Archive for the 'Sport' Category

My kids in the Olympics? You just never know…

Rohan August 20th, 2008

I’ve noticed on a few online forums I frequent, a high level of discussion about “sports that should be in the Olympic Games” but are currently not. Not surprising really, considering that the 2008 Olympics are currently in full swing in Beijing, China.
Of course there are the usual suspects getting a regular mention: golf, rugby, bowling (tenpin &/or lawn), surfing, croquet, ballroom dancing, plus a myriad of other “recognised” sports.

I, however, believe there is one activity, were it to be introduced into an upcoming Olympics, that my kids would do very (very) well at.

It’s very simple, only two rules:

  1. Whatever you touch, you must move.
  2. Nothing can be moved back to a former position.

They have, after all, already been in training for years and given the state that they leave their bedrooms, the bathroom, the family room, the kitchen, the dining room and the backyard on a daily basis, I would expect they would come in at very short odds to pick up a medal, perhaps even gold.

Great, more things for them to play with and then leave lying around…

Why the bleary eyes?

Rohan July 16th, 2007

I’ve been enjoying SBS’s coverage of the Tour de France for the last few evenings – so much so that the telly is often still on well after 1am (well after bed time for this little black duck).

But to be honest, I have no idea why I am so compelled to watch, night after night, right to the end of each day’s riding. After all, I’m not normally a cycling fan at all. I don’t ride. I don’t know too much about the sport and its many nuances. I certainly don’t know many of the riders. I haven’t even owned my own bike since I got my driver’s licence 20 years ago!

So I got to thinking, just what is it that makes Le Tour such an interesting event…

  • The skill and daring of the riders?
  • Their physical and mental strength and endurance?
  • Could it be the spectacular, but inevitable, crashes that occur from time to time? (As much as you don’t want to see anyone getting injured, it does make for interesting viewing.)
  • Perhaps it’s the commentary team’s seemingly boundless knowledge of the race, the riders and the surroundings?
  • The picture postcard scenery at every turn?

I’ve a feeling it’s a combination of all these things, which, when packaged into a single all-encompassing spectacle, presents viewers with a thoroughly engrossing and intriguing experience.

Highly recommended.