On first sub zero run this morning, I reflected on a recent conversation regarding the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, for which I volunteered on the anti doping team as a chaperone for a month and loved it. Here I was, once again pounding the pathways, doing something I loved. Indeed, I have spent today basking in memories whilst unpacking old pictures of my teenage running. Blimey I was thinner and way fitter back then! But no-one can take away the purist pleasure of my running history, though I have never done anything remotely remarkable. I believe that I have consistently underachieved in running, but enjoyed even the most painful of events or training runs. Sounds perverse, but its true. Running for me provides a release from something I know not. I'm free - I'm the person I want to be. The Who's 'Roger Daltry belting out 'I sing my song to the wide open spaces....' often fills my mind when covering the trails, especially in the mountains.
Back in December and January, I defended the Olympics from the staunchest of critics. There is no other event on this planet which allows athletes of all disciplines to compete, socialise and live under the same roof. There is a aura which surrounds the Olympics, be they summer or winter. There is no other. The cost? Too much. The politics? Too controlling. The International Olympic Committee? Dinosaurs. But I'll still defend the movement. I harped on about the legacy Vancouver was creating, for communities, athletes and spectators. Inspiration. "I'll be there in 2014..." whispers an inspired 16 year old to themself. It's moving. It's an event like no other. But I'm now strangely deflated. Anti doping is only active due to the cheats. No cheats, no doping control. Simple. It's all about keeping sport clean. I had lots to say, lots of opinions about the anti doping team I worked on - which is to be expected. But the legacy? A quick story.
On my return I immediately signed up as a chaperon for the Canadian Centre for Excellence in Sports. They control anti doping across the board in all sports here in Canada. No one even returned my phone calls or emails. I eventually spoke to someone, months later. They took my details. It was now June. In September I received an email copy from a colleague who is a CCES accredited chaperone, asking for all to contact the centre if they wished to be on the call out list. Why had I not got one? Unswayed, I rang. No, they had not got my details. Would I like to provide them?
Some legacy the Olympics left behind. Another bureaucratic set up, a barrier for involvement in sport. Sport needs to be embedded into the grassroots - no runners like me, no mass involvement in sport. No future. CCES need to get their act together. Meanwhile I'll continue my running in the fields.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteFrustrating story of bureaucratic incompetence and you must feel mightily p***ed off. Particularly seeing as though Canada has had its credibility tarnished by the most reported incidence of drug cheating in the Games history.
However, I'm not sure that the legacy of the Olympics can be measured in terms of competence in regulating the elite but more about how they inspire others, young and old (but particularly young) to embrace the spirit of the Games and get out there and compete for the sheer hell of it.
A big part of that is inspiring people to nurture talent that isn't necessarily theirs. By this I mean the coaches who turn out week in week out on the playing fields and tracks across the world in all manner of weathers surrounded by a large group of kids, some eager some sullen, and by their enthusiasm and encouragement keep them coming back to their respective sports.
The rewards for this aren't monetary. The rewards are in seeing in kids excel, be it in winning medals and championships or just getting an otherwise fat kid off his arse playing PS3 and adding five years to his mortality expectations.
So, moral is, I think, don't become dispirited and cynical because of some tw*t in his office in Ottawa - just get out there and use your love of sport to inspire others.
Best wishes
Simon
I love my sport. I dont particularly follow it on the TV and I occasionally glance to see how my footy team are doing, but I do participate. Through my involvement in anti doping I wanted to give back to sport something of what I had taken out. Sure I can take someone out for a run, cheer someone along in a race or write about my love of running, but the infrastructure has to be in place for the duffers like me to come through, participate and ultimately succeed. For there to be a winner, there needs to be a second place, and a third and so on. CCES needs to be out there, drumming up support for its cause and to get good people involved who love and understand sport and its participants. Im not convinced that this is the case and yes, it does leave me sad. Ill continue to run till the day I die, but Id like to think that all these millions we put into the Olympics actually results in better sport for all.
ReplyDeleteWe also need facilities and infrastructure, be it the built environment or sustainable clubs to send (y)our kids to. Just getting out and doing it ourselves is simply not enough - enough perhaps for my personal fitness but not for the success of sport.
Tim (From Tony Sharpe)
ReplyDeleteFor years I've tried to live and work by the 'Act local, think global' mantra.......so what I can't seem to change on a high-profile stage, I attempt to balance by putting my efforts into very locally and personally based stuff.
Hence I still run with Billy for 2-3 miles each morning....and still attract glances from passengers in cars which tell me they wish they were out doing something similar (and some just might do that cos of seeing me...cos I know how I feel when I see the same from a car)......and my love of 'activity' in general has sown its seed and grown in my children's psyche...and now my grandchildren (my 6yr old and 4yr old grandsons recently completed the Ashbourne Fun Run of 3.5 miles with is no mean feat) and they can't get enough of the great outdoors and 'activity'.
So when the 'global' stuff threatens to depress you too much and you begin to despair.....go n get a neighbour's kid and get 'em to run with you n Bonny for a few sessions n see where that leads them, my friend!