Like Dick Dastardly's side-kick Mutley the unseemly contest for most medals has just concluded in Paris.
Since around 2004 the UK has cynically targetted sports where you can effectively 'buy' medals with extra cash, for example by buying the best push-bikes (designed by Lotus no less) for the velodrome etc.. Meanwhile grass rooots facilitities for sport are starved of cash and the average Joe finds his local pool is now shut, alongside the running track.
Am I alone in thinking that the 'pure' running, throwing and jumping 'events' are the principal ones in which sporting prowess is down to the individual and not so much the facilities and funds that are thrown at it? It's little surprise that the poorer nations do not compete in 'expensive events' such as rowing & sailing & horse eventing. In my opinion these are lesser events as a consequence and their medals are, unfortunatley for the winners, of less merit.
PS WTAF is the 'Kerin' cyclying event and does anyone care?
