The Commonwealth Games: Does anyone else care?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

These have just kicked off in Manchester and are being billed as Britains biggest multi-sport event since the 1948 Olympics (thereby beating a World cup and European Championship, as well as some other similar games).

The main competitions are of a high standard, particularly the track and field and swimming (In which Ian Thorpe is attempting to win EVERYTHING).

My question is: Outside of the Commonwealth is there any interest in these games? If so what sort of interest?
ps Technically the US could join the Commonwelath as an ex colony. Can’t see it somehow, but it would make your money look a bit classier.

2

I saw some of the opening ceremony. Nice fireworks.

Couldn’t help noticing that, while the other athletes in the handing-over-the-baton ceremony were all dressed in those Buck Rogers outfits, Our Hero David Beckham wore a special sequinned tracksuit, with Union Jack on the back and sparkly sponsor’s logo on the front… thereby ensuring his title of World’s Most Tasteless Man remains unassailable…

And the show generally conveyed the vibrancy, gaiety and exoticism that spring to mind whenever you think of Manchester…

But they were nice fireworks…

3

I’m in th’ Commonwealth, and I don’t care …

4

And it only drizzled – picnicing weather oop there.

Obviously the quality of events is pretty varied – sometimes world-class, other times local park-class (new Commonwealth event: ‘Chase Parkie’). But I find it entertaining, whether it’s in the UK or elswhere.

As I get older I find the fitness of the women a more appealing feature of sports…didn’t seem to notice that quite so much when I could hope to chance across something similar…

5

Channel 7 over here have been hyping it as if their hearts were actually in it, but it’s a pretty hard slog.

Curiously enough they just seem to have had a total transmission failure … whether this was due to a massive influx of ratings or the techie working the dynamo falling of his bike in boredom has yet to be determined.

6

THis email has been doing the rounds for a while now (in fact since Manchester bid for the Olympics). Is the mascot really called Mad Ferret by the way?Commonwealth Games

As you may know, Manchester will be hosting the Commonwealth games this month. What you may not know, is that many of the famous events which go to make up this spectacular, have been especially altered for Manchester.

A copy of these changes has been leaked, and is reproduced below.

OPENING CEREMONY
The flame will be ignited by a petrol bomb thrown by a native of the city, in the traditional dress of balaclava and shell suit.

The flame will be contained in a large overturned police van situated on the roof of the stadium

THE EVENTS
In previous Commonwealth games, Manchester’s competitors have not been particularly successful. In order to redress the balance, some of the events have been altered slightly to the advantage of local athletes

100 METRES SPRINT
Competitors will have to hold a video recorder and microwave oven (one in each arm) and on the sound of the starting pistol, a police dog will be released from a cage 10 yards behind the athletes.

110 METRES HURDLES
As above but with added obstacles (I.e. car bonnets, hedges, garden fences, walls etc.)

HAMMER
Competitors in this event may choose the type of hammer they wish to use (claw, sledge etc.). The winner will be the one who can cause the most physical damage within three attempts.

FENCING
Entrants will be asked to dispose of as many stolen goods as possible in 5 minutes.

SHOOTING
A strong challenge is expected from local men in this event. The first target will be a moving police van. In the second round, competitors will aim at a post office clerk bank teller or securicor style wages delivery man.

The traditional .22 rifle has been replaced in this event by a choice of either a Browning automatic handgun or Sawn-off 12-bore shotgun

BOXING
Entry to the boxing will be restricted to husband and wife teams, and will take place on a Friday night. The husband will be given 15 pints of lager while the wife will be told not to make him any tea when he gets home.

The bout will then commence.

CYCLING TIME TRIALS
Competitors will be asked to break into the University bike shed and take an expensive mountain bike owned by some mummy’s boy on his first trip away from home. All against the clock.

CYCLING PURSUIT
As above, but the bike will be owned by a visiting member of the Australian rugby team, who will witness the theft.

MODERN PENTATHLON
Amended to include mugging, breaking and entering, flashing, joyriding and arson.

SWIMMING EVENTS
All waterways are currently being tested for toxicity levels, once one is found that can support human life, swimming events will be organised.

Please note that the Synchronised Swimming event for this year will comprise of dropping acid and watching all the funky ripples on the pool, the specific musical support to this event will be provided by “The Verve”

THE MARATHON
It has proved impossible to find a safe route of 26 miles, 286 yards within Manchester, and would cost about £1m to police it if one was found, so the event has been cancelled

MEN’S 50KM WALK
Unfortunately this will have to be cancelled as well as the police cannot guarantee the safety of anyone walking the streets of Manchester, especially anyone that appears to be mincing…

THE CLOSING CEREMONY
Entertainment will include formation rave dancing by members of the Salford Health in the Community anti-drug campaigners, synchronised rock throwing, and music by the Stockport community choir.

The flame will be extinguished by police riot water cannon following inevitable pitch invasion by confused Man United organised hooliganism club. The stadium itself will then be boarded up before the local athletes break into it and remove all the copper piping and the central heating boiler.

Late News: Apparently Liverpool were set to put in a bid very similar to the above but with the Pentathlon modified to include: killing a spouse, digging a hole, burying the body, laying a patio and the strangely named ‘Calm Down’ contest.

To guarantee the entry of any Mancunian athletes at all, Drugs testing has has been waived this year.