What's Team GB got that the footballers haven't?
It's a comparison you've been making since the Games began so let's talk about it this morning - after last night's friendlies involving England Scotland Northern Ireland and Wales. Is it a fair comparison?
There wasn't the same kind of expectation on Team GB as there is on top footballers; there isn't the same level of scrutiny or media attention. The Olympians have 4 years of relative obscurity, the footballers are the focus of attention pretty much all year round.
You compare the salaries of the Olympians and the footballers - but which of you is interested in cycling swimming and modern pentathlon except every 4 years? (cue loads of you saying "I am!")
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One big difference between the Olympians and the footballers, is funding issues. If they do not perform then they risk having their funding cut - some footballers are going to prison and going straight back to their "jobs".
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In a phrase, Team Gb has a dedication to their sport, whislst some football players have a dedication to their lifestyle.
for them their sport is just a means to obtain their lifestyle, whilst for olympians their lifestyle is a means to obtain their sporting goals.
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Well, after the floods in Northern Ireland which you seem to have considered unworthy of a phone-in (unlike floods in England last year) and we know you decided that a military conflict in Georgia was hardly worth a phone-in last week.
So, for tomorrow because after another exhausting debate about English football and British you'll want to lighten the national mood - some suggestions.
Which is best Bridget Jones or Sex and the City?
Who's nicest Brad Pitt or George Clooney?
What is your lucky number?
But don't worry, the topical debate flows again on Monday with breast-feeding - your experiences.
Are size zero models good role models for young women?
Do you enjoy the Daily Mail as much as we do?
What is your favourite magazine Closer, Take A Break or Bella?
Join us on Monday when the phone-in will be How come this show refers to Dwayne Chambers as a drugs cheat but doesn't use the term for other members of Team GB?
Keep up the good work.
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Hi,
The person you just interviewed regarding team GB, said Robbie Keane up front. This is impossible as he is from Rep of Ireland, not northern Ireland! Seams to be a common mistake when people pick their footy team for team GB!
Great show I have loved this coverage during Olmpics the mix of sport and news has been awsome. Please keep this format???
Thanks,
Ian From Macclesfield!
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I'm a cycling fan so love it when a load of the proverbial gets tipped over a load of prima-donna footballers. However, in cycling (at least in some of the track disciplines), swimming or rowing, there's not 11 blokes on the other side trying to mess your game up.
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Money.
Footballers don't care about the game anymore, they just want thier over inflated money deals.
Team GB probably do get paid well but not the silly sums footballers get.
I'd only pay a football team if they showed true commitment to the game and only if they won more often. Strikers who fail to score consistently should have a substantial pay cut each time they failed to deliver. What is the point of paying another club £20 million for a guy who don't do his job properly. Think I would be out of a job pretty quick if I failed to meet targets why is it so different for these nerds?
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The comparison is irrelevent albeit it was quite predictable that you in the media would want to pose it as a general question!
Athletics and professional football are radically different types of organisation; the former is more event driven, individually inspired where individual honour and pride plays a greater role than monetary gain as in the latter.
Professional football is a team orientated game, dominated by money and profits because rulers see the game as an artificial means of boosting local and national pride and stability in club and country particularly amongst the working classes whilst the economic system goes from bad to worse!
The vast amount of attention paid to the national factor throughout the coverage of these Olympic Games typified by such questions like 'are you proud to be British because of the very creditable medals tally British athletes have accumulated' is more directed towards dividing the public.
No doubt many hold great admiration and envy for all the achievers out in Beijing but are not necessarily won over by the .pride in one's nation' notion which they may deem as irrelevent in a global economy that has to work together to achieve economic growth and harmony and where national frontiers are becoming increasingly insignificant!
The real question therefore is do the athletes, in their hearts compete on behalf of their nation or on behalf of themselves to win medals and I think if the majority of them were honest its for the latter!
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I don't think it actually is a comparison that everyone's "been making since the games began."
Anyway it's always a slightly strange comparrison given that football is of course an Olympic sport (unless you're British). The likes of Lionel Messi was there winning gold.
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