Tessa Jowell recently said that the government would not have bid for the Olympics in the current economic climate. I am reliably told that this is a clear signal that huge cost cuts are to be made and as usual it will be us athletes who will be penalised.
My own event, the Olympic Trap, has already been reduced from 125 qualifying shots to the women’s total of 75 shots. There is a serious bid to have the equestrian events removed from the modern pentathlon and the men’s decathlon will be reduced to a heptathlon to accord with the women. The government think that the Greek names will hide the changes from an unsuspecting public. “Il pubblico non sono pazzi” as they say in Athens. It is estimated these cost savings alone will pay for all the breakfasts in the Olympic village.
This is just the tip of the iceberg and other savings rumoured include, combining the pistol shooting with the start of athletic events and holding the vision impaired events at night. It is time for all us Olympians to take a stand or before we know we will end up with chocolate medals!
1 comment:
What a bunch of wankers! If you think this is bad, wait till the Occupational Health and Safety crowd get their dirty little mitts into the fray. All high-divers will have to wear full-face helmets and body suits; rubber pads on running spikes; male hurdlers will have to wear protectors on their lunchpacks; javelins will be made of foam; the thought of a flannel discus just leaves me cold, and as for Greco-Roman thumb wrestling, forget it! You go for it Jon, stick it up 'em lad. You may be incontinent but remember that every aged pensioner across the universe is right behind you.
P.S. Have you thought of enlisting a friend and going in for one of those synchronised events?
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