We've been watching the Championships from Glasgow. (Does it not have a more imaginative title than that? Not Eurosports or something ? Not exactly an inspirational title for a sporting event.) It's the cycling events. What a weird sport. Riding round and round on a sloping, wooden, track. A load of men (and sometimes women), dressed in tight-fitting, body-hugging, garishly-coloured garb, made of Lycra, or Spandex. By the way, how on earth do they get into these suits? They look incredibly uncomfortable. Then they wear helmets (good that they do when you see the accidents some of them have.) and have visors of a reflective material, which also means that you can't see their eyes, giving the impression of some sort of astronaut or at least, character out of something like 'Star Wars' or some such science-fiction epic movie. Then, what's this with the funny little man on a scooter, looking as if he's drifted in by accident, a postman, Mr Bean-type character, who has to ride round and round (the Derney Bicycle or something?) The pace-maker or something. Totally weird, and somewhat amusing. Well, to my sense of humour at any rate. I can't see that going round and round in circles on a bicycle is a sport. Oh dear, I know it is. But it's an odd sport, to say the least. Oh, right. Cycling across country, or round a city centre (as they did a few days ago, around the streets of Glasgow) but round and round in circles? I just don't get it. This Derney Bicycle looks like Mr Bean. Just out of place. Then Women's Madison or something. Doing around 120 circuits. How far is that? But they don't get anywhere. They go miles and miles but then land up where they started! I know that's not the point, but I think if I was to ride a bicycle that far I'd want to have got somewhere. Not back where I had started from.
Who on earth comes up with the idea of diving into a pool of water? From goodness knows what height. Amazing that someone would want to do this. I have trouble just getting into a swimming pool from the side let alone jumping in, or at least, diving, from a board some twenty or thirty feet from the ground. Or off a spring-board and then doing all sorts of twist and turns as they head for the water.
Swimming, in open water, for 25 km. What's that in miles? I have no idea, but it's a long way. From a distance, a large group of men and sometimes women, look a lot like spawning salmon, swimming up-stream. Then they're followed by people in rubber dinghy's, or at least look like rubber dinghies. Is it in case they get lost? How can they see where they're going? Then, how about running, swimming and cycling? It's not the swimming or running that would be difficult, not that all of it's difficult, but the idea of swimming and then having to cycle, in no doubt wet clothing which would put me off. Must be uncomfortable riding a bicycle in wet clothing. A bit squelchy, to say the least.
Well, then there's darts. Oh, please! (Alright, I know, not part of the European Championships, but they do take up a lot of airspace on the television channels at times.) That isn't in any way or shape or form a sport. Just throwing pointy things at a sort of target thingy. Not even breaking a sweat. Then probably downing pints of beer and the men looking definitely over-weight. Just moving your arm, standing still. I realise there is a skill in doing this, but it can't be classed as a sport. And neither can snooker. Apart from anything else it's just boring. Again, it is a definite skill to play that, but to me it still can't be termed 'sport.' Next thing well get tiddly-winks as a sport.
Who on earth comes up with the idea of diving into a pool of water? From goodness knows what height. Amazing that someone would want to do this. I have trouble just getting into a swimming pool from the side let alone jumping in, or at least, diving, from a board some twenty or thirty feet from the ground. Or off a spring-board and then doing all sorts of twist and turns as they head for the water.
Swimming, in open water, for 25 km. What's that in miles? I have no idea, but it's a long way. From a distance, a large group of men and sometimes women, look a lot like spawning salmon, swimming up-stream. Then they're followed by people in rubber dinghy's, or at least look like rubber dinghies. Is it in case they get lost? How can they see where they're going? Then, how about running, swimming and cycling? It's not the swimming or running that would be difficult, not that all of it's difficult, but the idea of swimming and then having to cycle, in no doubt wet clothing which would put me off. Must be uncomfortable riding a bicycle in wet clothing. A bit squelchy, to say the least.
Well, then there's darts. Oh, please! (Alright, I know, not part of the European Championships, but they do take up a lot of airspace on the television channels at times.) That isn't in any way or shape or form a sport. Just throwing pointy things at a sort of target thingy. Not even breaking a sweat. Then probably downing pints of beer and the men looking definitely over-weight. Just moving your arm, standing still. I realise there is a skill in doing this, but it can't be classed as a sport. And neither can snooker. Apart from anything else it's just boring. Again, it is a definite skill to play that, but to me it still can't be termed 'sport.' Next thing well get tiddly-winks as a sport.
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