Sad day for Canada when "our best of the best athletes" can only manage a shootout win vs Switzerland.
But I do understand what you are getting at. How many friends do you guys have that go out and luge on the weekends? Me personally cycle and swim and play baseball. Not once have I ever been enticed to try the skeleton.
Now during the summer Olympics I said that giving the taxpayer money to the atheletes for "Own the Podium" was a good investment because there are a myriad of payoffs:
#1 - National pride and cohesiveness - should we get a good medal haul everyone from coast to coast would enjoy that. Except maybe the separatists.
#2 - It gives young people something to strive for. If they see that if they get off their ass, drop the PS3 controller, and go DO SOMETHING and DO IT WELL they will be rewarded with being a world champion Olympic gold medalist. I know my nephew is learning about the Olympics at school, had to do a report on Cindy Klasen, and my brother made a backyard skating rink so my nephew could pretend to speed skate.
However, I think my mind has changed a bit though. I'm starting to think that we CAN'T compete with the other countries. First, several of the countries ahead of us have more people and more resources to throw at the athletes. Particularly the U.S. and Germany. Norway has a very small population and has 3 more medals than we do, but they are mostly in cross-country skiing and biathlon. I know of absolutely NOBODY that does biathlon in their spare time. Why would we spend money on athletes in a sport Canadians just don't care about?
I am starting to think that if we pour money into the Olympic training program and STILL can't compete, then #1 and #2 disappear. Actually they work in reverse. Most people across the country are all "Canada really, really sucks.. why can't this country do something right for a change? Our inclusiveness and attitude need to change." And as wonderful as Montgomery's win was, I can't see any 8 year olds seeing that and saying "Wow, I want to stop playing Cars on the PS3 and go try that". So maybe it is a waste of resources that could be used elsewhere.
|