The 'top story" (now that's a phrase I loathe) on GMTV (at the top of my TV channel hate list, as you know) this morning, was that a British woman who we'd never heard of had won a gold medal for swimming. Good for her of course, but is this really headline news? I know that any sporting achievements on the international stage by Britain/England/Scotland/Wales/UK, etc, are met with equal measures of surprise and disbelief in Britain, but really...
I've always been at a loss as to why the Olympics are such a Big Deal. I know the world gets together to compete for sporting gold, but still - why is this so important? Am I being naive and not twigging that it's largely political? Was Helsinki 1952 political? Or Melbourne, whenever? I doubt it.
Can anyone tell me, because the fussage that's being made in London about the forthcoming Olympics that are still four years away is unbelievable. All that money being spent on an Olympic park which I don't doubt will fall swiftly into disrepair once the Games are over. It's only for three weeks of the year! Every four years! The planet doesn't get this excited about the World Cup (only TV adverts do that), though I concede that it is only one sport. Okay, I suppose then, it's because all sports are here, we can all compete against each other and win medals. Have I answered my own question?
But let's remember, it is only sport. There's nothing made more of a fuss over than sport. I'm not a huge fan.
On another Olympics note, that 14-year-old diver looks like a cocky little shite to me, or am I being unfair?
On another, unrelated note, I hate it when people call Madonna 'Madge'. Is it meant to reduce the superstar to 'just like us, married to a cockney, lives in London' status. Because it doesn't. It just grates.
Welcome to the working week, everyone.
