The Wardman Wire

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Usually on a Sunday I like to settle down, read the Sunday papers, fill myself with food and watch the afternoon’s offering of football. Last Sunday however was slightly different because there was a whole new form of live entertainment being broadcast right around the world. Extreme Olympic Torch Relay Running.

The Rules

It really is a marvellous spectacle. The idea is, one person (male or female) runs the streets of London holding the so called Eternal Flame (a strange name considering it has gone out four times in the past twenty four hours alone) flanked by up to 30 burly police officers and a bunch of Chinese men in pyjamas. The reason for this is twofold. One: they are there to completely obscure the person holding the torch, thereby making the whole spectator element farcical. Secondly: they act as a sort of crash barrier to people who feel an urge to hurl themselves at the flame. Rather like flies and moths to blue lights, it seems Londoners are drawn uncontrollably to the Olympic Flame. The BBC should consider adding this to their much dwindling sporting portfolio. It beats an afternoon of bowls.

The Olympics? Political? Surely not!

I did catch some killjoy suggesting that the whole thing was a disgrace and that the Olympics and politics should be kept separate. Surely they weren’t referring to the same Olympics that have been used as a political tool ever since the games in 1936; where Hilter first came up with the idea of having the Olympic Torch relay as a form of propaganda for his Nazi politics? Is this the same Olympics that are won every four years by heads of states and other political figures making political plea bargains and deals in order to secure the games? Is this the same Olympics that the US boycotted in Moscow 1980, or a host of nations boycotted in 1956 on political grounds? The same games that saw a politically motivated terrorist organisation cause massacre in Munich? The Olympics and politics are so intrinsically linked it is ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

We should go to China and make a noise

I do not think for one second that Britain should boycott the games in China this year. Far from it. These games have finally put the global spotlight on China and the treatment of its people and the people of Tibet. Sadly, it has taken a so called “un-political” event to do this! If the Chinese think that they can parade the Eternal Flame through the streets of London on what they are calling “a journey of harmony” (yes, harmony!!) while they are killing their own people back home, then they need a wake-up call. I hope our athletes go there, pick up a bunch of medals, get in the limelight and make it absolutely clear what they think about the human rights record of the Chinese Authorities.

The Benefits of a Political Olympics

The people of London or Paris haven’t hijacked the Olympics. It was high jacked years ago by politicians. They cannot now complain when the rest of us do the same. The Football Word Cup is a bigger event world wide than Olympics, yet there is no trouble when the USA are drawn to play Iran. That is because the people in charge mean it when they say they do not want it politicised. If those in charge at the IOC and China really do not want it to be a political event, then they should stop being so political about it.

I, on the other hand am glad it is. Ever since Jesse Owens, the Olympics has been exposing rouge nations for the menace that they are. Besides, not only is the world waking up to more sinister side of China, but I have found the great new sporting event of Extreme Olympic Torch Relay Running. Kick off for the next match up is tomorrow in San Francisco – I can’t wait!