In the Marathon, apart from half a dozen professional frontrunners, the vast majority are ordinary people giving up their time and pushing themselves to their limit for the benefit of others. Surely this is the true Olympic spirit?

30,000+ will run in London tomorrow. At the ripe old age of 101, Buster Thomson is the oldest competitor and seems to be unfazed by the challenge.

In the Olympics all the athelets are far more concerned with their own future careers ( and earnings ) than in respresenting their country - let alone benefitting anyone else !

Even the IOC is shrouded in scandel, and delegates are often accused of (allegedly) wanting bungs before they "nominate" a particular city. They travel the world being wined and dined by countries that would like to stage the games.

One of these events warms the heart, and make you good to be alive (even if you are a bit ashamed by not having risen to the chellenge !) - the other event stinks !

Not all Olympic competitors are high rolling drug enhanced professionals. I recall a guy from one of the African nations (can't recall which) who sold his goat so that he could afford to compete. This year we have a 13yr old boy representing the UK in the diving competitions.

And let's not forget Eddie Edwards at that Winter Olympics.

Underneath the gloss there is always the little guy providing the warm human touch.

Even the IOC is shrouded in scandel

The IOC is the rotten core of this whole mess.

Or, as Avery Brundage would say: The business must go on!

The Cat wrote:
Not all Olympic competitors are high rolling drug enhanced professionals. I recall a guy from one of the African nations (can't recall which) who sold his goat so that he could afford to compete. This year we have a 13yr old boy representing the UK in the diving competitions.

And let's not forget Eddie Edwards at that Winter Olympics.

Underneath the gloss there is always the little guy providing the warm human touch.

I'm not sure what your point is? The 13yr old is surely being sponsored by the British Olympic Assn ? He surely plans a professional career later?

Eddie just proves that we didn't have better competitors !

We did have better competitors than Eddie Edwards. One in particular made a great fuss on TV about not having been selected when he had a proven ability.

As for the 13 yr old. He does have ambitions, but so far has not been talking about turning professional, just what an honour it is to represent Britain in the Olympics. He has several career options ahead of him outside of sport, or he could indeed turn professional, but let's try and encourage young talent rather than knock him down.

I'm not sure that there have ever been many Olympic competitors who push themselves for the benefit of others. I assume you are referring to the way people run for charity in the marathon, but that's an entirely different concept. The marathon is open to everyone. It would impractal for the Olympics to be run that way.

So, my point is basically a challenge to your claim that "In the Olympics all the athelets are far more concerned with their own future careers ( and earnings ) than in respresenting their country - let alone benefitting anyone else!"

Taking the man who sold his goat as just one example, it's obvious that your assessment doesn't apply to all competitors. I'm even amazed I had to explain that.

The Cat wrote:

Taking the man who sold his goat as just one example, it's obvious that your assessment doesn't apply to all competitors. I'm even amazed I had to explain that.

You really are a pedantic little t*** !

I have no idea why he sold his goat (which must be worth all of, what

Shame on you Cat for daring to question ITK's superior views of the world.

JC wrote:
Shame on you Cat for daring to question ITK's superior views of the world.

That's right, JC !

Seriously though, there's no problem with debate (as that's what we are here for) - but I don't expect someone to argue for the sake of argument when they secretly agree with me !

Cat said [quote] I'm not sure that there have ever been many Olympic competitors who push themselves for the benefit of others [unquote] - which is exactly the point that I was making !

In The Know wrote:
[quote]JC wrote:
Shame on you Cat for daring to question ITK's superior views of the world.

That's right, JC !

Seriously though, there's no problem with debate (as that's what we are here for) - but I don't expect someone to argue for the sake of argument when they secretly agree with me !

Cat said I'm not sure that there have ever been many Olympic competitors who push themselves for the benefit of others [unquote] - which is exactly the point that I was making !