The funny thing about the Olympics is how quick the whole thing is. That might sound like a stupid statement to make about an event which is (to a large extent) all about speed. I mean obviously the 100m final is going to be over quicker than the equivalent blue riband events at the World Cup say, or Wimbledon. But the speed with which the whole competition seems to fly by still amazes me. Given the massive build-up, the vast sums of money that are spent and the way in which it totally takes over our TVs, it’s incredible that it’s over in the space of two short weeks.
Dedicating an entire issue to something that happens in the middle of the month, is over very quickly, and now seems like a strangely distant memory might feel like an odd thing to do. Especially as the Olympics is largely dedicated to conventional sports, like track & field or tennis, that we don’t cover here at Mpora. However the Games also include many sports that we do write about regularly. Cycling, white water kayaking or windsurfing for example. And the publicity surrounding the Olympics means that it has a disproportionate impact on those sports at all levels. We couldn’t not cover the Games – what happens in those two weeks can literally shape the future of these sports, not just for the next four funding year cycle, but permanently.
“We’re really looking forward to the next summer Olympics. For the first time, some of our favourite sports – skateboarding, surfing and climbing – will be represented.”
Cycling is a great example. When Chris Boardman, who we interviewed this month, won his gold medal in Barcelona it brought recognition and money flooding into the sport. This laid the groundwork not just for the current generation of phenomenally successful British cyclists – the Laura Trotts and the Jason Kennys – but also for the cycling revolution that has seen so many Britons take up biking in recent years.
