Yes football does reach into communities the way other sports don't

But the attitude of all of those athletes has been amazing and the kind of thing I really want my kids to learn from. Taking responsibility for their own success or failure, rather than blaming external forces. Putting in 100% of what it's possible to to achieve a goal over a sustained period. Those kinds of things.

I also worry about the Games Legacy - there's a difference between sport for enjoyment (and general health), and sport for achievement. 99% of us can't do the latter but we can and "should" all do the former. So yes, link schools with local athletics/sports clubs better, identify and nurture talent from an early age and the like; but also don't leave behind the large majority of us who could do with being that little bit fitter (thus saving the NHS squillions on obesity/cancer/diabetes treatments later on)

Posted By: Old Man, Aug 9, 10:52:58