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The Olympic games is supposed to represent the single greatest sporting show on earth, celebrated for its astonishing world records and the all-encompassing dedication and commitment athletes show throughout their lives for an Olympic gold. Yet it appears to have gradually slipped into a cultural circus, with governments throwing excessive money at promoting its image and ‘modern tradition’, turning an ignorant eye to the fundamental element of sport.
As a sports fanatic you cannot help but become excited by the prospect of another Usain Bolt world record or Jessica Ennis having performed well all season, going for that elusive Gold; but as a Londoner and cynic, I detest the laborious countdown and will be busying myself with menial and unimportant tasks to avoid the London 2012 cultural charade.
You may question as to why an individual who goes to Loughborough University, studies Sports Science, is Label Sports Editor and proclaims to be an avid sports follower is not jumping up and down with glee at the thought of the Olympic torch passing through my home town. Well, these absurd cultural requirements have absolutely nothing to do with my passion for sport and I feel they detract from the true meaning of the Olympic games: Sport.
Take the Olympic torch for example; a ‘tradition’ implemented by Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Berlin games to subtly demonstrate the physical similarities between the ancient Greek athletes and Germany’s Aryan athletes. Travelling from Olympia to Berlin to mark the start of the games, this odd cultural extension has manifested itself as a regular feature to every Olympics thereafter. The build up to London 2012 has been no different, a relay engulfed in celebrity culture, the hysteria of it being considered ‘a once in a life time opportunity’, and an expensive road trip to the far reaches of the country. What says, “we take sport seriously in this country” like having ‘Z listers’ Jedward parading round with the torch or will.i.am Tweeting his way through the 300m stretch. I am quite sure without the over exaggerated relay display with torches ‘kissing’, the likes of Phillips Idowu and Paula Radcliffe would still be able to compete and I’m sure it would be for the greater good.
Bypassing the torch relay, the opening ceremony has also been cause for debate and fuel of my boycotting. Despite the promises of not attempting to compete with Beijing’s perception of expressive dance and grand display of uniformity, our government has felt it a necessity, disregarding the poor economic state we reside in, to double the opening and closing ceremony budget. No disrespect to the work of Danny Boyle, but sport is neither the time nor the place to display a representation of the history of Britain through symbolic metaphors. Fair enough. I will accept the prospect of fireworks as that is mandatory for every international event but three hours of real animals parading around the newly constructed stadium and people pretending to be part of the National Health Service to entertain the masses, does not scream sport to me.
Further causes of my boycott consist of the patronising advertising in London, ‘get ahead of the games’; how wonderful that you are telling me to work from home or plan my already stressful journey to and from central London everyday, its not as though it’s stressful enough I now have to contend with an overcapacity tube network and ever growing Olympic lanes, even in Surrey! Those not in the midst of the chaos, from the wider ends of Britain, of course you may be excited about the Olympics in your home country, but you spare a thought for those of us who have to spend those additional hours with faces stuck against the tube doors, attempting to read your overlooked book.
The most frustrating part of this entire institution is the Great Britain selection process. It all started with the omission of Aaron Cook back in June, despite being number one in world, he was snubbed for by the British Olympic Association for the much lower ranked, Lutalo Muhammad. David Beckham was shown to his spectator seat, despite being an instrumental factor in the London Olympic bid, by Great Britain Football manager, Stewart Pearce. The final moment of faithlessness was provided by the athletic selection. Only one 800m runner, Lynsey Sharp, who had only ran a ‘B’ standard time had been selected over Jenny Meadows, Marilyn Okoro, Emma Jackson and Jemma Simpson, all whom achieved the ‘A’ standard. 200m runner Richard Kilty has also been left out despite running the ‘A’ standard twice, although his under performance at the trials late last month due to a virus diagnosed by team doctors, is considered the reason for his non selection. I would wholly understand that had these athletes not achieved the ‘A’ standard, as this is all that is asked of them, but they have reached the mark and still face a summer of watching the games on the BBC. The ability to be able to compete at your home games is a once in a lifetime opportunity, something you’ve been working towards your entire life, just to have it snatched from you one month before the start of the games. Grossly unfair if you ask me!
This Olympic cultural facade has erupted and intends to spew furiously until September, therefore, as a before my time student enduring my summer months pencil pushing I will boycott, I will moan and I will scorn upon the joyful masses who see this summer as a cultural celebration. The sports fan within me will wishfully plead to witness the clash between Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt, in principle that will be refused.
Enjoy the livestock in the Olympic stadium; I am going to watch some sport.
