Show Me the Legacy

Courtesy of shadphotos

You may have to dodge the odd teddy as I blog from my cot when it comes to the topic of London 2012 Olympic tickets.

From what I understand, the purpose of creating this random allocation system was to ensure that tickets for the games were distributed as fairly as possible. In other words, let a computer do the dirty work so that no one has to feel responsible for the inevitable disappointment associated with missing out on the highly sought after tickets.

There were two people from my Twitter community who made me look at this lottery situation with a little more scrutiny. One Twitterer complained that he 'got stuck' with handball tickets and didn’t know what to do with them. I can’t see the ‘fairness’ for the genuine handball fan that didn’t have luck on his side when he or she applied for handball tickets.

Another Twitterer highlighted the irony of the fact that he supports GB volleyball to the fullest and has travelled lengthy distances in order to support the squad, but was also on the wrong side of Lady Luck when applying for his tickets.

A computer generated system can only provide randomness – not necessarily fairness. I suppose that no matter what solution the organisers tried to implement, they would have been under fire. However, had they had taken steps to ensure that those who have been contributing to minority sports in this country long before ‘London’ and ‘the Olympic games’ were even a consideration, ‘legacy’ would be  a reality – not a concept.

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest... does anyone have any tickets that they selfishly applied for and don’t want? I’m in the market for volleyball, beach volleyball, handball, or basketball tickets.

J

Wasted Talent

Police car ablaze at Woolwich Arsenal

Sport is one of the most successful ways of preventing crime. This claim was made by the RFU last week (and by myself whenever I get an opportunity.)

I observed some of the images from the London riots with a degree of amazement due to the underlying irony of the situation - watching the riots unfold was like watching a massive pool of wasted sporting talent run amok in the streets.

The looters that were running away from police and their dogs could have been sprinters. The rioters that were pelting cones at shop windows could have been discus throwers and shot putters. The troublemakers who were pushing huge waste bins towards the police could have been rugby players. The ring leaders who were organising the mayhem could have been football managers. Instead of performing on an international or professional level, they are scampering through the streets reaching in search of material spoils – not personal success.

How many of those young people would have actually been participating in such destructive activity had they been involved in competitive, organised sports?

I’m not saying that all young athletes are angel faced citizens who never get up to mischief.... but I highly doubt there were many serious or semi-serious athletes involved in the London riots.

I’m constantly harping on about the need for more sport programmes for young men and women to be involved in. Programmes with longevity that inspire youngsters to reach the upper echelon of their chosen discipline – not badly funded programmes that leave them out of pocket and deflated.

Maybe sports aren’t the magic tonic that heals all of society’s wounds, but it certainly can’t hurt to test it and see.