The Olympics

I know it is a week into the Olympics but timing has never been my strong suit so I am going to write about it anyway. Starting off with the Olympic ceremony. Did we beat Beijing? Considering we only have two eyes, it was a lot to keep up with – at least it was for me, but Danny Boyle did tremendously.  When it comes to pretty lights, machines and fancy looking things we won hands down. I wasn’t paying attention to absolutely everything but noticed that the performers did not have the synchronisation of the Chinese – but that is just me being picky.

When everyone was around the television telling each other who they thought it would be to light the torch and then future athletes came out – well I thought it was a bit of an anticlimax. I had my money on Steve Redgrave or David Beckham lighting the torch. I thought the whole idea of the Olympic torch relay was to give promising athletes and those who had contributed significantly to their community the chance to be involved with the Olympics.

Onto the first gold medal won by team GB at London 2012. Hats off to Heather Stanning and Old Millfiedian, Helen Glover. Then, to put the icing on the cake for Great Britain in the same day, the Almighty of cycling, Bradley Wiggins won a gold in the time trials – go Wiggo! In 2008 at Beijing, the Great Britain cycling team got eight golds – now they want to beat that – fingers crossed. A further congratulations is in order to another Old Millfieldian, Peter Wilson, who yesterday won a gold medal in shooting and to the two GB canoe slalom teams who won a silver and a gold.

I have to say, something that is really annoying me is that the Chinese are getting all the gold medals (well the vast majority). They could at least make it interesting by staying ahead two points so it isn’t so obvious who is going to win. I can just hear all the keen and committed athletes screaming in my ear at that. Oops.

Another event that left me in near stitches was the badminton, where teams from China and Korea tried to lose their matches to in the end, win. They were both disqualified. I can’t say I blame either teams for trying to lose to win. A lot may think this as immoral but being a sore loser I don’t think it really matters how you win, just make sure you do (obviously don’t go and mutilate anyone or something to win). I blame the officials who created the system and allowed these loop holes to exist. I know everyone says that it is the participation that counts, but lets be honest – who goes into a competition to lose? No one remembers the losers anyway, unless of course you’re Eddie the Eagle, but you’re not, so that’s resolved.

Apologies for the massive amount of sarcasm but I thought it was about time I brought out the British stereotype. Good luck to all athletes in the games and even more good luck for the GB cycling team. Go for gold!