Tuesday 16 February
Same old same old....
Another day and another cancellation. Another day and another
request to do interviews with the racers and another "sorry" from
the BOA....! Yes the racers are here to do a job and yes they need
to be totally focused on this. But 30 minutes with the press two
days before the event, surely that must be possible? Norwegian
journalists get time with the athletes two days before and event,
could this not be arranged with the British press - especially with
all these delays!
I sent a very polite email to the Head of Local BOA Operations this
morning once the race had been postponed asking if there would
be any quotes from Chemmy Alcott on her hopes, thoughts etc for the
Downhill. "I had hoped to get that out but alas not happening was
the reply! Instead the BOA sent out a report on a defeated curling
team and a biathlete ... and five and a half hours after she
completed her impressive injury affected performance. When told why
this was the way it was done, I was told that it was this way due to
having athletes in these events! AAAaaaaaaaargh!
Well done today to Zoe Gillings - the best performance so far by a
GB athlete and the BOA wait over five and half hours to send out a
press release. Result of this INCOMPETANCE: It misses all the papers
and is now yesterdays news for the papers....awesome guys!
From USSA and USOC I have had three times as many relevant emails
today. None from BOA about skiing!
Over the course of the day have been following the comments on the
BBC coverage of the ski racing so I cornered one of the BBC crew
here and was told that it was a life show and that this was why the
coverage had gone off from the Live show and onto the Red Button.
Maybe the BBC ought to change its name from BBC to IBC (for I read
Idiotic / International / idiosyncratic / Illogical.....). It seems
that the BBC is not the only National Broadcaster to be criticised
at the moment. NBC in the states broadcast a mere 36 minutes of the
Downhill will adverts between virtually every racer! And the Games
are supposed to be non commercial.....
NEW IOC Dictionary now has new meaning for postponed: Adjective:
Weather affected race, indefinite length of delay caused by Pacific
winds, snow, rain, causing lots of men and women to work overnight
stamping snow down before race is declared not possible for safety
reasons......
With the change in the programme it seems like transfer day in the
package business as racers are heading out of town to try and find
piece and quiet and training space on snow covered hills. The
Canadians have headed out to Panorama and the British are still
staying in Whistler. How did we hear about this: Well through
the glorious internet and Twitter. Within moments of the news being
announced, Brad Spence and Mike Janyk had posted this and they were
off. If the IOC had their 19th century way, then we would all still
be writing copy in long hand and getting the pigeon to take it off
to the editor!
Can the real 21st century IOC please come to the door and let us use
dictaphones and now even video interview equipment: Promote the
races not sell out to the highest bidders.....
So we still have useless media officials working for the respected
BOA, we still have classic moments with timing failing at the luge
costing athletes medals and we still have simple things like the
wrong medals being given out...is Mr Bean around?
