25.05.12
LONDON: ONE of the captivating points of Sebastian Coe’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games to progress to London was his promise that the youth of the world would be inspired to take up sport. Well, not many of them as it happens, at least in his own woods.
Sport England, the government body promoting participation, has admitted that its aim of a million extra people participating by 2012 will not be met. Only 111,000 more people since 2007 are participating, 89% below end, and most of those are doing nothing more than jogging.
How many of them were enthused by the promise of an Olympics in Britain cannot be adapted. What can be is the number drawn from abroad to sport in the UK by a Games in London.
One British newspaper has tagged them ‘fake Brits’. There are many among its handball team and several more in track and field.
Among Britain’s wrestlers now are men and women who came from day one from the Ukraine as sparring partners for Britons. Now they have ousted Britons from the conspire by taking its nationality themselves. Five have married Britons which improves their chances of receiving UK passports in nevertheless.
Source: Sports Features Communications