It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog, it’s been a while since I've wanted to, but the Olympics have thrown up an interesting moral conundrum that I wanted to explore, not that I have the answer (after all the answer to most moral questions tend to come down to personal belief)
I’ve been glued to the television for the last two days by tears of pride and snot of respect. I don’t think I’ve ever been this overwhelmingly, utterly and lovingly British. This crazy country that should be re-named Atlantis for the amount of rain we receive, this country that has a political system that still operates like Cromwell is in charge, this country of insidious press, reality TV, high taxes (unless you’re rich), expensive public transport and, well you get the point.
Somewhere along the way I forgot about our green and lush rolling fields, our architecture, how beautiful London (and the rest of the country) looks in the sun, our inventiveness, and above all our ability to fight against the odds and come through, be it the Roman Empire, the Spanish fleet, Germany, recession, the Euro – and Europe, and anything else you can think off, if there’s a fight for our nation we get stuck in.
I love everything about these Olympics, from the balmy opening event that left the rest of the world scratching their heads but applauding the “britishness of it” to the amount of blood sweat and tears our athletes have given over the last four years, and now on the world’s biggest stage.
Take a step back for a moment, compared to the rest of the world we’re a tiny Island, both in terms of land mass and population. I was going to do some research to back that statement up, but why bother? If you need proof you probably need to go back to school.
There, you see? I’ve done it, this wasn’t meant to be about our Olympic successes or the pride it has generated, I have it in spades and I thank and salute our athletes, (and the whole teams of people that have supported them) for reminding me to step up and do better, plenty will be written about it and every word will be deserved.
So, the conundrum I have concerns two athletes, Oscar Pistorius, the South African double amputee who ran the 400 meters, and Justin Gatlin, the American sprinter that was banned twice for substance misuse
It is almost impossible to disagree with Pistorius’s inclusion in the 400 meters, after all who wants to be the person who says a double amputee can’t be part of the Olympics, that’s what it’s all about after all, and he didn’t qualify for the final anyway so no harm no foul right? but what if he had?
He’s also competing in the Paralympics, so would it be fair to enter a fully able person in those as well? How about if the UK basket ball team enter? I’m not being belligerent about this, and I was really excited to see him run, but I think he should have to choose one or the other, able Olympics or Paralympics, and I would wish him total success in which ever he chooses.
There is a danger that with modern technology and future developments, disabled athletes may gain real advantages over able bodied athletes, and where do you draw the line on when they can and can't enter, I have no idea, but this brings me on to my second thought…
On the subject of advantage drugs have always been a big issue, and Justin Gatlin has been banned twice for his abuse, and to keep it an even playing field (ironic play on words) Dwain Chambers has been banned once. Yet both are competing this year, and Gatlin took the bronze in the 100 meter final, is this fair?
Well, you have to make a personal choice on these things.
I think its fair.
They’ve been cleared to compete, they will be closely scrutinised and tested, and if they fail they will lose everything.
But, if they come through and succeed clean they will prove to a great many people with far bigger problems that it is possible to pay for a mistake and work hard to come back.
We all make mistakes but for most of us those mistakes won’t cost us our entire career and everything we have ever worked for and dreamed off, we should support people that fall and then pick themselves us again, if not for the fact that people have supported me when I’ve fucked up I would probably be dead by now.
I might write some more blogs in the future, if you want me too then like this on Facebook or leave a comment, or don't it's a free, amazing country
How’s that for emotional blackmail?
- bod
