First story of the Games emerged this morning as members of the Kenyan cycling team went for an ill-judged (err…illegal) burn up along the M61 – for those unfamiliar with this road, it’s a Motorway/Freeway on which an endless line of huge lorries race at unforgiving speed. Nice imagery of the uniformed boys racing for their lives in crocodile fashion once they twigged their error…must have pepped up the Kenyan lads no end…
This adds to news of the cycling team members from Kenya and Gambia who turned up for the Games without any bikes at all, putting them, one imagines, at something of a disadvantage.
I like the Commonwealth Games because it’s a more ‘homely’, friendly event at which eccentricity can be guaranteed. Looking forward the next “Who me ? What ?” hiccup.
Thank you, boys, for joining a rich sporting ancestry…‘Eddie The Eagle’…the Jamaican bob sleigh team…‘Eric The Eel’…Bless you all !
The company I work for (we won’t bother with the pseudonym I usually use for them, not in MPSIMS) recently had some dealings with a firm whose business includes doing the cleaning after major sporting events like this. They don’t, it seems, enjoy the job. Apparently, used hypodermic needles are a major hazard to their operatives; so is… errm, well, some of the athletes from very poor Third World countries are, according to the bloke we spoke to, somewhat unfamiliar with indoor plumbing. If you get my drift…
The Mauritian Table Tennis team turned up with too few players to play table tennis.
I simply do not understand how this is possible, but it’s in the Telegraph, so must be true.
I am also fond of Mr Savage from Dorset who is the 103rd best triathlete in England, representing Kiribati (he was born there). He could be in for a long day.
There was another equipmet related incident this morning…can’t remember now…got to check it out. TheLoadedDog 38c doesn’t make any sense at all. If they wanted to create a home advantage I could understand -38c. Are you sure about that, it seems very warm… ?
The evening news the night before last ran a report which was very critical of the Manchester aquatic venue. Firstly, it mentioned the 2000-odd seating capacity, which is woefully small. Ok, that’s a fair criticism, and easily verified. But then it mentioned the thirty-eight degree temperature. I don’t recall precisely if they mentioned whether that was the air or the water, but I seem to remember terms like “inside” being used, along with references to last-minute plans to introduce industrial fans into the building, so I assume the references are to the air temperature.
Now, although English summers can be on the hot side when they put their mind to it, 38C is obviously just not on. So, the temperature must be a result of artificial heating. Well, turn the sodding heaters down. I don’t understand the need to bring in cooling fans. So, to answer your question, London_Calling, no, I’m not sure about it. It doesn’t add up, but that’s definitely what I saw on the telly. All I can do is reiterate my earlier “WTF?”
Aye, it’s not swimming unless you have to dynamite the ice first.
More from the sports desk: Apparently, the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands collapsed this morning. Which is unfortunate as he’s in their Bowls Team…hmmmm, ‘Team Cook’ possibly. Anyway, he seems to be okay and there’s no truth in the rumour John Prescott (our slightly rotund Deputy PM) is standing by.
Still trying to remember that other equipment incident…
Even more on the Pakistani swimmer going AWOL: Apparently, the family of every athlete had to lodge £10,500 with the Government to make sure the athletes came back again. So they’re not happy. Can’t imagine how much the Aussie’s had to pay…
Mind you, if he is a plumber he should make that back in about a week and a half if the rabble around here are anything to go by.
L_C scanning the High Street for a track suited man carry a U bend.
