- 5 Aug 08, 05:08 PM
Beijing
If you're anything like as trivial as me you'll fancy having a crack at these three Olympics-related questions. Are you ready? Turned your mobiles off? Seriously, don't cheat and I promise not to give the prize to somebody who lives around the corner but forget to tell you so you keep phoning in like lemons.
OK, first question: what have Kate Howey, Matthew Pinsent, Seb Coe and Lucinda Prior-Palmer got in common?
Second question: who's Lucinda Prior-Palmer?
Final question: what might British veteran swimmer Mark Foster do in Beijing that Aussie veteran swimmer Grant Hackett definitely won't?
Those who work for the British Olympic Association, are related to Prior-Palmer or actually know all those people (so we're probably only talking about Sir Steve Redgrave), will have got this one quite quickly.
One last clue for those still struggling: it's to do with flags, fireworks and performance artists.
Yes, that's right. All the people in the first question have been Team GB flag-bearers at the Olympic opening ceremony, which involves carrying a heavy flag into a crowded stadium, marching a bit and waving a lot.
It is also a massive honour, as it is decided by a team vote. So it's a bit like being elected school captain but with far less damage to your social life.
Judoka Howey got the nod in Athens and she was the first woman to be given the honour since Prior-Palmer (who was known as Lucinda Green at the time) since 1984, when Prior-Palmer/Green also won an equestrian silver.
Pinsent did it in Sydney and I can't remember/google who did it in Atlanta. I get the impression the British Olympic Association has eradicated all evidence we actually sent a team to the 1996 Games (with the honourable exception of Sirs Matt and Steve).
And to round up those links, Coe gave Prior-Palmer a helping hand in LA. Which is either very gallant or a bit sexist, depends on how you view these things, I suppose.
Which brings us to the final question: Aussie legend Hackett has flag-bearer pedigree in spades. He's been to two Games already, has won three gold medals and is liked by all and sundry for being a fair dinkum kind of chap. If he wanted the flag it would be his, everybody loves "Hacky".
The problem is, however, he is here for one reason and one reason only - to win a third straight 1500m gold. The opening ceremony is too "taxing on the legs" and binning it off is a "sacrifice that has to be made". So there.
Foster, on the other hand, is in a very different place.
Having made a late decision to come out of semi-retirement and give this Olympics lark one more crack, the 50m sprint specialist is determined to enjoy his fifth trip around the block.
Now I'm not saying he's been given the job yet but I am saying he's in the shake-up.
Each of the separate British teams competing in Beijing were asked to nominate a candidate. Those candidates were then discussed by the overall team's management and reduced to "four or five" strong candidates. I think the same interference in the electoral process prevented me from getting the top job at school.
Anyway, those names are sent back to the electorate and a decision will be announced at a reception at the British Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday. That do is at 1830 our time, so just after elevenses your time.
The plan is then to whisk the winner over to Tiananmen Square for a photo-shoot. Which will probably last all of five minutes before the police get involved.
Other names believed to still be in the hat are cycling's Chris Hoy and world champion gymnast Beth Tweddle. And I reckon a good outside bet would be super heavyweight boxer David Price.
Foster is still the favourite, though. He ticks the experience box in a big way, likes having his picture taken and doesn't actually have to swim that far.
In fact, a former swimming colleague of his told me: "I reckon Fozie would rather do the opening ceremony than his event."
He also brings a big 1970s Labour Party-style block vote with him. Poor old Beth or Pricey will need a lot of love from the smaller sports to take on the swimming massive.
But who do you think should be entrusted with the Union Flag? Rowing's Kath Grainger perhaps? Could Ben Ainslie be flown in for standard duties from Qingdao? Or maybe Marlon Devonish on an athletics union ticket?
You decide. Well, actually, you don't. So please don't call in or email us. And we haven't got any prizes to give you. It's just for fun.
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Redgrave did it in Atlanta! How could you forget? Did in in Barcelona as well.
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Should be for someone very successful at previous games.
So Chris Hoy or Ben Anslie would seem the best choices. Especially as they represent sports which have done very well for us over the last 2/3 games.
Mind you, I don't think I'd argue with David Price if he wanted to do it!!!
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I don't know who this Matt Slater bloke is, but he's no sports fan if he's never heard of Lucinda Prior-Palmer.
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Mark Foster or Ben Ainslie are both great calls. For a wild card how about Mark Cavendish following his TDF exploits ?
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So Redders did it twice, did he? He's a legend, isn't it? I knew he'd done it once but couldn't remember which time. So he carried the flag in '96 and won the medal, did he drive the bus and wash the kit too?
philss77, I'm a massive Cav fan but I can't see him carrying the flag, not yet anyway. A cyclist has definitely got a chance, though, largely because they are going to win half our golds.
hold on a minute there, maldontyke, did I actually say I didn't know who Lucinda P-P was? I'm asking the questions, so I must know the answers!*
*Do you think I got away with that?
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While I would like Ben Ainslie to be the one carrying the British Flag his first race is on Saturday so for him to get back from Beijing to the sailing venue at Qingdao for a 1pm start the next day would be unpractical.
So I'd go for either Hoy or Wiggins. Both gold medallists at previous Olympics and both with a good chance of winning this time.
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I think Dwain Chambers should get a late call up just to carry the flag - then be sent home immediately afterwards so he can think about what might have been: or is that a bit cruel, even for a (somewhat late) confessed drug cheat?
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Actually Matt you are a bit closer to the truth than you probably realise with that comment.
I don't know about washing the kit, but there was a story at the time that Sir Steve and Sir Matt along with some of the other British rowers comandeered a bus to get them to the rowing venue on time in Atlanta as it was so far from the Olympic village.
I'm a big fan of Chris Hoy but I'm pretty sure he'll still be around competing in 2012 so I reckon Mark Foster should get the flag bearing honour this time round.
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As a reigning Olympic Champion, current Double World champion and someone who campaings for cycling and is a role model to people in the UK, Chris Hoy is the stand out candidate to carry the flag at the opening ceromony.
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Why not Tom Daley?
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Past his bedtime.
Ade
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No
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The sentiment would suggest Tom Daley would be likely to be in with a shout. From a personal perspective, I'd like one of the Edinburgh Uni 'old boys' (Grainger and Hoy) to carry the flag.
What about Mr Idowu - he'd be the perfect character to raise the flag!
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Not only did Sir Steve carry the flag in Atlanta, I'm pretty sure he carried it one-handed, which was some feat!
Foster for me, with Hoy and Idowu as runners-up.
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Right, so the (very early) scores on the door are Hoy out in front, with Foster second, Ainslie next (though probably ruled out due to him being good but not so good he can be in two places at the same time) and then Wiggo, Tom Thumb, Kit Grainger, Cav and Dwain bringing up the rear.
Looks like a straight fight between Foster and Hoy then. Lanky Essex bloke v hard Scottish lump....quality. Perhaps they should decide it with a Twenty20 version of Modern Pentathlon. Or maybe a table tennis/PlayStation/darts triathlon.
As for the Atlanta bus legend, I'm fairly sure our brave boys were helped out by the Poles - so it was a bit like the Battle of Britain. Sir Matt is about so I'll ask him for the true story later. But having been to Atlanta I am not surprised the bus drivers got lost. A nightmare of a place to get around and only slightly smaller than Wales.
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Get your facts right.
Lucinda was Prior-Palmer, is now Lucinda Green and was one of the best horsewomen the UK have ever had, was an Olympic medallist and was great fun on Question of Sport in the eighties.
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Morning Peter,
Are you sure she's still calling herself Lucinda Green? She got divorced in 1992 and all the reports about Howey being given the job in 2004 refer to Lucinda as P-P, not Green.
But I'll take your word for it, you seem quite sure of yourself.
I'll also have to take your word about anybody "being great fun" on QoS, but I'm glad you entered into the spirit of the piece.
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I'd give it to foster, but my respect for him would go right out the window if he lowered himself to attend the closing ceremony! It always reminds me of a school disco that none of the cool kids in school made it to.....
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Chris Hoy or Ben Ainslie for me, both multiple medal winners.
Especially since Cycling and Sailing are where the Gold medals will come from.
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I hope Beth dosent do it, would rather she did a hackett and watched it on TV. Imagine it would be a stress on her shoulder and ankle.
Go Foster
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It can't be Tom Daley - the flag's too big!
They really should fly/float Ben Ainsley in for it methinks. My wife wants to see Foster do it, but only if he takes his shirt off.
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mactabby wrote:
Not only did Sir Steve carry the flag in Atlanta, I'm pretty sure he carried it one-handed, which was some feat!
One of the greatest moments of an opening ceremony was seeing a fairly hefty weight-lifter from one of the old Soviet Asian Republics having to use the flag holder, whilst Sir Steve R. held the flag in one hand, arm straight out ahead of him, like one of those tests on the World's strongest man and without breaking a sweat.
If I'd have been one of his competitors and seen that I'd have got on the next plane home.
Legend.
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What about Kevin Pietersen or that posh royal horse-riding bird who wears those hot jodphurs!!!?
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With regard to Sir Steve Redgrave and carrying the flag in Atlanta there was a story published in the Daily Mail at the time of Redgrave and the one handed flag carrying incident.
It was told by Ian Wooldridge so I don't doubt it is true that one of the American press corps saw Sir Steve carrying the flag one handed and was apparently caused to gasp at the size and stature of the man.
A true legend!
I expect the flag to be carried by a "local" athlete in 2012 so wouldn't argue with either of Ainslie, Foster or Hoy. I doubt Foster will get it though as he tends to be opinionated.
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Should definitely be Mark Foster, I also think it would really inspire him further and hopefully go some way to making up for his disgraceful treatment in the 2004 Olympics. For a sprit swimmer to be at his 6th (or is it 5th) olympics is outstanding. He's also a thoroughly nice guy and that body is enough to turn a straight man...well...anyway.
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Indeed Steve did carry the flag one handed straight out. What a legend. Said he could have done it like that all day.
And lets not forget Matty P who, not to be outdone by Sir Steve did the exact same thing when he carried the flag.
For me though, should be Chris Hoy this year. One of the GB teams stars, really deserves it.
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I'm with the majority, it's got to be Hoy. Although, I would be happy to see Ainslie do it if he was able.
Both of these sports have been successful in the past are expected to be so in Beijing so a little recognition would not go amiss.
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I take back my Cav suggestion - Hoy is much more ripped in the upper body and I reckon he could do the essential 'look no-holder' flag carry without too much trouble.
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As an old (primary) school friend of Mark's I would love to see him carry the flag.
I might even watch the ceremony, something I don't think i have ever done before.
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Matt, seems you were on the ball ... or maybe all the athletes read your piece before selecting their flag bearer!
Can you let us know who the final vote was between?
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Sir Steve didn't just do it one handed, in Barcelona he carried it outstretched in his left hand, and then in Atlanta he did it with his right! Apparently he heard about a soviet weight lifter who did it at the Moscow games.
I was hoping for a cyclist but maybe 4 years!
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Whoever gets it in 4 years time will have the biggest honour of the lot - leading Team GB out as the last team in the Olympic Stadium on the Opening Night of London 2012. Maybe a little too early to place your bets now ...
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I reckon Bradley Wiggins or Chris Hoy will get it in London.
Of course Pinsent will pass the olympic flame to Kelly Holmes who will run up to the flame and pass it to Redgrave who will light it. Pinsent has been a bit hard donw by with regards to British esteem - he is always in Redgrave's shadow despite probably being the better athlete cause he only won 4 gold!
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Shame that Foster didn't do a one handeded flag carry. The Danish bloke did it well though.
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