The UK has a reputation for being a sporting nation - a
nation, the citizens of which participate in many sports; they appreciate them
and enjoy watching them. We see the benefit of taking part in sports for keeping
fit and for our general wellbeing. Sport becomes a way of life. Millions dependent
on it for their livelihoods; it is for them their bread and butter. Sportsmen
and sportswomen earn their livings by it and whole industries supply their
needs and those of their fanatic followers.
The sports we engage
in are wide-ranging. However, national TV and radio sports programmes tend to focus
on three major sports: soccer, rugby and cricket. During the summer months, time
is also allocated to tennis, golf and Formula One. Other motor sports, horse racing, and cycle
racing occasionally have hearings. In the winter we may see professional boxing
and perhaps wrestling, but we seldom see judo or any of the martial arts. There are few opportunities for watching table tennis and badminton.
As for canoe slalom and mountain biking, rowing, volley ball, basketball,
netball and bowls, there’s hardly a showing. Occasionally there’ll be snippets
featuring sailing and the equestrian sports; and of course, winter sports such
as skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, and curling are seldom broadcast. Lesser
known sports such as boules, lacrosse, hang gliding, dragon boat racing, kite
sailing and surfboarding will be fortunate to have a mention.
Irritatingly, TV
sport is synonymous with football, and perhaps rugby and cricket. Now and again
athletics has a showing. Sport for profit determines which has the largest
share of air time. There’s little evidence that the so called ‘legacy’ of the
Olympic Games has borne fruit with the youngsters of our country. British
football, and in particular, English football as demonstrated by the national
team at the FIFI World Cup, although followed by millions, has been shown to be
abysmally weak by comparison with the Germans. The Brazilians as the host
nation will never live down their ignominy, but the English by comparison are
almost at the bottom of the pile, warranting the derision they deserve. Greg
Dyke and the English Football Association have a lot of hard thinking and hard
work to do before the next world cup.
Today, the Germans celebrated their victory in style.*
Links
Sport
*World Cup: Germany welcomes conquering heroes home
Germany stamp marks World Cup Victory
German FIFA Celebration
German FIFA Celebration
World Cup Results: Breaking Down Final Tournament Soundings
World Cup 2014: Can England copy Germany’s path to success?
Greg Dyke
The Football Associaton
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