The Olympics, money and kayaking

click photo to enlarge

It seems impossible to express indifference or opposition to the Olympic Games without having opprobrium heaped upon you, such is the fervour with which the alliance of sporting organisations, politicians, sponsors and the self-serving bureaucrats of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) stir up support for the nationalistic jamboree. For years I've been of the opinion that the Games has moved so far from its original and modern ideals that it has forfeited the right to use the word "Olympic" and should embrace the inevitable and sell the naming rights to a sponsor.

The absurd sums of money that host nations are required to spend mounting the Olympic Games invites ridicule. As do the demands of the IOC for facilities for their delegates: the designated traffic lanes for official cars and the rest of their gratis benefits are megalomaniacal and no country should concede them. Then there is the idea that new facilities should be built for a Games - for a fortnight's utilisation - and the wishful thinking that they will find "legacy" uses for decades afterwards. The record shows that this is rarely the case. Moreover, you have to question enormous public subsidies for sports that, day to day, find it difficult to find an audience and exist only through sponsorship, state handouts and the recognition that comes from being part of the Olympics. Now don't get me wrong, I have no objection to people indulging in or watching minority sports or in the principle of subsidies. However, I can see many more worthy recipients of public money, and in straitened times I object to the state supporting people's hobbies.

I think it is time for the Olympics to be returned whence it came, to a purpose built sports complex in Greece, one that could also be used in the periods between Games. Moreover, I'd like to see the number of sports reduced to an agreed and traditional range (probably a few more than the modern Games' original nine). This would have so many obvious benefits that I'll only mention one - it would provide much needed visitor and TV income for Greece on a continuing basis! Under my proposals kayaking, the subject of today's photograph, wouldn't feature in the Olympic Games. Nor would synchronised swimming, trampolining, mountain biking, taekwondo, table tennis etc etc etc.

photograph and text (c) T. Boughen

Camera: Canon
Mode: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 67mm
F No: f8
Shutter Speed: 1/200
ISO: 100
Exposure Compensation:  -0.33 EV
Image Stabilisation: On

Games, money, myopia and heritage

click photo to enlarge

Our government of political pygmies makes much of the need for cuts in public expenditure and the fact that, as far as the current financial crisis goes, "we're all in it together". However, virtually every day they do something that undermines these claims; that demonstrates it's the poor, women, the old, public sector workers, the marginalised and the cultural community who will bear the brunt of the spending cuts.

Last week the government shot themselves in their collective feet once again. Fearing that the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games might be a touch underwhelming compared with the efforts of previous Games they immediately sanctioned a further £41m taking the budget for this single short spectacle to over £80m. Then, turning their attention to security, decided to almost double that budget too - from £282m to £553m. If, like me, you see the Olympic Games as an optional, low importance expenditure, you can only gaze open-mouthed at the facile way in which sums of this magnitude are found and disbursed. Then wonder turns to anger when you consider what it might have been spent on.

I can think of countless more worthy recipients of £300+m but I'll mention just one. The body that channels public funding into helping to maintain our architectural heritage - including buildings such as the one shown in today's photograph - is called English Heritage. In October 2010 it had its grant cut by 32%. A reduction of that order is not so much a cut as an amputation. Surely, even the most myopic politician is capable of seeing that the few tens of millions it would take to restore the funding would generate revenue year on year from increased tourism. In fact, our politicians don't seem to understand the main reasons why visitors come to Britain and seem to think that the Olympic Games and their increased spending will be repaid by more tourists. Fat chance say I.

Today's image shows the porch on the west range at Castle Acre Priory in Norfolk. This religious site was was closed in 1537 and fell into disrepair and ruin. However it is still possible to see something of what it was from the extant walls, buildings and foundations. Much of the site dates from the late C11 and C12, with additions from each subsequent century until its demise. The porch is a relatively late building with a fine mixture of local styles represented on its facade.

photograph and text (c) T. Boughen

Camera: Canon
Mode: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 50mm
F No: f7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Exposure Compensation:  0 EV
Image Stabilisation: On