It’s 26th July and the Olympic Games have their launch in Paris this evening, intriguingly based along and in the River Seine, the first time the opening ceremony has not been based in sports stadium.
Oh what opportunity for middle class opinionators! The traditionalists too.
Ooops, a wee break.
Now I’m ill. I haven’t done well for quite a time, but leaning forward for a number of weeks, things are a bit brighter and I’m resuming this 6 weeks later than starting it, with a little rediscovered enthusiasm.
It was a sporty summer, as mentioned, Olympics and Euro Football championships. Have I mentioned that Scotland football team performed very poorly, possibly the worst outfit in the competition? At least they were taking part, which has become a national chant for Scot’s fans who turned out in their thousands, sang, drank and blew bagpipes day and night and were welcomed by many a German supporter. Touching in many ways.
Paris presented a wonderfully, sort of alternative opening and closing event, with almost flawless venue presentation and competition. The swimming was a wee exception, in the Seine for the Triathalon events – the river water wasn’t clean enough, so delays caused, people choking on all sorts – as they went through the motions.
Should say though the Olympic pool was a cauldron of cheering, support and celebrations – by chance there was a guy winning everything and he happened to be French. Le Joy!!!!
Made for good commentating and good tele!
A wee interrupt – Wimbledon tennis took place and Scotlands most recent sporting hero, Andy Murray played his last competitive match, huge emotion and respect went his way – guys, look him up sometime, see his journey.
Anyhow, a wee point you guys might consider.
We have the olympic games, a lot of elitists running around, jumping, throwing and looking thin, apparently pushing boundaries and so on.
Then some 3/4 weeks later we have the pleasure of watching, some people participating in, the Para Olympic Games, which follows on from the so called traditional games. ( Got to be careful here in case I don’t use the correct terminology). The para games consists of a range of athletic games with additions and categories, often by degree, that the trad games don’t have, so every day can be a school day. The range of those with a para-status, disability or other is wide and can be an assault on the sense, emotionally and cerebrally.
This has been happening for some time, the two ‘Meets’ happening together. I’d be interested to hear, if still around, if this has continued whilst you guys are ageing wonderfully and beautifully.
Look up and let me know – Alba, you’re into the gymnastics – still doing it? And of course Breagha, you will have reinvented a new game called the the Death Stare, whilst my bonnie lass, Anna will just stick with smile of the competition. And darling Faye, le monstre, up there on the weight lifting boards, eating everything, everything, roaring and smiling shouting ‘Ganda’. Oh yes, and today still 2 years old! Time to practice. Loads.
Anyhow, my question is could international football championships follow on with say disability football, already played in local contexts, or wheelchair soccer – sorry if I’m getting the language wrong, bound to have changed in your times!! There is homeless football competition, described as world games. The context of this still puzzles me and the questions around it, but it’s separate.
Anyway, I don’t think the greedy soccer wallahs could handle the despoilment of the so called wonderful, perfect game. Especially the hangers on, thesis, the administrators and you know, I think the pundits couldn’t handle it either. They are stuck for words anyhow, so descriptive, poetic phrases in and around degrees of disability would be a treat to hear. Mind us, out of the mist would arrive new pundits who could do the business. The human race delivers when it has to.
Whilst this is happening players in the professional soccer world are being bought and sold like chattels for millions of pounds, a lot of millions. Managers get sacked and leave with millions in their wallets, pundits get paid a million a year for talking predictable manure-ish! How will this grow?
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, August beckons the thespians and performers to the Edinburgh Festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, – there are several all running together – music, the classics, humour, creative and physical theatre. I’ve participated as a customer many times, but not in the last 5 years, mostly to do with my mobility problems and the fact that you have to queue every fricking where. None the less and without my participation it remains the biggest arts festival in the world.
Embrace it girls. Your brother, the man who is Sandy, m’boy, has already appeared in shows in the Edinburgh Fringe festival, in his teens, acting and directing which fired his enthusiasm for his current adventure in attending the Conservatoire of Music and Drama in Glasgow, in his first year, first weeks. Congrats, good luck and bless you Sands!!
A sideline, every year they have a wee competition to see what were the best ‘one liners’ in the comedy world!
Here are a few from comedian performers.
Olaf Falafel: My desire to spontaneously sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight is always just a whim away.
Jack Skipper: I failed RE. Couldn’t believe it when I found out. I was like: “Oh Jason Christ!
Louise Atkinson: I call myself the Yorkshire Shakira; her hips don’t lie, and mine don’t faff about.
Abby Wambaugh: Cabinets: what are they hiding? Tables: are they really furniture – or just more floor on stilts
Chris Turner: The Romans invented Vaseline. Or was it Ancient Grease?
(Louise line is funny).
This weeks wisdom.
‘The quieter you are the more you will become.’