. Washington saw its share of disgrace through Mr Clinton but while America liberated Kuwait did it do enough? Race Riots in Los Angeles and bombings in Oklahoma and the World Trade Centre. 'Don't ask, Don't tell' Openly gay or bisexual people forbidden from serving in the military. Colombine High School & Waco questions gun control. In contrast, Dunblane and Hungerford puts a stranglehold on British gun ownership.
From 2001 America has had the shadow of the 9/11 bombings hanging over it. the existence of Guantanmo and waterboarding leave me uneasy. The invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan without a reconstruction plan and now Syria has left the word a poorer place.
And yet, America is a great country. Its industrial past may be rusting, its people have suffered foreclosures and racial abuse. There are too many victims of gun crime but
There is an energy and a self-belief that is second to none, a friendliness that has spread customer service and 'have a good day' around the world. It may have its flaws but 'quite frankly ... I don't give a damn' and after all 'nobody's perfect'!
President Trump, you do America a disservice. it's not needed to make America great again. In my biased opinion it already is and righly there are celebrations every 4th July.
"We believe that these truths are self-evident and that we are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights and that amongst these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
"Yes we can. Yes we did."
God bless the United States of America.
Friday, 20 January 2017
Monday, 9 January 2017
New Avenues
For the last few months I've been focusing on trying to get a similar job in the arts. The problem is that there aren't very many and it is highly competitive. I've been unsuccessful.
Over the years I've had a few setbacks. A lack of confidence crept in. As I got nervous my verbal diarrhea set in. I got worse. I did an interviews course and that helped as the next job I went for I got. I also felt I had nothing to lose as I'd just been made redundant on the back of a terrible interview. The problem recurred when I went for the interview which would have made the job permanent. At that stage I was pretty relaxed as I felt that I'd got loads of experience in the year and that something would work out. I subsequently discovered that bereavement and job-hunting don't mix. Neither does job-hunting and heavy colds.
The will to go job-hunting is subsumed by supporting the family. The focus isn't there during interviews. The confidence is knocked. And then it happened, I got an interview, I didn't get it but the reason was that my skillset wasn't right, I apparently was terrific. I did have a little cry but it boosted my confidence so I'm now looking different avenues.
I had the courage to tweet about job-hunting, I'm writing this. I've also cast my net a little wider. I've got an interview for a commercial company for a more junior post. I've been contacted by an agency, I've got a presence on Linkedin. I'm back.
What I would say though is that recruiters seem to forget what it's like to apply. I applied for a job before Christmas and still haven't heard anything. This employer is totally mechanised and I know off the record that the position was offered before Christmas. There are employers that say due to the number of applicants they won't reply unless you have an interview but don't tell you the timescale. I can sympathise up to a point but it costs nothing to send an email and generates goodwill. I won't be applying for another job with the first company I mentioned given that it is the 2nd time I've witnessed this treatment. Neither will I be in a hurry to give it my trade.
Over the years I've had a few setbacks. A lack of confidence crept in. As I got nervous my verbal diarrhea set in. I got worse. I did an interviews course and that helped as the next job I went for I got. I also felt I had nothing to lose as I'd just been made redundant on the back of a terrible interview. The problem recurred when I went for the interview which would have made the job permanent. At that stage I was pretty relaxed as I felt that I'd got loads of experience in the year and that something would work out. I subsequently discovered that bereavement and job-hunting don't mix. Neither does job-hunting and heavy colds.
The will to go job-hunting is subsumed by supporting the family. The focus isn't there during interviews. The confidence is knocked. And then it happened, I got an interview, I didn't get it but the reason was that my skillset wasn't right, I apparently was terrific. I did have a little cry but it boosted my confidence so I'm now looking different avenues.
I had the courage to tweet about job-hunting, I'm writing this. I've also cast my net a little wider. I've got an interview for a commercial company for a more junior post. I've been contacted by an agency, I've got a presence on Linkedin. I'm back.
What I would say though is that recruiters seem to forget what it's like to apply. I applied for a job before Christmas and still haven't heard anything. This employer is totally mechanised and I know off the record that the position was offered before Christmas. There are employers that say due to the number of applicants they won't reply unless you have an interview but don't tell you the timescale. I can sympathise up to a point but it costs nothing to send an email and generates goodwill. I won't be applying for another job with the first company I mentioned given that it is the 2nd time I've witnessed this treatment. Neither will I be in a hurry to give it my trade.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
A Change of Focus
For most people January is a time for making New Year's Resolutions. I made mine in September and the beginning of the academic year. I did this for 2 reasons.
January is miserable enough in the UK without giving up things that are fun and trying new discipline. Let's face it, if it's sunny it's cold, if it's mild, it'll be cloudy. Quite often it's damp, in the south it rarely snows and the hours are short!
The other reason why I did it was an attempt to keep positive and focused. My Mother died very suddenly in July and at the end of August my one year contract came to an end. I had been made redundant the previous Summer and had only just got my confidence back. Life hasn't been a lot of fun but at least I'm still here ...
I haven't written about any of this as I am not someone who does her washing in public let alone scatter it round the world and don't intend to now. What I would like to do is to use this as a record of what it's like to job-hunting when you are a certain age and don't quite know what to do. It's also a record of how knitting can help and maybe a few walks. I've also joined a choir. Last year I studied Portuguese to help me with my trip to Rio but I'm not continuing that this term. I wasn't enjoying it so much and it's expensive.
So I do not have New Year's Resolutions. My September goals were to get a job, keep positive, do new things and that's what I am sticking to. I have decided to discipline my knitting or my life could just be sitting and knitting and that's not going to pay the bills! My goals are to work on the following at anyone time:
A pair of socks a month on a them of the London tubelines. This month it's the Bakerloo Line
a hat a month,
learn continental knitting & do a project
finishing my cotton blanket
a spoil me project.
I've documented some of the yarn I've got and so I will not be buying any more unless it is to replace something that I've used or I've got the amounts wrong.
That's me for today....
January is miserable enough in the UK without giving up things that are fun and trying new discipline. Let's face it, if it's sunny it's cold, if it's mild, it'll be cloudy. Quite often it's damp, in the south it rarely snows and the hours are short!
The other reason why I did it was an attempt to keep positive and focused. My Mother died very suddenly in July and at the end of August my one year contract came to an end. I had been made redundant the previous Summer and had only just got my confidence back. Life hasn't been a lot of fun but at least I'm still here ...
I haven't written about any of this as I am not someone who does her washing in public let alone scatter it round the world and don't intend to now. What I would like to do is to use this as a record of what it's like to job-hunting when you are a certain age and don't quite know what to do. It's also a record of how knitting can help and maybe a few walks. I've also joined a choir. Last year I studied Portuguese to help me with my trip to Rio but I'm not continuing that this term. I wasn't enjoying it so much and it's expensive.
So I do not have New Year's Resolutions. My September goals were to get a job, keep positive, do new things and that's what I am sticking to. I have decided to discipline my knitting or my life could just be sitting and knitting and that's not going to pay the bills! My goals are to work on the following at anyone time:
A pair of socks a month on a them of the London tubelines. This month it's the Bakerloo Line
a hat a month,
learn continental knitting & do a project
finishing my cotton blanket
a spoil me project.
I've documented some of the yarn I've got and so I will not be buying any more unless it is to replace something that I've used or I've got the amounts wrong.
That's me for today....
Friday, 19 August 2016
Rio 2016 : Witnessing Usain Bolt Make History
There's definitely electricity in the air when Usain Bolt is expected. There's a sense of anticipation and excitement. A lot has been said about ticket sales and audiences' negative partisan reactions in Rio. There are some athletes who transcend all of that and Usain Bolt is one of them.
When I first started following athletics Britain's middle distance running was at its height with Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett. Although we had Allan Wells and Carl Lewis was dominating in the US somehow I never really got sprinting, possibly because it is all about speed and not tactics. Ben Johnson didn't help either.
Usain Bolt is different. He is an outstanding athlete in a time which is once again tainted. He is a showman but has the ability so he can carry it off. He makes people laugh with him. He can act the clown but you never doubt his competitiveness, his ability nor his desire.
I'm not going to watch the relay live. At least I don't think I am because in many ways I am sated with live sport and athletics. The last two days at the Engenho stadium will stay with me for the rest of my life. A lot of that is due to the athletics but it's also due to Mr Bolt.
Wednesday night saw the semif-final of the Men's 200m. Semi-finals aren't formally announced. Race is called and athletes appear so there was a sudden roar as the crowd spotted that Bolt was on his way. A casual jog round to the start of the 200m, a bit of a wave. I like the way he acknowledges the fans unlike many of the swimmers and then down to work. There's so much to do before a race starts. You tend not to see that on TV as there is so much to cover. The athletes adjust their blocks, settle in, test, adjust & sprint. There's last minute runs before you see them on the blocks. There have been very few races that there is absolute silence (other than the beat of bass, see decathlon posts) but there is for Bolt. The world awaits...
Wednesday Bolt took off, cheers & excitement. Looked like he was slowing down, was he going to be caught? No, he was just saving himself. The crowd were on their feet throughout the race, the noise was phenomenal. Bolt was in the building. Little celebration afterwards - why would there be? The final was still to come.
The race however that should have made the finals had Gatlin & Gemilli. Bolt unites the audience, Gatlin divides it and there were boos. At the conclusin, Gemilli through but astonishment that Gatlin was out. For all Bolt's showmanship & pacing himself, you feel that it is because he is carefully working out how much effort he needs. I do not believe that he would ever risk losing, like a Rolls Royce he just goes into another smooth gear.
Day 2 = Bolt no showed for the 4 x 100m relay. Guess he had enough to do with the 2000m but the team won and again you don't realise the preparation that goes on. Athletes put sticky tape on the ground measured out by going foot against foot, presumably to guide their team mates before they reach them on distance as the team member taking over the baton have official marks as to where they can start.
It's also true that TV is actually a lot better for relays than live. It's all a blur and you can only see one change if it's in front of you and difficult to make out on big screens. There are few repeats other than the finish. I was there but in the wrong place for the US, Brasileiro & Dutch problems. I did see the US run their race again. The crowd cheered them on but I'm not so sure. Stuff happens in racing, it's how you deal with it and demanding a rerun is that really the answer? I find by checking my sources that USA have won but I can't be overjoyed for them. China didn't get the chance to run & Brasil ended up disqualified. Perhaps occasionally it would serve the US to come over as good losers.
The race of the day was the men's 400m hurdles. The top 5 all achieved records or personal bests. Must be hard not to get a medal when you are so close but hopefully no regrets because you gave your all.
And so that 200m final. The razzmattaz that introduces a final borke out and Adam Gemilli shot out. First to the blocks, Bolt came out half way through. Definitely the showman was out as the acknowledged the crowd. He took a long ime over his blocks before the camera introduced him and he did his clown bit. Can't say I blame him. Athletes must feel really self-conscious with the cameras in their faces at that stage. Swimmers don't have the problem of a camera going past them as they wait Time to settle, the routine goes. Bang, cheers, applause, bass ... Yes, Bolt wins in a season's best but he isn't pleased. He waves his hands at the crowd requesting silence. No chance. They've witnessed athletics greatness. I waited until he came round. Stopped and waved. i didn't see the Bolt. I made a Bolt for home but I was there the night that Usain Bolt won his 3rd consecutive 200m Olympic Gold Medal.
When I first started following athletics Britain's middle distance running was at its height with Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett. Although we had Allan Wells and Carl Lewis was dominating in the US somehow I never really got sprinting, possibly because it is all about speed and not tactics. Ben Johnson didn't help either.
Usain Bolt is different. He is an outstanding athlete in a time which is once again tainted. He is a showman but has the ability so he can carry it off. He makes people laugh with him. He can act the clown but you never doubt his competitiveness, his ability nor his desire.
I'm not going to watch the relay live. At least I don't think I am because in many ways I am sated with live sport and athletics. The last two days at the Engenho stadium will stay with me for the rest of my life. A lot of that is due to the athletics but it's also due to Mr Bolt.
Wednesday night saw the semif-final of the Men's 200m. Semi-finals aren't formally announced. Race is called and athletes appear so there was a sudden roar as the crowd spotted that Bolt was on his way. A casual jog round to the start of the 200m, a bit of a wave. I like the way he acknowledges the fans unlike many of the swimmers and then down to work. There's so much to do before a race starts. You tend not to see that on TV as there is so much to cover. The athletes adjust their blocks, settle in, test, adjust & sprint. There's last minute runs before you see them on the blocks. There have been very few races that there is absolute silence (other than the beat of bass, see decathlon posts) but there is for Bolt. The world awaits...
Wednesday Bolt took off, cheers & excitement. Looked like he was slowing down, was he going to be caught? No, he was just saving himself. The crowd were on their feet throughout the race, the noise was phenomenal. Bolt was in the building. Little celebration afterwards - why would there be? The final was still to come.
The race however that should have made the finals had Gatlin & Gemilli. Bolt unites the audience, Gatlin divides it and there were boos. At the conclusin, Gemilli through but astonishment that Gatlin was out. For all Bolt's showmanship & pacing himself, you feel that it is because he is carefully working out how much effort he needs. I do not believe that he would ever risk losing, like a Rolls Royce he just goes into another smooth gear.
Day 2 = Bolt no showed for the 4 x 100m relay. Guess he had enough to do with the 2000m but the team won and again you don't realise the preparation that goes on. Athletes put sticky tape on the ground measured out by going foot against foot, presumably to guide their team mates before they reach them on distance as the team member taking over the baton have official marks as to where they can start.
It's also true that TV is actually a lot better for relays than live. It's all a blur and you can only see one change if it's in front of you and difficult to make out on big screens. There are few repeats other than the finish. I was there but in the wrong place for the US, Brasileiro & Dutch problems. I did see the US run their race again. The crowd cheered them on but I'm not so sure. Stuff happens in racing, it's how you deal with it and demanding a rerun is that really the answer? I find by checking my sources that USA have won but I can't be overjoyed for them. China didn't get the chance to run & Brasil ended up disqualified. Perhaps occasionally it would serve the US to come over as good losers.
The race of the day was the men's 400m hurdles. The top 5 all achieved records or personal bests. Must be hard not to get a medal when you are so close but hopefully no regrets because you gave your all.
And so that 200m final. The razzmattaz that introduces a final borke out and Adam Gemilli shot out. First to the blocks, Bolt came out half way through. Definitely the showman was out as the acknowledged the crowd. He took a long ime over his blocks before the camera introduced him and he did his clown bit. Can't say I blame him. Athletes must feel really self-conscious with the cameras in their faces at that stage. Swimmers don't have the problem of a camera going past them as they wait Time to settle, the routine goes. Bang, cheers, applause, bass ... Yes, Bolt wins in a season's best but he isn't pleased. He waves his hands at the crowd requesting silence. No chance. They've witnessed athletics greatness. I waited until he came round. Stopped and waved. i didn't see the Bolt. I made a Bolt for home but I was there the night that Usain Bolt won his 3rd consecutive 200m Olympic Gold Medal.
Rio 2016: The Decathlon dazzels & why I got it wrong!
I started following athletics in the 1980s when Crystal Palace stadium (not Selhurst Park that's football) hosted the great international meetings. I saw Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Backley, Steve Cram, Steve Smith, Steve Jones (just kidding re last 2!) but despite Daley Thompson's heroics I didn't get the decathlon. On TV it came across aas athletes doing 10 sports not as well as the specialists. When I decided to buy additional tickets for today it was for the relay heats and the evening races including the 200m men's final. I thought it might be interesting to see how the decathlon progressed.
I WAS WRONG!!!!! (doesn't happen very often) the decathlon is a fascinating test of stength, agility, speed and versatility. Above all you need stamina. It breeds cameraderie. There are twists and turns as the scores change and in any round an athlete can get knocked out if he fails to score. Heartbreak. Throw into this mix a defending Olympic athlete, a Brasileiro top 10 athlete ... If you have to compare it to Mr Bolt well, it does go on for a lot longer. Blink and you miss the 100m, rub your eyes and that's the 200m gone! The decathlon lasts two days.
The first event I witness was the high jump. Fascinating how for the events athletes are split into pools so that one height moves more quickly than the other. As suspected you start seeing characters and rooting for different athletes. The Japanese enthusiastic, determined regarding the high jump. The Algerian who jumped the highest with a seasons best but didn't continue to save his strength for later.
The discus didn't excite me but that was probably because the athletes were opposite me so I couldn't really see them other than the screen and I couldn't do my favourite of guess the distance! It was the Pole vault was amazing. I've never been up close to one before and the warm-up alone was worth the price of a ticket. Running, testing the poles, jumps with a cord, without a cord. 2 pools again. Take a look.
Then the Australian won me other by being the only one to comfort the distraught Czech who went out without a clearance. The Belgian sat through 2 hours of competition with only 2 jumps because he is that good. The French no. 2 who remained on the track to keep the French No. 1 company. The disappointment of the Australian in not getting higher, the passion the Brazilian crowd had for their athlete. The sheer determination and inscrutabality of Eaton and Warner the Canadian.
I was lucky I was in the shade. I still ended up with a bit of a headache because of the incessant heavy beat music playing throughout. At times it was difficult to hear the commentary. I'm old-fashioned I know but I believe that music should be used to enhance, to make a point, it's not constantly needed. Do javelin throwers need electronic moving through the air sounds. Doesn't the arc of a javelin make its own image and drama? Where does that leave the crowd if you cannot hear them?
It was during the javelin that you really saw how things could change with the rankings going up and down. The Cuban took the stage, the Brasileiro go the loudest cheers but his throws seemed like an anti-climax until you realised he'd thrown a Personal Best.
The first heat of the final event seemed like a jog until you saw at the end that many of the athletes could no longer stand. One of the Germans collapsed in pain and I think they might have brought out a wheelchair for him. The second was more of a race and then the medealists were announced. Yet you had had a feeling that the bond between these athletes was so strong that it was almost more important to be an Olympian. There was a lap of honour led by Eaton and the Brazilian. They stopped and thanked the crowd and then they lined up, took hands and took 3 bows. Thank you gentlemen for thanking us, we thanked you.
I WAS WRONG!!!!! (doesn't happen very often) the decathlon is a fascinating test of stength, agility, speed and versatility. Above all you need stamina. It breeds cameraderie. There are twists and turns as the scores change and in any round an athlete can get knocked out if he fails to score. Heartbreak. Throw into this mix a defending Olympic athlete, a Brasileiro top 10 athlete ... If you have to compare it to Mr Bolt well, it does go on for a lot longer. Blink and you miss the 100m, rub your eyes and that's the 200m gone! The decathlon lasts two days.
The first event I witness was the high jump. Fascinating how for the events athletes are split into pools so that one height moves more quickly than the other. As suspected you start seeing characters and rooting for different athletes. The Japanese enthusiastic, determined regarding the high jump. The Algerian who jumped the highest with a seasons best but didn't continue to save his strength for later.
The discus didn't excite me but that was probably because the athletes were opposite me so I couldn't really see them other than the screen and I couldn't do my favourite of guess the distance! It was the Pole vault was amazing. I've never been up close to one before and the warm-up alone was worth the price of a ticket. Running, testing the poles, jumps with a cord, without a cord. 2 pools again. Take a look.
Then the Australian won me other by being the only one to comfort the distraught Czech who went out without a clearance. The Belgian sat through 2 hours of competition with only 2 jumps because he is that good. The French no. 2 who remained on the track to keep the French No. 1 company. The disappointment of the Australian in not getting higher, the passion the Brazilian crowd had for their athlete. The sheer determination and inscrutabality of Eaton and Warner the Canadian.
I was lucky I was in the shade. I still ended up with a bit of a headache because of the incessant heavy beat music playing throughout. At times it was difficult to hear the commentary. I'm old-fashioned I know but I believe that music should be used to enhance, to make a point, it's not constantly needed. Do javelin throwers need electronic moving through the air sounds. Doesn't the arc of a javelin make its own image and drama? Where does that leave the crowd if you cannot hear them?
It was during the javelin that you really saw how things could change with the rankings going up and down. The Cuban took the stage, the Brasileiro go the loudest cheers but his throws seemed like an anti-climax until you realised he'd thrown a Personal Best.
The first heat of the final event seemed like a jog until you saw at the end that many of the athletes could no longer stand. One of the Germans collapsed in pain and I think they might have brought out a wheelchair for him. The second was more of a race and then the medealists were announced. Yet you had had a feeling that the bond between these athletes was so strong that it was almost more important to be an Olympian. There was a lap of honour led by Eaton and the Brazilian. They stopped and thanked the crowd and then they lined up, took hands and took 3 bows. Thank you gentlemen for thanking us, we thanked you.
Thursday, 18 August 2016
Rio 2016 : Water Polo
I entered the hallowed portalls where Michael Phelps and others had made history. I was not there to witness history but to watch the women's water polo semi-finals.
Sadly, Brasil didn't win. Not doing to well the Brazilian women. I'm still upset that the footballers got knocked out at the semi-final stage. Interestingly no one stopped a lone protester who is against the current interim Presidency. Not the time or the place to get into this one!
Russia and Italy followed. Strange to hear the Soviet anthem once again. This time it was Russia who lost. Interestingly there was no acknowledgement between the players afterwards although the coaches shook hands. Russians walked straight past the Italians and no one said a word that I could see. Wasn't watching the first match so not sure if this ts typical!
The real hero was the ball girl. Every time the ball went out of play down her end, a replacement would be thrown in. She would take off her glasses, subtly lower herself into the pool and collect it. Get out, curl up in a her towel again having put on her glasses once again.
I was sad to leave the Olympic Park for the last time but this made me smile and say so?
Next stop Decathlon and that man Bolt... Here's a teaser
First up, Brasil vs Australia. (This is not a typo, while I'm here I tned to use the Portuguese spelling.) We dablled a little at school and also played a version at home when I was at in Brasil but that is a long time ago. It's much easier if you are allowed to put your feet on the ground. Experts of course cannot not. It's a tough game. I'm not sure what you do to gain a exclusion penalty (sin bin) but Brasil were very good at that. Sadly Australia were better at scoring goals.
it starts ith a fast and furious swim to the ball and then continues from there. Like past Brazilian men's football teams there was some glorious passing but Australia's directness seemed to work better!
Sadly, Brasil didn't win. Not doing to well the Brazilian women. I'm still upset that the footballers got knocked out at the semi-final stage. Interestingly no one stopped a lone protester who is against the current interim Presidency. Not the time or the place to get into this one!
Russia and Italy followed. Strange to hear the Soviet anthem once again. This time it was Russia who lost. Interestingly there was no acknowledgement between the players afterwards although the coaches shook hands. Russians walked straight past the Italians and no one said a word that I could see. Wasn't watching the first match so not sure if this ts typical!
The real hero was the ball girl. Every time the ball went out of play down her end, a replacement would be thrown in. She would take off her glasses, subtly lower herself into the pool and collect it. Get out, curl up in a her towel again having put on her glasses once again.
I was sad to leave the Olympic Park for the last time but this made me smile and say so?
Next stop Decathlon and that man Bolt... Here's a teaser
Monday, 15 August 2016
Rio 2016 : Athletics Session 1 : Fabulous Friday
The first Friday night of the athletics and you don't see much of the decisive action. Why entitle this Fabulous Friday? It's because in the initial rounds you see the nuts and bolts, you cannot see people win medals but you can see how they can lose them. Sometimes it's those who are there to do their personal best that are the exciting ones to watch. A favorite might not qualify but if you were there in round one, you will have seen them.
I didn't witness Van Niekerk break the 400m record but I saw him win his first round. I didn't see Matthew Hudson-Smith go out in the semi-finals I saw him run one of the races of his life and qualify faster than Van Niekerk. I've seen the fastest women in the world & not just the top 8. I can't share the photos because sadly they move too fast, well, the 100m were the other side of the track & 400m spread out. When you see them live it's even more difficult to work out who is winning particularly on the 400m bend.
I have a confession to make regarding Greg Rutherford. I saw him warm up, I saw a foul for his first jump but then got caught up with other events so only found he'd qualified on looking at the scoreboard.
The hammer qualifying was at the other end and you could tell the Pole was due to go on to great things qualifying with her first throw. It was enormously satisfying to applaud Sophie Hitchon's delight in qualifying.
I'm excited about what happens next in the women's 1500m. The other thing to remember is that the finals do not include everyone's favourite athlete and there is a much better atmosphere if there is a Brazilian around & the different heats attract different support. Helps if there's a Brit or a certain Jamaican. The Brits were once again out in force. Not the greatest photos but they are the ones that didn't run away ...
The headlines might have belonged to the Saturday and that javelin throw but seeing Jessica Ennis-Hill run over to her coach during the shot-put, their total focus on the 200m at a time when they had all to play for. Unforgettable.
This may not have been the result but I left satisfied looking forward to what was going to happen next, knowing that I witnessed a part of the story.
I didn't witness Van Niekerk break the 400m record but I saw him win his first round. I didn't see Matthew Hudson-Smith go out in the semi-finals I saw him run one of the races of his life and qualify faster than Van Niekerk. I've seen the fastest women in the world & not just the top 8. I can't share the photos because sadly they move too fast, well, the 100m were the other side of the track & 400m spread out. When you see them live it's even more difficult to work out who is winning particularly on the 400m bend.
I have a confession to make regarding Greg Rutherford. I saw him warm up, I saw a foul for his first jump but then got caught up with other events so only found he'd qualified on looking at the scoreboard.
The hammer qualifying was at the other end and you could tell the Pole was due to go on to great things qualifying with her first throw. It was enormously satisfying to applaud Sophie Hitchon's delight in qualifying.
I'm excited about what happens next in the women's 1500m. The other thing to remember is that the finals do not include everyone's favourite athlete and there is a much better atmosphere if there is a Brazilian around & the different heats attract different support. Helps if there's a Brit or a certain Jamaican. The Brits were once again out in force. Not the greatest photos but they are the ones that didn't run away ...
The most fun moment was the introduction of the women's shot put finalists. Why? The samba band of course. All athletics meetings should have them!
The competition of the night belonged to these three athletes.
This may not have been the result but I left satisfied looking forward to what was going to happen next, knowing that I witnessed a part of the story.
There have been so many comments regarding the athletics so let me add my views. It's not the prices per se, they are similar to other sports finals. It's certainly not the location, whatever Michael Johnson might say, as it's one of the easiest to get to. If you are going to spend the sort of money that is being charged for sports events then you are going to be choosy about what you go to.
It is the classic demand vs. supply scenario. Tickets are expensive but people will pay those prices if they really want to go but there are an awful lot of seats to fill in that stadium twice a day. Athletics has limited appeal in Rio. Ultimately there isn't the demand at that price for those number of seats.
Let's face it, there aren't the Brazilian heroes that there are in football. Kids in Brazil dream of being footballers, it means their way out of poverty and the favela. Athletics does not have the same pull / the same means of escape.
The sports that Brazilians follow in real life are volley, handball, boxing and of course football. These are dominating the TV output and I think reflects the priority that athletics has.
Let's look at athletics stadia. They are white elephants. Manchester City now play at the purpose built Commonwealth Games stadium, West Ham at a reduced capacity London stadium. Botafogo lease the Rio stadium.
My question is this. Did the Olympics need such a large stadium for a limited audience? I fell in love with watching athletics at Crystal Palace. It was small, it had a great atmosphere. You could see lots. I preferred that atmosphere to that of the Olympic stadium in London. I enjoyed Friday because I sreated the seating as unallocated and was close to the action. The velodrome was amazing because the atmosphere was intense and I think that athletics should learn from that.
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