Despite the best efforts of the Closing Ceremony, the Olympics still burn brightly in the memory. They were truly a fantastic spectacle, within fantastic settings. The success of the home team has no doubt added to the success of the Games, but even the most random sports (to us) proved captivating, with sell-out crowds, and massive TV audiences. The likes of Handball, Volleyball and Water Polo enjoyed the sort of profile, that in this country, is usually reserved for the big money sports, which TV companies embark on a bidding war for every few years. Perhaps the rest of Europe, and the World, see them differently?
So, Legacy. Yes, that word that has been bounded about over the last few days, weeks, even months. Riding on the crest of the euphoric Olympic wave, there seem to be no insurmountable obstacles. Here’s one, the start of the new football season. For a significant proportion of the population, Olympic Spirit, Values and Fair Play, will go out the window as quickly as the first debateable offside flag is raised.
To many it’s an obsession, it’s fanatical. It is tribal, it has edge, it is a way of life. It’s more important than life and death. It is big business. It sells copy. It sells subscriptions. It is a media obsession.
Also, it’s accessible. Jumpers for goalposts. To take my class to the nearest Athletics track, which is about 5 or so miles away, would cost anywhere from £100 to £200 for a coach. Bikes, horses, boats? We can just about cover jotters, pencils and rulers!
So, what do we need to do to allow pupils to experience so many of these sports that we have seen at the Olympics? Training, resources, facilities, experts, athletes, time. Boris, who loves a bandwagon, wants 2 hours a day. At the exclusion of what though? Some time every day could be a great idea. Research is positive about starting the day with exercise leading to better focus and concentration.
Seb Coe faces a massive challenge to break the stranglehold of football in his quest for an Olympic Legacy. Wall to wall coverage on TV, packed stadiums, big money sponsorship, a team in every town, all provide significant hurdles to overcome. Come derby day, the exciting cup draw, a big European night, will “Handball” just be something to shout at the ref?
