To be quite honest I find the whole thing about nationality ridiculus. Pitting nation against nation to see who is best is a bit rascist. Its saying we are better than you or they are better than them. It shouldn't matter who you are or where you come from. The olympics and other events should be about individuals not the countries they come from or adopt. As much as I dislike football, I think they have the right idea with teams having players from all over the world playing together. That is the sort of thing we should be striving for in all sports. It can only lead to more intergration and friendship.
because club v club football leads to much needed integration and friendship
and clearly there is nothing good at all about a country coming together to support its elite athletes when they are competing against the rest of the world....
i think pitting nation v nation is brilliant and brings out the best in individuals as they strive not for personal glory but for their country. does that make me racist? i doubt it.
personal glory and potential future profit too perhaps? but IMO the vast majority will see representing their country as the highlight of an athletics career.
and even if personal goals were the most important thing i don't see how that makes it racist? or how that makes club football an ideal to be reached towards?
the olympics don't say one country is better than another - its healthy competition between nations.
I am not saying club football is an ideal to be aimed for. I am saying its good that people from different races compete together against people from different races. I didn't say that the personal goals make it racist. It is the personal goals that make it non racist. Its the competing for your nation to show your nation is better than another nation part I have a problem with. If it was war we would say its wrong but because its sport its 'healthy competition'. Conflict is conflict whether on the battlefield or sportsfield. And conflict only breeds or encourages problems
As regarding the country and nationalities stuff, we had a German skier sliing for Spain and he won 3 gold medals at the olympics (which he had to return for dopping), I never saw him as a Spanish guy.
I've seen Brazilians playing football for Spain or an Ukranian playing rugby for Spain. I see them as Spanish because they are part of the national team whereas at individual competitions, I always see the athletes as individuals regardless the nationality.
so is this right - amey, aj and tim don are definites? havnt really been paying much attention but though the others (allen, stannard etc) have one more race to prove themselves?
AJ has'nt qualified yet, its just don and amey. For the women its just dillon as dibiens did'nt get in the top 5 though it will help that she was first brit home.
Not sure where the next qualifiers are? but i hope young jodie does it. She will rise to the occasion.
May 12th: The British Olympic Association (BOA) today announced that the following athletes would compete for Team GB at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, which begin on August 13:
Simon Clegg, the Chief Executive of the BOA and Chef de Mission for Team GB at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, said: “I am delighted to welcome these athletes into Team GB. Triathlon debuted very successfully in Sydney and the performances of our triathlon squad over the past couple of years suggest that we can be successful in Athens later this year. We wish the triathlon squad all the best as they make their final preparations.”
Graeme Maw, Team Leader for Triathlon at the Athens Games, said: “We are very confident in the Team now selected, with all six athletes having previously demonstrated their ability to win medals in major international races. The nature of the sport allows for many different scenarios on race day, and with proven medallists across the board we should be competitive in many of these. With four of the six - Don, Johns, Dibens, and Dillon – having been through triathlon's Olympic debut in Sydney, we will also be carrying experience to deal with the unique environment.”
Comments
Australian looking for an easier?? path to the Olympics.
Come on jodie!
Anyone know if she is going to make the next qualifier?
He was very nice about it.
whilst he may be from england- doesnt he live in africa now?
so we are only half way there!
because club v club football leads to much needed integration and friendship
and clearly there is nothing good at all about a country coming together to support its elite athletes when they are competing against the rest of the world....
i think pitting nation v nation is brilliant and brings out the best in individuals as they strive not for personal glory but for their country. does that make me racist? i doubt it.
out there for personal glory first.And profit.
and even if personal goals were the most important thing i don't see how that makes it racist? or how that makes club football an ideal to be reached towards?
the olympics don't say one country is better than another - its healthy competition between nations.
just an alternative view
Racing is not conflict!
(ignoring club v country debate above as I got confused as to its releavnce to Tim Don getting to Athens...)
a fraction of a second after 1.5/40/10, what a race. is it gonna be broadcasted in channel 5?
I've seen Brazilians playing football for Spain or an Ukranian playing rugby for Spain. I see them as Spanish because they are part of the national team whereas at individual competitions, I always see the athletes as individuals regardless the nationality.
and so women are dillon, dibens and.......?
whats happened to young jodie?
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
Not sure where the next qualifiers are? but i hope young jodie does it. She will rise to the occasion.
May 12th: The British Olympic Association (BOA) today announced that the
following athletes would compete for Team GB at the Athens 2004 Olympic
Games, which begin on August 13:
Men’s Event
Tim Don
Andrew Johns
Paul Amey
Women’s Event
Michelle Dillon
Jodie Swallow
Julie Dibens
Simon Clegg, the Chief Executive of the BOA and Chef de Mission for Team GB
at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, said: “I am delighted to welcome these
athletes into Team GB. Triathlon debuted very successfully in Sydney and the
performances of our triathlon squad over the past couple of years suggest
that we can be successful in Athens later this year. We wish the triathlon
squad all the best as they make their final preparations.”
Graeme Maw, Team Leader for Triathlon at the Athens Games, said: “We are
very confident in the Team now selected, with all six athletes having
previously demonstrated their ability to win medals in major international
races. The nature of the sport allows for many different scenarios on race
day, and with proven medallists across the board we should be competitive in
many of these. With four of the six - Don, Johns, Dibens, and Dillon –
having been through triathlon's Olympic debut in Sydney, we will also be
carrying experience to deal with the unique environment.”