I had not thought I would watch much of these Olympics. I might have
tried harder to avoid them, but in the end I didn't, I gave in with
something approaching good grace and joined in, a bit.
But I did
not cheer, I was not swept along. I did not experience ecstasy and
euphoria, I did not eulogise and yodel. I just watched and witnessed and
thought oh! well done. I didn't think WE won anything. I thought THEY
did tremendously well.
I wondered at how much Lottery funding had
helped Team GB in the past decade or more, and mused about whether (in the UK)
our Music, Art, Dance and Theatre might also impress the world and
improve exponentially if its exponents and proponents received more
kudos, congratulations and cash. I wondered whether we'd have even
better medics, nurses, social workers and carers if we all got our
shoulders and shekels behind them and SHOVED. I pondered if our Maths, Science and
Technology teachers and the talented youngsters in their classes might
like to have pedestals and medals. I even strayed wildly off-piste into
the idea of international competitions for poets, orators and
dramatists...to sit alongside the athletic Olympics again, as once they
did.
Being an ex-teacher I see sport as just a part of the
curriculum. I'd like to see other equally valid subject areas given a
boost. Am I a grumbler or a grouch for thinking this? I hope not...
