Much debate, especially regards to safety for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as a result of Togo's football team being ambushed and the bus a target of rebels in the Angolan province of Cabida. While there were those that quickly drew exaggerated portents for South Africa, there were those, notably SBS's Scott McIntyre, who chose to rebound the hysteria by going diametrically opposite, rather that trying to rationally diagnose the real risk that some are feeling.
Let's not get hysterical Click
What’s the difference between Munich 1972 & Germany 1974, Afghanistan 2001 & Korea/Japan 2002, London 2005 & Germany 2006 and Angola 2010 & South Africa 2010?
While the initial ‘incidents’ in the first three cases didn’t ‘cast a shadow’ over the major sporting event that followed, some have been quick to pick out an event that occurred in one part of Africa is somehow relevant to a completely different nation. One that just so happens to share the same land mass. What a load of nonsense.
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To draw parallels between what happened in Angola and South Africa is the same as discrediting Australia’s World Cup bid because of unrest in China or fretting about hosting the Asian Cup just in case Prince Leonard decides to expand his base in Hutt River Province.
Casting hysterical analogies aside (there's bodies of water and significant distance between Afghanistan & Korea/Japan, Britain & Russia and Australia & China), ironic for the headline here, the real issue with the security breach is confirming fears of African ineptitude. An attack in the west, people generally still feel safe. In Africa, any paranoia only increases. That's the link. Of course, this case, there's no link. South Africa is a fundamentally different country to Angola. If the World Cup was Zambia or Kenya then, yes, a link, and a concern.
Gold Coast United owner, Clive Palmer, slammed the Australian government as "racist" in response to a Ghanaian player being denied a chance to trial with the club. According to Palmer's claims, the denial is more Ghana's fault, with the situation apparently caused by an agreement between Australian and Ghana that requires a Ghanaian player to gain permission from their country's Ministry of Youth and Sport before they can visit Australia. Palmer's claim is that Australia is equally responsible, acting "racist" in their choice to honour the agreement.
The controversy escalated when SBS's moral conscience, Les Murray, again couldn't hold back at theworldgame, SBS's football website. We're entering into dangerous territory if this site, or mainly one commentator, becomes so political. It's not the first time Les has expressed his political contempt, if not bigotry. While Palmer's accusations to propel his agenda are absurd, he's behaving no differently than Les has done previously. Now we're in this stupefying situation of who's claiming the greater moral authority to accuse others of racism. Both have stepped way over the line.
Did you hear that 91 people were evicted from first day of the Boxing Day Test Match on December 26?
Did you hear that 13 were arrested for drunkenness?
Did you hear that 28 were issued with penalty notices for drunk and anti-social behaviour that included offensive language?
Did you hear the TV networks run sensationalised headline reports on cricket hooligans running riot, and abhorring something to be done?
You might have heard the first three points. You would have heard the final point if the headline contained the word "soccer" rather than "cricket"
Ordinarily this site ignores other sports. It does make sense with it being the Socceroo Realm. The one exception is the Olympics, especially given that football is typically linked with it and following the national team there is also tied with following the general team. Historically, the entire presence of this site was also about providing a different perspective from that you'd ordinarily find in the general media. On this subjective of swimming specifically, it's a follow up to the Olympic wrap from this site that highlighted the abysmal performance of the specific sport at the Games, and now one of the high-profile swimmers suddenly retiring.
With that, an immediate response about Lisbeth Trickett (nee Lenton) retiring and being "OK" with not winning gold in her 100m freestyle event and not willing to "justify" swimming on another 3 more years, for fear her she may walk away from the sport without having achieved that. Click
How lame. Another Australian swimmer quits just as the going gets a bit tough. First Thorpe. Now Lisbeth Loser. Suppose Leisel Choke will be next. The entire Australian swimming team are a bunch of molly-coddled, whinging underachievers.
Their Olympic gold medal return has been appalling, right back since Barcelona 92. When you believe it couldn't get worse, of a certain 11 predicted in Beijing even by famed American magazine Sports Illustrated, and potentially as many as 15, Australia hit their nadir and returned with a pitiful six. In fact, Sports Illustrated had Australia at 22 gold across all sports. The IOC had 20 gold. Final haul was 14. The swimmers were the biggest letdown. On their return, instead of slamming those responsible for all golds missed, it was glorifying the few golds that arrived.
Until Swimming Australia can get serious and ensure elite athletes provide elite performances at elite competitions, continue on will this parade of lame excuses like "it's a racing meet" and "I am OK with not winning Olympic gold" and this intestinally weak and insipid approach to achieving even bare minimal acceptable results. As a tax-payer funding these prima donnas, more is demanded.