Cast your minds back two years ago, where there was jubilation, pride and excitement filling the whole of the country as we were full swing into hosting the 2012 Olympic Games in our country, Britain. Two years on, the Commonwealth Games are now very much under away up in Scotland, with our stars from 2012 again shining and doing us proud. But I can't help but feel that these games are very much being overseen by the rest of the nation and also by the rest of the world.
The publicity surrounding the Commonwealth Games is subdue, low key and has a general non-existing feel to it. Whether that is because the 2014 World Cup in Brazil has just finished, and fellow Brits are not feeling very patriotic anymore due to England's dismal and embarrassing exit from the group stage, or purely because this current hot weather is keeping us well away from our TV screens. Truth be told I would imagine that 50% of the country and possibly more does not even know that we, Team England (currently) have won a staggering 113 medals, including 41 gold, 37 silver and 35 bronze which surpasses and beats the amount that we won back in 2012, which was 65.
New stars are emerging left, right and centre which we as a nation will very much expect to see excel in two years time at Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. One of the brightest prospects for English athletics is Adam Gemili, aged 20 who claimed silver in the men's 100m on Monday, highlighting at just 20 years of age, the sheer talent that is coming through the ranks ready for Rio in two years time. Adam stated after his success "This is just a stepping-stone for the European Championships and then the
Olympics in Rio".
The famous names from 2012 such as Greg Rutherford and Louis Smith are continuing to emulate their success from two years ago by both picking up gold medals in their respected sport, Long Jump and Gymnastics.
The most exciting prospect of this Commonwealth Games is that we as a nation get to witness new stars rise and at the same time watch heroes from 2012 prove to the country that they have come back stronger and even better ahead of Rio in two years time. Though, unfortunately this years Commonwealth Games is getting brushed aside by the rest of the country. Just because it isn't the 'official' Olympics, people are not taking an interest in what has been so far a hugely successful event for our country. It is the same stars that millions of people were glued to their screens to support and jubilantly celebrate when they won gold, silver and bronze back in 2012, so what is the difference this time round?
No comments:
Post a Comment