Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
#1
I have watched the Olympics and I am enjoying the British successes, but a few thoughts came to mind. So I wondered if any one knows the answers.
1. Can a disabled sports person who was so good at their sport, take part in the main Olympics and if so are they banned from then taking part in the Paralympics Games.
2. Success breeds success and many of our youngsters will have sat at home and said to them selves "I want to do that, I want to be an Olympic athlete, but can they be, are the opportunities on an equal opening for all our youngsters?
How would a youngster in Dover know where to go if they want to take part in some of these sports, Sailing, Rowing, Archery, Shooting and Cycling?
I know we do have some of these sports clubs in Dover, if not all. Do they advertise for the youngsters to come along and more to the point is it open to all youngsters?
Can the average child whose parents may not have a large income, still get the chance to be part of these clubs?
A lot of these sports rightly or wrongly are thought of as sports of the well off. Sailing being one, so can the average kid go down to Dover Yacht club and join?
So yes it is a great Olympic game's for Great Britain
and we can build on this but are the chances there for one and all alike to be future Olympians.
#2
Most sports depend on having money, sadly. It would be great if sailing, for instance, were egalitarian.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#3
Money Bern is a fact of life. You can wish all you like but egalitarianism is utter balderdash like just about all socialistic codswallop....
I have no personal interest in sport and have not watched any of the Olympics and certainly wont be doing so. I am vaguely aware that British athletes are doing well and winning a lot of gold medals and good luck to them. It has taken them a great deal of hard work and dedication to get there and they deserve their success. I understand that the lottery has been instrumental in providing a great deal of money to sport and that is the root of the improvements in performance. Hopefully they can build on these successes in future years and do even better in the London Olympics. Beyond that I have absolutely no idea of the answers to Harry's questions! With the new watersports centre opening soon perhaps these Olympics will increase interest in these sailing sports to the great benefit of the centre and Dover, I hope so anyway.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#4
Sailing can be expensive Harry and Bern,and we are extremely lucky to have an excellent facility in Dover at the Watersports Centre,and when it becomes part of the New Seasport Centre will probably be even better.
When I was on the Town Council,I started a scheme called the Y.E.S.S scheme which stood for the Young and Energetic Sailing Scheme to try and get under priviliedge children into sailing,once they get to a certain level they can then become an instructor and this can lead to employment.I have asked Jullie Rook my opposite number on the Council to look at making it easier finacially for youngsters who are local and who want to sail.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
harry
i believe a lot is down to children enjoying something early on , and being lucky to have parents that back them to the hilt.
this could be by driving them down to swimming pools and running tracks at 5 am.
sadly, i think that it is much more difficult for poorer families to access the grants and facilities that are available.
on a positive note, the country is excited by the events in china, there will be a lot of youngsters that will be upping their enthusiasm and training schedules in order to compete in 2012.
the press and TV across the board have gone overboard because they know how the successes have uplifted our country during difficult times.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#6
The goverment have also directed a lot of money into the athletes facilities and training until many of them are now fully paid to take part in sport,through the Lottery funding,thats probably why boring old Barry can't be enthusiastic,mind you is Barry up for anything apart from the T**y Party.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#7
The cycling team were funded to the tune of over £20 million over 4 years,Divide that by the total number of medals won should give you some idea as to how much each olympic medal cost.Track and Field were in access of that amount and only expect to win 7 medals in total= £4million per medal approx.
Not sure about the rest of the disciplines.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
i saw on the box today, the UK entourage, full of trainers, dieticians, sports scientists etc.
who was interested in cycling 2 weeks ago?
different story now!!
worth every penny.
who really wants a world full of balance sheets, bottom lines and boredom?
fun and excitement are essential to the well being of humankind.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#9
It is not so much the money that is the problem but rather the obsession with having ever increasing problems. Since the advent of the greed generation nobody is content to tick along on a comfortable balance anymore. This even applies to charities who now have to claim back tax and offer those making donations the profits from said donations. The ever increasing rules also make it next to impossible for people to run training programmes in their spare time to get the young started in their prefered sporting activities.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#10
Hold on JHG - This Government have not funded sport the lottery has. In fact this Government accellerated the sell off of sports fields when it came to power.
#11
Barry - I love the word Balderdash. Coupled with "utter" it's a lovely tongue rolling phrase - you cheered my morning up!!!! And I have to say socialism as a dogma may be a bit unwieldy, but human compassion and fair play isn't, and my leftie tendencies are firmly rooted in broad brush fairness and solidarity. The only solidarity I have witnessed politically has been among the powerful and equality of opportunity and fair access to resources is absolutely removed from any Blue party politics, which are based on the powerful/wealthy granting the disadvanged opportunities which are tied with conditions based on coercion: if you don't conform you won't benefit. I know that in practice that is human nature, but perhaps I think poilitics and the law are there to temper human nature.....and before you say this has nothing to do with sports, of course it has!!! Access to anything comes right back down to politics!!!!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#12
yes Bern - there are some great words in the English language and balderdash is indeed a great one to use, must not be overused though!!!
You and I have totally different outlooks on life, thankfully - it would be boring if all agreed!!!
Back to the Olympics, I noticed that a couple of newspapers have highlighted that an exceptionally high proportion of our Olympic team and medals winners are from public schools. While I may not like sport myself I think that may well reflect the appalling influence of the anti-competitive sports lobby in State schools. The daft idea that there should not be any losers on schools sports days does not help build a new generation of Olympians. Hopefully their influence is reducing and the lottery funding will help build further future success from what must be a massive untapped resource in Sate schools.
When it comes to State funding of sport, of course the lottery funding was a top up to the relatively small level of State funding that has always existed (my comment about no state funding previously was wrong, what I should have referred to was extra funding...) but I also see reports that both lottery funding and the State element for grassroots sport have both been reduced to fund the 2012 Olympics to the tune of around £1,000,000,000.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
#13
There has always been opportunities for sailing in Dover .Both my sons took up sailing at a young age .The schools used to run programmes for sailing .Dover Water Sports Centre has always been excellent in providing training .There was a scheme through the community budget to get socilally deprived children on to training courses.my younnger son has trained to be an Instructor.Yes it can be expensive if you have your own boats as my sons have aquired.However we all chose what to spent our money on .My sons went sailing did not go away on holidays .Life is choices.Dover Water Sports Centre have turned out some excellent sailors .Thank goodness after years and years we now have a new centre being built.
#14
Some have more opportunity for choice than others...but I'll shut up about that for now!!! I remember when, for a mercifully brief period, my childrens primary school forbade competetive sports! Sports day cosisted of a load of parents traipsing around afield watching their children throw bean bags and balls about and jumping over stuff for no real reward and with no real purpose.......I may be a bit of an old leftie, but competition is what makes people strive...it was heartbreaking to see the children mooching around being inclusive and politically correct in a tired sort of way!!! In everything some lose and some win - I was pants at sports at school, but I was bright and academic. We all have our areas of excellence - the societal trick is to have opportunities in as many areas as possible so that everyone finds their area of excellence!
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
#15
I agree Bern I was no good at sport but I also think its a shame that competetion is now frowned on.Too many do gooders being politically correct.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
#16
Sue of course life is about choice, but if mum and dad have little money, is the same choice there for their children to take part in some of these sports.
I am not sure if a youngster knocks on the door of their local Yacht club and says I want to be an Olympian one day like Ben Ainsley, Paul Goodison or Anna Tunnicliffe they will be welcomed in.
I know I am not living in the real world, but I believe there should be some equality of opportunity in sport of all types and finance should in my opinion not be a barrier for the young to take part.
Lottery funding should be available to sporting bodies and clubs to assist in meeting the aim of sport for all youngsters who want to take part.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
#17
I do agree with you Barry, sport should be about winners and losers. Nothing wrong with competition on the sports field, it is part of life and the young should not be shielded from it.
I was involved with Cubs and Scouts sports days for years and we always had winners and losers. They ran for their Group and the youngsters got place certificates and the winning Groups got trophies, it never took the fun away, quite the opposite and it never harmed them.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
#18
I think the point has been missed here .My sons did not join the Yacht club .One learnt through the Grammar School where Martyn Styles taught him and the other just went along to The Water Sports Centre .I recollect having to pay some money but as I said we did not have holidays .My younger son spent hours down at the Watersport Centre.gradually gaining experience and later when qualified taught the youngesters .He got paid a small wage plus he could sail when they were not too busy .Helping out on Regatta days .I did also mention there are classes organised for children whos parents cannot afford the fees .Its a great shame some of our local schools do not participate.You dont always have to come from a rich background to make your way in life .I should know.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
#19
I think the point has been missed here .My sons did not join the Yacht club .One learnt through the Grammar School where Martyn Styles taught him and the other just went along to The Water Sports Centre .I recollect having to pay some money but as I said we did not have holidays .My younger son spent hours down at the Watersport Centre.gradually gaining experience and later when qualified taught the youngesters .He got paid a small wage plus he could sail when they were not too busy .Helping out on Regatta days .I did also mention there are classes organised for children whos parents cannot afford the fees .Its a great shame some of our local schools do not participate.You dont always have to come from a rich background to make your way in life .I should know.
#20
Sadly many local and small time politicians fail to recognise some of the realities of life. Middle ground people, like me, don't fall into either the "very well off" category or the "poverty trap" category - you know, the band of society that every shade of politician shafts because we are an easy target, working hard and progressing, paying our way, raising our families, paying our taxes and rarely placing a strain on society in any respect at all but funding the people who do . We cannot afford the very expensive activities and do not, quite rightly, expect top-ups or handouts to supplement ourselves. Yes, we make choices, but it has to be recognised that choices are limited by money. If sport were to be truly equal-opportunity participation would not be dependent on peoples incomes.