Getting real
Wow. What a day in Delhi.
Ten hours ago I was still of the optimistic opinion that although things were rough over in Delhi, that all crinkles would be ironed out and that the Games would run reasonably smoothly.
I am now not sure what I am more uncomfortable about: a) The bridge to the main stadium crashing, b) The fact that almost all reports from Commonwealth Games delegates in the village are completely unsatisfied and are really not sure if the places where we are supposed to sleep will be finished in time for our arrival, or c) That there was a shooting on the weekend where 2 people were injured and the statistical likeliness of an attack during the games is somewhere between 50 and 80%.
This has kind of scared me. I have been of the opinion that the issues in Delhi have been sensationalised by the media and there really is not that much to worry about, but the fact is the people who are there right now are appalled with a lot of aspects of the Games and its preparation, and security. I don't know what to believe now. I'm confused and a little worried. I think we'll just have to wait and see how the rest of the week pans out, but I am told that some serious changes have to occur for the Games to be ready for us athletes.
My general attitude, especially now that I am part of the 4 x 400 is that I will go unless I am told that I can't.
What I am most worried about is that the whole games are going to be called off. We are having a meeting tomorrow with the high performance manager, Eric Hollingsworth, who has been in London meeting with others on these issues, so no doubt we'll be more in the know as the the Australian team stance then. We have already been told that there will be no hard feelings if we pull out with safety concerns, as has Danni Samuels. My feeling is that we are going to be basically told "enter at own risk", and that the end decision will be ours.
Most of the athletes here in Newcastle are pretty happy-go-lucky and everyone here is super, super keen to compete. This won't change, but I have a feeling that the reports coming in will force some reflection of the magnitude of what were are going into and what could happen; worst case scenario.
As you can tell, I am a bit shaken by this. It certainly won't affect my training over the next week here in the UK; we have a simulated comp day tomorrow, which should be great! I then have a few days of simulated comp sessions to try and get the feel for consecutive days of fast running.
I'll keep my eye on the news and no doubt we'll be told of any developments in Delhi.
Will stay in touch
bj
Ten hours ago I was still of the optimistic opinion that although things were rough over in Delhi, that all crinkles would be ironed out and that the Games would run reasonably smoothly.
I am now not sure what I am more uncomfortable about: a) The bridge to the main stadium crashing, b) The fact that almost all reports from Commonwealth Games delegates in the village are completely unsatisfied and are really not sure if the places where we are supposed to sleep will be finished in time for our arrival, or c) That there was a shooting on the weekend where 2 people were injured and the statistical likeliness of an attack during the games is somewhere between 50 and 80%.
This has kind of scared me. I have been of the opinion that the issues in Delhi have been sensationalised by the media and there really is not that much to worry about, but the fact is the people who are there right now are appalled with a lot of aspects of the Games and its preparation, and security. I don't know what to believe now. I'm confused and a little worried. I think we'll just have to wait and see how the rest of the week pans out, but I am told that some serious changes have to occur for the Games to be ready for us athletes.
My general attitude, especially now that I am part of the 4 x 400 is that I will go unless I am told that I can't.
What I am most worried about is that the whole games are going to be called off. We are having a meeting tomorrow with the high performance manager, Eric Hollingsworth, who has been in London meeting with others on these issues, so no doubt we'll be more in the know as the the Australian team stance then. We have already been told that there will be no hard feelings if we pull out with safety concerns, as has Danni Samuels. My feeling is that we are going to be basically told "enter at own risk", and that the end decision will be ours.
Most of the athletes here in Newcastle are pretty happy-go-lucky and everyone here is super, super keen to compete. This won't change, but I have a feeling that the reports coming in will force some reflection of the magnitude of what were are going into and what could happen; worst case scenario.
As you can tell, I am a bit shaken by this. It certainly won't affect my training over the next week here in the UK; we have a simulated comp day tomorrow, which should be great! I then have a few days of simulated comp sessions to try and get the feel for consecutive days of fast running.
I'll keep my eye on the news and no doubt we'll be told of any developments in Delhi.
Will stay in touch
bj
Thought you might find this an amusing distraction. Current subject - Marketing Concepts and Practice. Assignment - Case Study. Company - Apple. Product - Apple Logic Pro.
ReplyDeleteGood thing you are not here or you might have become my team's marketing strategy guinea pig :-)
PS. Did a PB for my College Street run yesterday - your turn!
ReplyDeletePPS. Guess what I am listening to.
ReplyDelete