Today is the first time the UK has won 5 gold medals in a day since 1908. Crazy times. The Olympics is a great way to lead in to the new season!
A boy from my home town, Galen Rupp, just got the silver in the 10k, gold going to his training partner, a Brit. I couldn't be prouder if I'd done it myself. Running against those Africans seems impossible, but the boy from Oregon (Portland) and his UK mate did it.
6 golds in one day - the first time Britain has managed that since 1908 (again). It's been an incredible night, been amazing to be a part of it.
Wow, that adds an extra bite watching the race and didn't they both do well http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vWPNbIxbubo Must admit I was on the edge of my seat with the cycling earlier in the evening but by the time Ennis, Rutherford and then Mo came round it was goosebumps. Fantastic, just fantastic.
Brendan Foster came out with the games' best bit of commentary yet: 'This is my favourite stadium in the world: every Saturday I come here and Mo Farah wins Olympic gold.'
I am really going to miss the Olympics when they finish later today. Everything has been brilliant - the performances, the organisation, London being filled with Olympic spirit. However, there is of course a consolation: next Saturday normal service resumes!
Agreed Penguin. The olympics has been an eye opener to say the least. It has put into perspective what sport really means to the whole world and how it has an amazing ability to unite people from all backgrounds and cultures. I was lucky enough to go thursday night to the olympics and witness Bolt flying in the 200 metres and to see the unbelievable David Rudisha take the world record in the 800 metres. The whole day out was utterly amazing and made me wish that it happened every week as with football. It also made me realise that the world of football needs to take a good long look at itself. On the one hand you had individuals working so hard to achieve their absolute goal ( in the most on very little funding ), on the other hand you have a group of individuals who seem disillustioned sometimes that things are not quite right ( who earn thousands every week ). Football could do with taking a look at itself and remembering why it is they are playing football: because as kids they wanted to be the best footballer on the planet, as with the athletics and competitors at the olympics, striving to the best. At Fulham I truly believe we are trying to encourage our players to the best they can be and that they are playing at Fulham because they want to play for us. We are trying to live within our means as a club and so will achieve what is realistic for us a club. Good times lie ahead. Roll on the next olympics.
Froggy, I could not agree more about how footballers and the hangers-on compare to what we have witnessed in the last 2 weeks. Unfortunately, the money and vested interests, conning the referee etc etc all underpin and undermine the beautiful game. I was also lucky to get tickets for the first night's athletics, incl. Ennis and Dibaba's 10k, then hockey on Sunday. The atmosphere in the Olympic Park was great - albeit for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Back home watching Watkins/Grainger, Rudisha, Bolt, McKeever, Postrigay/ Dyachenko, Ainslie, Wiggins, Trott, Nicola Adams, Hoy, etc etc , and best-of-all Mo Farah "thou shalt not pass me" last night. Anyhow, back to The Cottage on Saturday. C O Y W !!!
Everyone is saying how great the Olympics is and how rubbish football is in comparison, but come next April/May (probably much sooner than that) we'll have gone back to not caring about track and field etc for another four years, if we ever do again! I do agree though, GB's success in the Olympics is inspiring and a welcome relief from the money-churning world of football.
Bidders I hope that we will be loving the footie next April / May , but I sincerely hope that as a nation we will still be embracing all olympic sports. Personally, my son is involved in athletics so I hope he continues to develop and my daughter as a result of these olympics is desperate to get running down the track. I hope that parents up and down the country listen to their kids and make the effort to get their kids involved in sports and the healthy competition it promotes as well the comradery that comes with it. Hopefully in 4 or 8 years time we can be toasting the hard work and effort of these kids as they represent their nations . COYW
No doubt the Olympics being in London will have much more of a lasting effect on the home nations, and long may that continue. It will raise awareness and hopefully kids like yours will get the support they deserve in future. I was just making the point that the Olympics is the flavour of the month at the moment and we won't be this enthusiastic again about it for a long, long time.
Bidley, I'm sure that the normality of hopes for the new season is already there ready for next Saturday. The Olympics have been a one-off; something I've looked forward to for at least a couple of years, with new memories to cherish (a few to rank with my marvellous football memories). I'm not rubbishing football but reflecting some contrasts. The game is not perfect. C O Y W
