...Sports columns
Riddle Writes
by John Riddle
www.riddlewrites.co.uk
The Greatest Show on Earth
As the Olympic Games get underway, the eyes of the world turn to the East - and in particular on the city of Beijing. Forget the earthquake victims, forget the issues of Tibet, we are in China to watch the greatest sporting show on the planet. (I only mention the earthquake and Tibet to prove I haven’t forgotten them, but I have had my wrist slapped before for being “too political.”)
So how will the Great Britain team do in a city with a pollution problem which could affect breathing and, of course, performance? The Chinese Olympic Committee has assured the International Committee that the air will be at “an acceptable level.”
My mind went back to the Sydney Olympics of 2000, which at the time gave the UK an incredible haul of 11 gold medals - our best performance since 1920. The team went on to win a total of 28 medals.
Steve Redgrave (now Sir Steve), recording his fifth successive Olympic Gold in the men’s coxless fours.
Jason Queally in the 1km cycle time trial took gold, as did Stephanie Cook in the modern pentathlon.
Jonathan Edwards’ emotional victory in the triple jump will always be remembered. He won gold in the 2001 World Championships and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, retiring in 2003 as GB’s most successful athlete.
When he retired, he pursued a career in the media, and is now a member of the organising committee for London’s 2012 Games.
So what are our chances of winning eleven gold medals in China?
I do know a swimmer from my home town Hartlepool, Jemma Lowe, who will be going all out in the pool to add Olympic medals to her already sizeable collection. But the Royal family won’t be represented again in the Games, as Zara’s horse has gone lame.
Recently Andy Baddeley became the first Briton to win the Dream Mile since 1991, crossing the line in a time of three minutes 49.38 seconds, placing him sixth in the all-time UK records for the distance. Surely he has a shout for a medal.
In the gymnastic events, Beth Tweddle will lead the GB charge for medals after being named in a six strong women’s artistic team. Hannah Whelan and Marissa King take part in their first Olympics, and they will be joined by old hands Becky Downie, Laura Jones, and Rebecca Wing.
Mathew Greenwood, British Gymnastic Association Technical Director, said the team had “strength and depth.”
He went on. “The girls will be very well prepared, and in a position once again to prove the strengths we have established.”
On the track, GB has three medal hopefuls in Perri Shakes Drayton, Kelly Sotherton, and Jo Pavey, and it is perhaps on the field that we could pick up some medals.
In the numerous sailing events, I think Great Britain has a chance of picking up more silverware, if not gold. The trio of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb, and Pippa Wilson are red hot favourites for gold, although Russia and the US (skippered by Sally Barkow) may have other ideas. Also watch out for the Dutch sailing team.
Argentina are one of the favourites to win Olympic football gold (whatever is football doing in the Olympics?). They are in the group which contains Australia, the Ivory Coast, and Serbia. Italy, who flopped in Euro 2008, are drawn in the group with Cameroon, Honduras, and Korea, and you would expect them to qualify for the later stages.
Brazil always have to be watched, but they are in the group with Belgium, New Zealand, and hosts China. The football last from 6th-24th August and, although there is no team from GB (as Lord Coe so foolishly suggested), I am sure there will be some cracking games.
There is also a ladies competition but, again, no team from any of the home nations or the Republic of Ireland, but plenty of interest for Scandinavia, North and South America, New Zealand, and Australia.
Covering most sports on the planet, the Olympics runs from 8th-24th August, and let’s hope that GB bring home a plethora of medals and encourages those wishing to take part in the 2012 London Olympics.
Many thanks go to Mike Rutter, an English solicitor living and working in Tenerife, for getting in touch after reading about my exploits. In the 1960s Mike and I played tenpin bowling with his late uncle Roly Wilson and his lovely wife Muriel. We had some great nights at the old Brunswick Bowl in Billingham - happy days!
Anyway, here is a little competition for readers of The Paper.
Can you forecast how many gold medals the GB team will win in Beijing, and how many medals overall? Send your entries via email to cormorant publishing@yahoo.co.uk, including your name and location. You should enter your answer thus: Gold Medals 6, Overall Medals 20.
The first correct answer draw at random will receive the official and historic Sydney Olympics highlights CD, produced by the International Olympic Committee.
If you want to talk about the Olympics, speak to Brendan at the Devon Arms in Los Cristianos - he has all the answers!
Well that’s about it.
I do hope the Great Britain team, our neighbours from the Republic of Ireland, and our hosts Spain do well in China.
In the meantime and until we meet again, take care.