It is time to put the (probable) mistake by an ignorant volunteer official at the Commonwealth Games, resulting in the Manx national emblem on the back of Keith Gerrard’s vest being taped over, into some kind of perspective. Exactly 100 years ago, war broke out in Europe and more than 1,100 people from the Isle of Man, more than 2% of the population, were to lose their lives in the four years that followed. Hardly a person on the Isle of Man would have been unaffected by the loss of a son, brother or father. Last week, four Manx athletes from the Isle of Man, who enjoy the freedom that two world wars brought us, set off for the Commonwealth Games. Despite years of planning, it is clear that someone made a mistake and as a consequence our four athletes, who have the thrill and challenge of competing with some of the best athletes in the world in front of a huge crowd and a massive TV audience, could not do so with the three legs of man displayed. Nobody set out to damage the Isle of Man. Being ignorant does not have to infer stupidity; the ignorance can be specific. Manx officials have made mistakes in the past just as Scottish have. Nobody was injured, nobody lost a relative and everyone still knew that the athletes were from the Isle of Man. Let us concentrate on what the Manx athletes have achieved 100 years after the First World War. It’s the first time that we have had a woman in the 400 metres; it’s the first time we have had a woman in the high jump; it’s the first time we have had a woman in the pole vault; it’s the first time for 40 years that we have had a man in the 10,000 metres. Let’s give our praise to the athletes who have overcome many obstacles to perform on our behalf on this huge stage. People over-reacting to a piece of tape and calling for “heads to roll” and litigation to take place should remind themselves of the other news story alongside the Commonwealth Games. In other parts of the world, innocent people, including children, are still being killed in wars. Steve Cram summed up the taping incident perfectly well. It’s all very silly. No more; no less.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:45:31 +0000
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