Commonwealth games

[Toureman]

One of the tv presenters said Australians idolise their athletes but all we in the UK idolise is minor celebrities, I think this is so true, do you?

[seanywal]

I dont know about idolising minor celebrities but i think they do certinatly get to much attention. More attention should be paid to athletes, having said that I think giving Kelly Holmes a Dameship was a bit over the top.

[stevie_c2it]

They may have a point.

The only possible use of someone like Jade Goody would be when they make being a loud, gobby, brainless, ignorant, ****wit a competitive event.

Then we can sit back and watch the gold medals roll in!

[jelly-baby]

It's because sport is just not encouraged in schools enough to make it a large part of our lives. Look at the Russians with their gymnasts; Germans with tennis players; Americans with everything! What do we produce - football louts.

[seanywal]

We do produce good divers, rugby players some of the best football players in the world, snooker players and ahem darts players. But i agree we dont have enough if any encouragmetn for competative sports in our schools.

[Drisgirl]

I dont idolise anyone in the public forum but my gawd I am so proud of all our athletes.I was cheering ALL our home nations in the Games because I know the blood sweat and tears which go into the training.I competed in the Scottish 3 A's meets but I just couldnt go the extra mile (excuse the pun).

I support Andrew Murray with all my heart.

To get back to your original Q Toureman - I get where you are coming from - magazines etc but I have Sky Sports on most of the time so I think there are a few exceptions thankfully.All is not lost.

Money still on Spain or Croatia (wildcard bet) for World Cup.Cant bring myself to support England in the Footie - would rather have my fingernails ripped out:)

[raysparx]

Come on Dris you love us English,don't be coy.

I saw an interview the other week with an Australian coach and the attitude they have is great,he was saying how young children can swim in the olympic size pools and how it inspires them, We hardly have any olympic size pools in the UK. the nearest pool to me is shabby and 20 metres long by 5 wide yea really inspiring,

also sport has taken the back burner in schools,lots of playing fields sold for development, the one positive our athletes etc have now is lottery funding,

And the Olympics coming here will be a great boost

As for celebrities,I have no time for the worthless idiots.

[nedflanders]

I also totally agree Toureman. Too many reality TV "celebrities" who have done nothing to earn any respect get recognition and celebrity status while proffesional spoertsmen/women wouldnt be recognized on the street, these are the people that our kids should aspire to be like. When I was younger I used to watch steve cram, seb coe and steve ovett and admire them, in cycling robert millar/Graham Obree (who used to be in the same club as me). Just now I really admire radcliffe. These are the people we should respect.

P.s.Drisgirl, what event did you compete in?

[Drisgirl]

400m and 800m Ned.

[Drisgirl]

Sorry Ned- we also had to train in all the disciplines.I was with the Strathtay Harriers.

[Drisgirl]

Ray - you know I love you all really and I really did cheer the English team on unless you were up against us.Me - coy:)I just cant support the footie - its the bluddy hype and media and 1966 that has done it for the majority of the Home Nation.Anyway nothing to concern myself with - should be a good laugh:)

The Olympics - well I dont know how anyone else feels but when you saw the facilities and the faultless organisation in Melbourne didnt you just have a fleeting thought - we will never pull it off to that standard.I cringe when I think of the debacle which there will be in the run up.Just one word - Wembley.

[Supernick]

It's more than us worshipping Z-list celebs. They are fanatical about sport in Oz. During the Games it would often happen that the front 5 pages of the national newspapers would be all about the Australian athletes, and that was the most important news in the country. Can you imagine that happening here, and the latest Doherty/Moss liaison being bumped? Not likely. They can pack out the MCG (80,000??) with athletics, and I can't see GB ever being able to do that.

Given these cultural differences I'm immensely proud that all the nations in the British Isles held their own, particularly in the swimming.

Also, (yes there are exceptions), I think one area we could dramatically improve on is with women's sports. We simply don't have a culture of female sporting achievement in this country, unlike Oz and the US etc.

[raysparx]

Hi Dris, we were all really proud of how the home countries did,your swimmers were superb,I was so glad they did that well, English relay, a big downer probably a bit cocky,not enough practice at the simple things

As for Wembley well what can we say I think it is a plot by the builders to make us look bad after all is said and done they are an aussie company, but I have seen some of the plans for east london and I think it will be superb, the transport won't be a problem.

I do think though that the National stadium should have been built near Birmingham, have you ever tried getting to or from Wembley? that is a joke,

Take care Dris, as spencer davis said "keep on running" Ray

[sp1814]

As long as they get Wembley built for the forthcoming Madonna concert, we'll be happy.

Or am I alone in this?

[Drisgirl]

Ray - I can barely walk now:)

My ex has just came round with photos of the squad at the Loch Lomond Festival and I've gone all nostalgic - The Jam The Tourists - the geordie lads who introduced me to the munchies.Know what- the photos would not go amiss on an album cover now - Biker Jackets .T-Shirts Combat Jackets Blokes just look like Oasis.

Anyway ray rhat was your fault reminding me I could run at one time.

Sorry Toureman - tangent - you know what its like:).

[Drisgirl]

Sorry Ray - I did want to say the Scottish Team in the swimming were magnifcent but I didnt want to go all John Motson on you.

They and all the athletes did us proud.I love the Commonwealth Games more than the Olympice cos we have a chance and I am not for once being funny.I had a permanent lump in my throat - I was so proud of them all