London2012 - Providing Inspiration and Future Legacy?
The power of the London2012 Olympics has not just been felt in the big city, but also across the World. With so many athletes competing on live BBC televised broadcasts and highlights reels, the profile of Olympic sport and the athletes themselves has increased. Most folk would have known about record holders such as Usain Bolt before the games, along with maybe a handful of other star names. Little did we know however, that hundreds more athletes would run through the finish line or stand on the podium for becoming heroes and major influences for the next generation within their respective sports.
From the opening ceremony on 27th July 2012, through the closing ceremony on 12th August 2012 the World witnessed not just elite sporting talent, but true sportsmanship, gamesmanship and professionalism that most other sports have lost sight of. Unlike sports such as football, there was no aggressive chanting against foreign nations or sporting peers, no foul and abusive language towards officials, no need for security when athletes wanted to embraced their supporters in the crowd. There were thousands of volunteers, taking annual Summer leave from their full time jobs just to take part in taking care of both athletes and the general public during the games. Their hard work and input and contribution will always be remembered. Their unwavering enthusiasm has definitely won us all over!
Off the tracks, or away from the water or the stadiums there was society from different nations mingling with each other. People from different ethnicities and religions all mingling- joking, sharing experiences, opinions, and more. This was a completely refreshing games, unlike any other sporting event the UK had ever previously witnessed. Not once did we here of any trouble, and anything worthy of any negativity was the Belarusian shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk being stripped of her gold medal for failing her drugs test. There's always one!
Yes it is far too early to be talking about legacies. Sports governing bodies such as UKA need to keep to their promise and mission of investing in both new and existing development programmes to keep producing superstars. The Government also need to stick to their word of investing further in competitive sports in schools and elsewhere. I'll pin my hopes on the first point here then!
London2012 Closing Ceremony
Future for Olympic sports in the UK?
Yes there are the mainstream sports such as Football, Rugby, Golf, Tennis and Cricket which are shown weekly, not just competed in every few months or every four years. This should not detract from the importance of the Olympic Sports and 'getting involved' in sports such as swimming and track & field. The likelihood of making it as a professional and successful competitive football player may be relatively small, however succeeding and achieving in maybe a lesser known athletic sport with less competition for places, but equally rewarding surely now now has to be the target and focus for many parents and their children in the future. The Olympics are the perfect reference point to draw inspiration for parents, not just to influence their children into being active and taking part in competitive sports, but for the children of the future to battle the national obesity issue and to learn the measures of success and failure! As much as I love football, the new heroes should not the glorified and overpaid Premier League footballers within teams, but individuals who have succeeded by being paid next to nothing to learn, and ply their trade with only a fraction of Lottery funding- if lucky! Heroes such as Chris Hoy, now the UK's most decorated Olympian.
All in all, team Great Britain had their most successful medal haul since 1908, resulting in being third in the medals table behind China and the United States. However, if these things were to measured 'per capita', Team GB have won!
All in all, team Great Britain had their most successful medal haul since 1908, resulting in being third in the medals table behind China and the United States. However, if these things were to measured 'per capita', Team GB have won!
The time is not tomorrow, the time should be now. With the Olympics very fresh in the memory, it is high time that parents and their children take strides to identifying sports of enjoyment, and to nurture and develop them into competitors and potential athletes. Let's all strive to push forward as many athletes for Rio2016 as possible, and the next generation beyond!
