Let’s take time to celebrate
Last updated 11:44, Thursday, 28 August 2008
The moaning has begun already. Our marvellous athletes have barely touched down on home soil and the great British tradition of “loserism” rears its ugly head.
In the past I have raised issues about the obscene spending involved in staging the Olympics and the fact that 2012 is all about London when areas like the North West could have been involved in staging outdoor events such as mountain biking and canoeing, maybe even synchronised swimming in Wastwater to sort out the tough girls from the weaklings.
But the Brits in Beijing were simply magnificent. Let’s bask in the glory for a few weeks before we start asking questions about 2012. When thousands can turn out in Mansfield on an August afternoon to welcome home a double gold medal winner then something special has happened to brighten the mood of the nation.
But already those prickly, whingeing Scots are at it, wanting their own team. SNP leader Alex Salmond accuses Gordon Brown of politicking when he calls for a Great Britain football team, but he’s playing politics, too.
Then there’s all this fuss about Team GB. Well, what’s in a name? If the athletes are comfortable with it who cares if they call the Brits Boris Johnson’s Ping Pong Army in 2012?
No longer losers, content with just being there. Let’s ride the wave of optimism. And practise our ping pong.
property
motors
jobs
date