# The Commonwealth Games and sporting eccentrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2002, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752 "2002-07-25T13:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/1 "2002-07-25T13:04:50Z")
[First story](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/2151150.stm) 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](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/hi/cycling/newsid_2144000/2144955.stm) 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 ! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/2 "2002-07-25T13:25:03Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/3 "2002-07-25T13:30:39Z")
And the air in the aquatic centre heated to 38 degrees Celsius? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/4 "2002-07-26T13:15:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/5 "2002-07-26T13:29:54Z")
Did they bring any bikes with them ? 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… ? ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/6 "2002-07-26T13:38:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > heated to 38 degrees Celsius? Nahh, somebody’s pulling your leg. British thermometers for domestic use aren’t designed to go that high.😛 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/7 "2002-07-26T13:49:12Z")
Could be farenheidt? That’s how warm pools were in my day. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/8 "2002-07-26T14:07:08Z")
I don’t get it either. 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?” ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/9 "2002-07-26T14:10:22Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/10 "2002-07-26T14:35:09Z")
Pakistan’s only male swimmer has run off. He’s believed to be looking for a job in the building industry as an illegal immigarnt Australia’s swimming coach has been sacked following “an incident on a plane” The Isle of Man’s roadwalking team are husband and wife. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-commonwealth-games-and-sporting-eccentrics/120752/11 "2002-07-26T15:11:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > Pakistan’s only male swimmer has run off. He’s believed to be looking for a job in the building industry as an illegal immigarnt Isn’t that plumbing the depths… 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.