Counting up the cost in aftermath of 2012 Olympics Games

AFTER the 2008 Olympics, it was stated that, on average, the cost of the medals ran into millions of pounds each after taking into consideration the financial support that these professional people and the various ‘directors of sport’, coaches, psychologists etc received.

This funding was then increased over the next four years hence the tally of medals at the 2012 Olympics – called by some the London Games – and will probably increase again as we head down to Rio.

While not wishing to denigrate the achievements of the sports people involved, it should be remembered that this is their job of work for which, along with the medals that they won, they – or some of them – are also being rewarded by having the “celeb” tag added and making fortunes in the advertising industry and on TV. It has also been mooted that sundry gongs should be awarded.

A far cry, I would siggest, from the original spirit of the Olympic Games.

On the other side of the picture we see that libraries, swimming pools, hospitals, police, ambulance, fire stations and others are under severe financial threat; that public sector workers are still in a pay freeze; that private sector pensions are disappearing fast and that the infrastructure of the country desperately needs modernisation. More importantly, family poverty, as witness the number of Food Banks, appears to be on the increase.

I have heard many pundits, usually the ones who stand to make a lot of money out of it, state that sport can cure many of society’s ills and the twin words of “inspire” and “legacy” trip off their tongues like water from a dripping tap.

When England won some rugby match or other, we were told that this sport would be taken up in droves.

Likewise with tennis, cricket and probably tiddlywinks. I don’t think that it happened.

From: D Birch, Smithy Lane, Cookridge.

THE Government is going to create a new award system for Olympics and Paralympics.

I would like to make a suggestion that everyone who was involved in what turned out to be the best sporting achievement to date in the 
world, should have a medallion that they all could wear at any time to commemorate taking 
part in the massive amount of sports, particularly in the last 
month.

This should include all 
coaching staff and the 
medical people involved (Tom Richmond, Yorkshire Post, September 8).

The Army personnel who had to be drafted in at short notice too, the people who worked in the “village” including cooks and cleaners etc, the volunteers who did many jobs and also the highly skilled people who worked and took part in the opening and closing of both sets of games and helped the UK, and we hope the world, to see that we are still alive and kicking.

We should also include the radio and TV commentators who during the Paralympics games explained the differences and why, about the people taking part in each sport. That was a real eye-opener.

Frankly, I can’t see the point in our country handing out more knighthoods and MBEs.

From: Richard Watson, Lascelles Avenue, Withernsea.

Noting that the Scout movement was involved in 
the Paralympics Torch 
journeys and that David Toole, who danced and undertook
aerial aerobatics in the Paralympics opening ceremony was, I understand, born in 
Leeds in the 1960s, I was reminded of my time as a student in the late 1950s in Leeds, assisting leaders of the Potternewton Handicapped Scout Troop (as it was then known) in bringing the principles of equality for all, no matter what disabilities were present, to lads in the Troop.

If I recall correctly, their inspirational scout leaders were Arthur Tempest and Ron Perry.

On one occasion the boys enjoyed a summer scout 
camp under canvas on a 
farm near Pateley Bridge when those usually confined to wheelchairs, which could not 
be manoeuvred over rough ground, were taken to nearby woods and streams on 
stretchers in order to work for those badges which would demonstrate proficiency in understanding their natural surroundings.

I believe the school to which they were attached, having closed, is now a Sikh Temple.

I would dearly love to know if there is anyone else who remembers those days and was amazed by the fortitude of those youngsters, some of whom are pictured in the accompanying photograph, and what they went on to achieve.

I wonder if David Toole attended the school?