Honours To Wrong People?

[vernonk]

Plans are afoot to lavish honours on Team GBs medalists in Rio. They did very well of course, but they're blessed with great ability, do what they love most, have a fine life, earn millions and get pampered and revered. I just don't feel their contributions to life is a patch on those of doctors, nurses, soldiers, sailors, airmen, paramedics....and I consider them all way more deserving. What do you think?

[237SJ]

Maybe the UK is trying to make up for the fact that olympic athletes from some other countries receive massive payouts if they get a Gold. In the UK you get a gong - I think that is a cheaper arrangement.

[jno]

all those people just do their jobs. I doubt Olympians all earn millions, either. You want awards for soldiers who kill people and doctors who save their lives?

[jno]

237SJ, Americans apparently have to pay tax on the metal content of their medals - not much for bronze but a lot for gold.

[237SJ]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/rio-2016-olympics-money-athletes-medals-a7195011.html

[Prudie]

I think it will happen and you just have to accept that the honours system just isn't what it used to be and doesn't mean the same. I mean I'm going to have to accept the very likely future Sir Andy Murray.

[237SJ]

jno - I think the $25,000 they receive will easily cover the tax

[Mamyalynne]

I doubt there'll ever be an Honours system that pleases all.

[Sqad]

//They did very well of course, but they're blessed with great ability,///
That in itself is not enough to become world beaters, one has to add total devotion, single mindedness, hardship physical and financial, passing through that pain barrier, day after day.
These guys deserve honours.

\\\\doctors, nurses, soldiers, sailors, airmen, paramedics....\\\

These are "ten a penny", tens of thousands of them....no big deal & no need of honours unless you have the same attributes as the people that I have mentioned above.

[Ken4155]

I think it says a lot about the honours system that a person who has made great sacrifices for 4 years, getting up at dawn to maybe pound the streets, put the lengths in in the swimming pool or cycle for miles in all weather conditions (until you are physically sick) to achieve a medal at the Olympics will probably end up with the same gong as Samantha Cameron's hairdresser!!

[sandyRoe]

At least an Olympic champion has gained their medals, and then perhaps honours, by dint of hard work and dedication. In Lloyd-Georges time people with money could buy their way into the House of Lords. Maybe some still do.

[melv16]

There was a certain athlete from my city that had £5m deposited in their bank account when they won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics.

[scorpiojo]

SC?

[Peter Pedant]

should the olympians get medals n gongs
or david cameron's hair dresser and the gal who did Osbourne social diary ?

those nice olympians any day

[Hopkirk]

They deserve honours more than some of the people who get them.

Civil servants who get paid good salaries just to do a job, and then get hours as well.

[Cloverjo]

What Team GB have done is amazing, but I don't think people should get a medal for winning a medal.
Yes, they've had years of hard work and sacrifice to get where they are, but they did it for themselves, not the country.

[Hopkirk]

.. honours as well ..

[Sycamore3House]

I personally think the volunteer crews of the RNLI deserve more recognition considering they put their lives on the line to rescue the dimwits that go near the sea when conditions are horrendous.

[woofgang]

but again they choose to do it.......

[237SJ]

RNLI volunteers have been recognised in the past.