Olympic Sports Medals
TITLE: The Olympic Games Are Coming To London In 2012, But Will They Actually Live Up To Their Promise Or Will The Unsavoury Side Of Sport Spoil The Party
I’ve loved watching sport since I was a child, having been introduced to football by my neighbour when I was approximately eight years old. John was able to get a ticket for the F.A. Cup Final one year, and I, with childish optimism, insisted on watching the match on TV wondering if I would be able to see him in the stands. Obviously, I didn’t notice him, but I had got enthusiastic about the spectacle of the big match. In my teens I became an addicted football fan, with the match round-up at five o’clock|5pm|tea-time on a Saturday afternoon impacting on my wellbeing for the rest of the weekend. Luckily for others in the house, I followed a side who won more often than they lost!
Over the years, I started to watch many other sports on television. Test cricket rapidly became a favourite at a time when a dose of glandular fever left me holed up at home during a series in the West Indies, snooker was dragged from the pubs and clubs of the UK and turned into primetime viewing by way of some inventive marketing and the realisation that this was a sport that was reasonably cheap and straightforward to show on television. And then there was the Olympic Games, a stunning sporting spectacle which took place every four years and in which all the world participated on equal terms. Or so we were taught.
As my earliest memory of anything to do with the Olympics was the tragic events which occured in Munich in 1972, it’s possibly strange that I adored the whole idea of the event as much as I did. But the same games also delivered Mark Spitz’s amazing collection of seven gold medals in the swimming pool – an achievement only bettered in 2008 by Michael Phelps. Days and days of watching Eastern Bloc athletes effortlessly outperforming allcomers aided by performance enhancing drugs which were not identified didn’t diminish my enthusiasm either, and I have avidly watched as much footage as possible over the years – until now. (Is it any great shock that I now need glasses to see properly and am trying to find the money for Laser eye surgery? Too many years spent watching sport on television!)
And no matter how hard I try, I’m finding it impossible to find any enthusiasm for the London Games. Even acquaintances who really don’t have any interest in sport are saying that that they’d rather like to go and watch a couple of events, as it might be the only chance that they have in their lifetime, yet I, who claim to be such an enthusiastic sports fan, and can get to the main Olympic arena in less than an hour from where I live, have no inclination to buy tickets.
I would suggest that there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, I am tired of the number of scandals and less than savoury events that seem to discredit many sports – violent footballers, bribed cricketers, drug cheat athletes, jockeys throwing races for backhanders, and in the background, the shady criminals who do much of the damage and who encourage such havoc purely for personal financial advantage.
Secondly, big business has an iron grip on so many events now. Everything has business branding, events are timed to accommodate television executives wishes instead of the fans, sportsmen and women are told which clothes they must wear and which products they have to endorse, including diet supplements and Laser eye treatments – aren’t these really ‘legal’ cheating? But the outcome for the public is paying stupid prices to watch an event in order to line the corporate pockets of the businessmen who are running the show, and without in reality being sure if teams or competitors are actually participating against each other on equal terms. The golfer who sings the praises of Laser eye surgery – doesn’t the treatment give him an unfair advantage? The football team whose management have taken on some obscure type of therapist – is everything he asks the team to do totally legitimate?
Finally, I don’t see the wealth of personalities in sport these days. There are a few characters who could be described as entertaining, but because of the money now involved, many sportspeople don’t believe that they can do something outrageous every now and then because anything they do or say might have an effect on their contract. I find myself longing for another Daley Thompson, Graham Hill, Tommy Smith, Joe Bugner or John McEnroe (though I can guess that he’d probably be advertising Laser eye treatment if he was still playing at his best now – although for the tennis officials and not for himself!)
Olympic medals medley – A Question Of Sport – BBC One
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SPORTS MEDAL IDEAL FOR OLYMPIC EVENTS, PRIZES, PARTIES, 4 DESIGNS **£1.25** £1.25 |
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ED CLANCY GENUINE HAND SIGNED PHOTO AUTOGRAPH CYCLING WORLD OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL £32.99 |
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ED CLANCY GENUINE HAND SIGNED PHOTO AUTOGRAPH CYCLING WORLD OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL £32.99 |
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ED CLANCY GENUINE HAND SIGNED PHOTO AUTOGRAPH CYCLING WORLD OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL £32.99 |
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VIETNAM OLYMPIC RING BRONZE SPORTS MEDAL £6.00 |
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BENHAM 1996 First Day Medal COVER OLYMPIC GAMES Signed by DALEY THOMPSON £9.99 |
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Seychelles 1988 Olympics/Olympic Games/Sports/Athletics/Medals 5v set (n33050) £2.85 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- ARCHERY £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- TRIATHLON £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- BASKETBALL £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- WRESTLING £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- WEIGHTLIFTING £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- TENNIS £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- SHOOTING £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- CYCLING £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- TAEKWONDO £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- VOLLEYBALL £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- BOXING £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- ROWING £10.14 |
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SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPORTS MEDALS- FENCING £10.14 |
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Sep-60 World Sport Magazine: Olympic Games Special – How Many Medals Can Britain £4.99 |
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SPECIAL OLYMPIC OFFER – SCHOOL SPORTS DAY MEDALS-FREE ENGRAVING,RIBBONS & BADGE £1.39 |
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JOLEE’S BOUTIQUE STICKERS – OLYMPICS, JAVELIN, TRAINERS, MEDAL TRACK & FIELD £1.85 |
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Cook Is 1988 Olympic Tennis Medals Seoul MS SG 1207 MNH £6.00 |
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Cook Is 1988 Olympic Tennis Medals Seoul SG 1204/6 MNH £6.00 |
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Russia 2010 Sports/Winter Olympics/Medal/Skiing/Ice Hockey 1v FDC (n32854) £2.25 |
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HIGH QUALITY SPORTS MEDALS CLEARANCE OFFER 20 FOR £22 IDEAL FOR OLYMPIC EVENTS £22.00 |
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METAL SPORTS MEDAL IDEAL FOR OLYMPIC EVENTS, PRIZES, PARTIES £1.35 EACH MIN X15 £1.35 |
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Yemen (Republic) – 1969 Gold Medal Winners (x5) + 1970 Olympic City (x5) £0.99 |
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COMPLETER MEDALLION Medal Royal Mint 2012 OLYMPIC 50P COIN SPORTS COLLECTION £2.55 |
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1996 Hong Kong Olympic Games Yacht Medal S/S UM MNH VF £0.99 |
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Norway 1992 Sports Olympics Lillehammer 1994 Skiing Medal Winners m/s £4.95 |
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G Is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet Herzog, Brad/ Bowles, Doug (Illustrato £12.87 |
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12 Winners, Olympic 2012, Medals, Party, Bag, Toys, School, Sports,PartyBits2008 £1.68 |
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VINTAGE NEW LOT SPORTS PINS MEDALS OLYMPICS FOOTY BOWLS £9.60 |
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FOOTBALL SPORTING PICTOGRAM 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES SYDNEY medal £3.38 |
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AUTOGRAPH – ROBIN REID – BRITISH BOXER BRONZE MEDAL WINNER OLYMPICS 1992 £9.99 |
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SUPERB GOLD MEDAL- CELEBRATE THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS-ANY SPORT, RIBBON INCLUDED £1.80 |
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Belarus 2006 Winter Olympic Games/Sports/Skiing/Medals/Mountains 1v m/s (n33386) £2.25 |
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OLYMPIC ROWING CHAMPION STEVE REDGRAVE SIGNED FIVE GOLD MEDALS PHOTO UACC £9.99 |
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REBECCA ADLINGTON TWO TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION GOLD MEDAL SIGNED AUTOGRAPH PIC £6.99 |
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12 plastic winners medals – sports day / olympic theme / kids parties / awards £2.50 |
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48 plastic winners medals – sports day / olympic theme / kids parties / awards £8.99 |
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24 plastic winners medals – sports day / olympic theme / kids parties / awards £4.25 |
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5 x Winners medal party bag fillers olympic games sports day £0.99 |
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GOLD WINNER MEDAL WITH CORD PARTY BAG OLYMPIC SPORTS DAY PRICE PICK QUANTITY NEW £1.89 |
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GOLD WINNER MEDAL WITH CORD PARTY BAG OLYMPIC SPORTS DAY PRICE PICK QUANTITY NEW £2.49 |
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GOLD WINNER MEDAL WITH CORD PARTY BAG OLYMPIC SPORTS DAY PRICE PICK QUANTITY NEW £4.99 |
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GOLD WINNER MEDAL WITH CORD PARTY BAG OLYMPIC SPORTS DAY PRICE PICK QUANTITY NEW £7.99 |
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Fencing Medal Collection Medaille Fechten Escrime,Coudray,Merignac,Olympic Sport £853.35 |
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♥ 12 Gold Winner Medals Toy Party Bag Games Prize Pinanta Olympic Sports Day ♥ £0.99 |
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Penrhyn 1980 Olympic Medal Winners SG 152/59 MNH £1.60 |
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G Is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet – BRAND NEW £10.82 |
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DAME KELLY HOLMES OLYMPIC ATHLETE SIGNED 16×12 PHOTO MOUNT AUTOGRAPH GOLD MEDAL £29.99 |
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Gold VICTORY Star Medal Ribbon School Sport Olympic £5.99 |
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Hungary 2006 Olympic Games/Boxing/Sports/Medals/Olympics 1v m/s (n33715) £4.95 |
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Michael Phelps Athens 2004 Standing with Medals Olympics Official Sports Poster – 33×46 cm £5.31 Michael Phelps Athens 2004 Standing with Medals Olympics Official Sports Poster – 33×46 cm… |
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London 2012 Summer Olympics Union Jack Flag Sports Poster Print – 61×91 cm £4.99 London 2012 Summer Olympics Union Jack Flag Sports Poster Print – 61×91 cm… |
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Tanya Chalklin London 2012 Olympics Big Ben Sports Poster Print – 61×91 cm £3.48 Tanya Chalklin London 2012 Olympics Big Ben Sports Poster Print – 61×91 cm… |
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Mens Black 2 Pack FiveG Steve Redgrave Sports Briefs Endorsed by Sir Steve Redgrave 5 x Gold Olympic Medal winner! FiveG Fitted Sports Briefs made from soft Fairtrade Cotton ensure disadvantaged small-scale cotton farmers in developing countries receive a fair deal. The briefs feature a pouch for comfortable support and body enhancing contoured and contrast coloured seams for a neater, sleek athletic fit. 95% Cotton 5% Lycra,2 Pairs,Elastic Waistban… |
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Mens 2 Pairs Sir Steve Redgrave FiveG Rib Socks Heel & Toe size 6-11 £4.99 The FiveG Brand was produced in honour of the Olympic Five Gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave, with comfort and durabilty in mind.The White embroidered FiveG logo adds a subtle design touch, while the hand linked toes ensure there’s no uncomfortable bunching or rubbing, no matter how hard you work out.Fairtrade Certified Cotton Rich Ribbed socks with Contrast Heel/Toe and Welt 2 Pair Pack,- 1 pair … |
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Mens Black 2 Pack FiveG Steve Redgrave Sports Briefs (Medium 33-35 waist) £8.99 Endorsed by Sir Steve Redgrave 5 x Gold Olympic Medal winner! FiveG Fitted Sports Briefs made from soft Fairtrade Cotton ensure disadvantaged small-scale cotton farmers in developing countries receive a fair deal. The briefs feature a pouch for comfortable support and body enhancing contoured and contrast coloured seams for a neater, sleek athletic fit. 95% Cotton 5% Lycra,2 Pairs,Elastic Waistban… |
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Gold Medal £1.50 Gold Winners Medal Sold Single Medal on a fabric lanyard Material:Plastic and Fabric. Medals for all occasions. Ideal for Olympics, Sports themed parties and general fancy dress parties. Great for sports days, party games and prizes. Great Value for your Money… |
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Silver Medal £1.50 Silver Winners Medal Sold Single Medal on a fabric lanyard Material:Plastic and Fabric. Medals for all occasions. Ideal for Olympics, Sports themed parties and general fancy dress parties. Great for sports days, party games and prizes. Great Value for your Money… |
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Bronze Medal £1.50 Bronze Winners Medal Sold Single Medal on a fabric lanyard Material:Plastic and Fabric. Medals for all occasions. Ideal for Olympics, Sports themed parties and general fancy dress parties. Great for sports days, party games and prizes. Great Value for your Money… |
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Knitlympics: Knit Your Favourite Sports Star £2.50 … |
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