AFTER years of talk, the 2008 Olympics from Beijing will finally get underway this week and I think it’s fair to say that nobody really knows what to expect.
I don’t think any run up to an Olympics has ever gotten the same media coverage that this one has. From the protests that followed the Olympic torch wherever it went to stories of smog and pollution to predicted disruption, terrorist attacks and even censorship of the media, these Olympics have had it all and yet it’s hasn’t even kicked off yet.
Awarding the world’s biggest sporting event to a country like China was always going to happen but when it did it was always going to be a big gamble and especially now with so many stories coming out about the Chinese government and it’s treatment of people, not only in its own country but in places like Tibet.
Last week there were further protests when many people objected to Minister for Sport, Martin Cullen, attending the games.
Then just days before the opening ceremony there was that suspected terrorist attack that left 16 policemen dead, heightening still further the reservations about the safety of these games.
But hopefully in a few weeks we will all be talking about the wonderful SPORT that we enjoyed from Beijing ’08 and not about politics or any other things that have no place at such a celebration of sport.
Let’s hope too that we’ll be talking about the success of Waterford’s two Olympians, both of whom go there with good chances of doing especially well.
For Ring race-walker, Jamie Costin, this is a third Olympics qualification in succession, which in itself is a marvelous achievement. But when considers that in 2004 his Olympic dream was shattered when he broke his back in two places in a car crash in Athens, just nine days before he was to race, then his comeback to this level of competition is quite remarkable and nobody would deserve success more than him.
Waterford’s other 2008 Olympian is Fenor’s Capt. Geoff Curran who competes for the Irish Three-Day-Eventing team. It’s the young army man’s first Olympics but he comes to the event in top form, including having won the highly prestigious Tattersalls title earlier this year.
Elsewhere in the Irish team many are pointing to our boxers as our best medal hopes as we have a very strong five man team but keep an eye out for our rowers too. Hopefully it will be a great games and above all a great games for the Irish. SICK OF SILLY SEASON
I don’t know about you but I wish it was all over. The soccer transfer window that it, because I for one am sick of it. All summer long all we’ve been listening to and reading about every day are the same couple of overpaid soccer players and their seemingly never-ending transfer sagas. In the morning they are definitely going to go, by lunch time they are definitely staying and by the evening again they may or may not go.
For us Arsenal supporters, we are well used to it. Most notably with Thierry Henry in past seasons and then of course all this summer with Adebayor. I’m always of the opinion that if they want to go then leave them off. Better off with a young lad trying to make a name for himself than a sulking overpaid ‘superstar.’
But then one that really tops the lot this summer is Ronaldo. A never ending tale or what? Either leave or get over it, I say.
WHAT A TEAM
I must say that I’m loving the unbelievable domination of Aidan O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh in the world of flat racing this season. Not just because I’ve backed a few of their winners but just because it is two of the sport’s finest performing at the top of their respective games and doing it in tandem.
I’d say Murtagh must wake up every morning and pinch himself. A number of years ago it looked to be all over for Johnny as he battled personal problems and his number of rides in top class races dwindled away to nearly nothing.
But in fairness to him he has worked his way back and now he stands on top of the pile as the hottest property in world racing with the best job in racing - number one at Ballydoyle. It’s one thing having the best horses to ride but it’s another thing altogether getting them to win, especially at the rate that Murtagh is booting them home this year. Don’t forget also that he rode eight winners at Goodwood last week, over half of them were not for Aidan O’Brien, that’ll tell you how good he’s riding.
Of course Aidan O’Brien is a genius and working with him is without doubt a huge boost for Murtagh. 17 group one winners already this year is some going and many more to come, without doubt. What a team.
SOME WEEKEND
It was some weekend for Waterford sport. Joe Gough won a European Over 55 Gold medal in Slovenia. Kelly Proper broke the Irish senior long jump record in England. Mount Sion’s Jim Greene coached Carlow to the Christy Ring Cup. De La Salle’s Jason Ryan somehow turned Wexford footabller’s season around by lifting them up after their disastrous Leinster final defeat to Dublin to beat Down and make it to the last eight. A young lad from Dunhill, Eamon Murphy, won the All-Ireland Poc Fada and Waterford United maintained their push from promotion with another RSC win. And Waterford trainer, John Kiely, won the Galway hurdle. Let’s hope the success is just going to snowball over the coming weeks.
