A Very Middle Class Olympics

[Lordbenny]

So, currently, we're 3rd in the medals table & I'm watching a games that are exceeding all my expectations. However, when you look at the sports & competitors you can't help but think, what's the point in trying to attract cider drinking, drug taking youths off street corners when, so far, as far as I can see we need to be pumping the money into the sports of rowing, sailing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, cycling, horse riding etc and inticing more middle class, privately educated, people into these sports.

Ok, they're not 'sexy' sports but we can win medals in them. What about introducng a few more sports for 2012, I was thinkig along the lines of real tennis, fly fishing, bridge, croquet. I cant believe they stopped polo a few years ago!

What other sports cold we win in 2012?

[richyb]

The olympics has always been pretty middle class except for boxing which has a fair share of pikeys.

[speedy_thrills]

But the real question is what the maximum post rate PH can tollerate for Olympic related threads?

[thehawk]

Only the in the UK could someone say those were middle class activities.

[richyb]

thehawk said:

Only the in the UK could someone say those were middle class activities.

Being in the UK it is true though.

[SLacKer]

• Fly Tipping
• Getting Drunk
• Kebab Eating
• Large gangs hanging about shopping centres
• Negative Equity
• Credit card debt
• Taxing the st out of people

We would be asured GOLD in all these events and it is open to all classes.

[Lordbenny]

thehawk said:

Only the in the UK could someone say those were middle class activities.

Thats kinda of my point, If you live in khazacyazactanovia you will try anything to get yourself off the streets & out of poverty be it running, tennis, fencing....whatever. It's about passion & determination, something that is impossible to install into the minds of alot (Not all, I hasten to add) of the chav cultured, high street hanging kids of today!

[siscar]

Lordbenny said:

What other sports cold we win in 2012?

It's any sport that you can do sitting down.

[bad_roo]

Interesting to contrast the relative success of China and India in the medals table.

[Parrot of Doom]

Rowing, archery and cycling can be enjoyed by anyone. In the deepest parts of poorest Salford, Agecroft rowing club has been running for over 100 years, and anyone can join up. Archery - same story, plenty of places to go do that. And anyone can buy a bike.

[ewenm]

Parrot of Doom said:

Rowing, archery and cycling can be enjoyed by anyone. In the deepest parts of poorest Salford, Agecroft rowing club has been running for over 100 years, and anyone can join up. Archery - same story, plenty of places to go do that. And anyone can buy a bike.

What LordBenny is really saying is that those sports aren't "cool" although if someone's in a sport because it's "cool" then they are never going to be a champion anyway.

[Fort Jefferson]

• TV soap watching.

[spidermanUK]

Lordbenny said:

What other sports cold we win in 2012?

Interesting that you mention clay pigeon shooting, we have a good chance of medals in 2012 and we'd have a better chance of some in 2016 IF this idiot government wasn't spending 20 odd million quid building an Olympic standard facility.....and then another 5 million on tearing it down immediately afterwards to ensure that we have no legacy!

Please add your gesture of disgust and dismay here:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/OlympicShooting/

[Adrian W]

Fort Jefferson said:

* TV soap watching.

Mugging, stabbing, watching TV, doing nothing, scrounging, whinging,

[Rocky Balboa]

Darts, Snooker

[chris watton]

Adrian W said:

Fort Jefferson said:

* TV soap watching.

Mugging, stabbing, watching TV, doing nothing, scrounging, whinging,

Banning competition, Self Rightious Brothers stylee.......

[bga]

bad_roo said:

Interesting to contrast the relative success of China and India in the medals table.

I work with a lady who used to represent India in the 100m & long jump at U16 & U18 level. She said that in India sport is not really seen as a career. There isn't the money available for people to train full time

Edited by bga on Sunday 17th August 12:11

[drivin_me_nuts]

Schadenfreude

[Lordbenny]

I dont want to get into the debate about competition in schools because its not about that. It's about attitude & determination, you dont have to work hard anymore if you want to 'get by' in life. The current youth culture of getting something for nothing is SO prevelant in today's youths. You don't even have to try to get your A levels anymore!

Songs are are about Rolex's & Gallardo's, shops like TK Maxx are doing great business because you can get Ralph Lauren for £15.99, no one wants to sweep the streets because you get get better money on benefits.

Unfortunately,(again, this is a bit sweeping!) it's the people of middle England who understand the basic rules to success in life, not just financially but life as a whole.

It's easy really, it's all to do with passion, be it fishing, model making, cycling, football, whatever. Install a passion into a child at a young age and, hopefully, it will be with him/her for life!

[Cpn Jack Spanner]

Couldn't 'Head Butting' be added - sure we'd get gold for sure. Also, medals assured for 'Begging' and 'Drinking'.