Athletes Put Their Foot In It.

Image via Wikipedia

I am appalled that many of our top athletes are refusing to go to the Commonwealth Games in India. If, and fat chance that it ever would have happened , I had been asked to represent my country in such an event I would have paid for my journey and accommodation  even if I had meant  hitch hiking there and living in a tent.
 Of course the Indians have messed up big time but that was almost inevitable given the fact that they refused to treat it as just another event instead of demonstrating that they could compete with their great rivals China. If you have never been to India then the culture shock that comes with visiting the place is enormous. Appalling poverty exists side by side with massive wealth and filth and squalor are everywhere. Those athletes who want luxury facilities should think for a  moment about those building the place that probably live in leaky shacks, without running water facilities and toilets.

 The late and much respected left wing journalist James Cameron made a documentary series a long time ago about the differences that exist in the society and the poverty and injustices that are regarded as the norm there. One unforgettable scene showed him on a train, which was long, hot and overcrowded and, except for the first class occupants, without toilet facilities. To overcome the problem when anyone wanted a shit they would make their way to the front of the train and hop off and defecate by the trackside. The train was so long and moved so slowly that by the time they had done their business there was still ample time to jump back onto one of the rear carriages.

 I'm afraid that modern athletes are too cossetted and too highly paid and whilst they are quite happy to accept the glory and the dosh for  running for "Team Britain" at the major championships like the Olympics and the European and World championships the Commonwealth games offers them neither the money or the glory of these other events.

 So shame on you golden girl Jessica Ennis and the triple jumper with the the red hair and designer gear and all those  like you. I for one will not be cheering you on to glory in the future. My heroes come from a time when athletes weren't even paid. Jim Peters collapsing yards from the tape at the marathon in the Commonwealth games and Don Thompson the long distance walker preparing himself for the humidity of his event in some distant corner of the world by boiling kettles to create a steam filled environment in his bathroom where he trained for a year. They did it because they were dedicated, wanted to compete for their country and came from an age where participating and not winning was the thing.

 Thank God that I have, on principle, never bought a lottery ticket to line the pockets of  these pampered motely crew who, when it suits, represent "Team Avarice".