Can't they keep their noses out of anything?

[Strangely Brown]

Interfering wrs

[SS HSV]

They're always medaling with something

[grumbledoak]

Targets for Olympic medals? How are they going to rig the statistics arrange that one, then? Muppets.

[Simond001]

on that basis we need to win every medal at the 2012 olympics!

[rude-boy]

Because none of the lads and lasses where that bothered about how they are going to do before this were they?

FFS.

[scotal]

Haven't we left it a bit late to be setting targets like this....surely it whould have been some sort of ongoing program of sporting development (which could have used a tiny fraction of the cash that we are wasting on 2012, and still made a decent difference.

[Skipppy]

Is Brown trying to re-coup all that gold?!

[fulham911club]

What's wrong with having a target? All commercial operations work on this basis. Most other sporting nations operate a similar type of expectation. Many if not most of the athletes are state-sponsored so why not give the overall team a target?

[gopher]

rude-boy said:

Because none of the lads and lasses where that bothered about how they are going to do before this were they?

FFS.

If I were an Olympic athlete and saw this I could not help but find it really de-motivational.

Edited by gopher on Tuesday 5th August 14:50

[Bushmaster]

Am I wrong to enjoy this picture (linked from the link above)?

[BrassMan]

No.

What do they propose, should the team miss this target? claim a press release in a different base?

[missliv]

Does "the government" seriously think that competitors will set out to deliberately lose?

[Poledriver]

Good idea! We don't get any choice about our hard-earned being used for the sake of sport, which is of no benefit to the majority of people in this country. If we are forced to contribute we should see some return, even if it is only a few trashy medals.
Personally I think that if someone wants to indulge in sport they should find ways to finance it themselves, either from working or charitable contributions, so those who wish to donate can do so. It would be much better if this money is used for health or education!
I dread to think how much of the money we pay in tax (including the speeding taxes) is going to be wasted in 2012!

Edited by Poledriver on Tuesday 5th August 14:52

[Deva Link]

Bushmaster said:

Am I wrong to enjoy this picture (linked from the link above)?

Beth has already had to pull out of a couple of events.

[Incorrigible]

Poledriver said:

Stuff

I completely agree, sport should be for the rich only. The working classes shouldn't have any aspirations of sporting success

[Silent1]

Deva Link said:

Bushmaster said:

Am I wrong to enjoy this picture (linked from the link above)?

Beth has already had to pull out of a couple of events.

Like shaving ryans privates?

[Geronimo]

SS HSV said:

They're always medaling with something

very good

[Bushmaster]

missliv said:

Does "the government" seriously think that competitors will set out to deliberately lose?

Not deliberately, but there is no harm in saying 'You have indulged your hobby at the taxpayer's expense for the last x years. Now this is what we expect in return...'

[Swilly]

I fail to appreciate the purpose of setting these targets for purposes of value for money.

If the UK wins zero medals doesnt that suggest, amongst other things that:

Not enough money is being put into UK sport !!
Other nations' sports people are better !!

[Fittster]

Incorrigible said:

Poledriver said:

Stuff

I completely agree, sport should be for the rich only. The working classes shouldn't have any aspirations of sporting success

Should the poor be taxed to pay for peoples sporting aspirations??