The Positive Olympics
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badass
To most people in the UK, the names Scott Dixon and Alex Tagliani will mean nothing. In the US, they are better known though.
It is here where they earn their crust as racing drivers, competing in the IZOD Indycar Series. Indycar has seen better days (e.g. Our Nigel Mansell competed in the series in between Formula One shifts), yet it is still a popular competition and one of the highest grades of motor sport in the world. Dixon and Tagliani are among the best, most highly-respected drivers in the series.
Whether by perk or by purchase, Dixon and Tagliani were at the Olympic Stadium this evening for the athletics, where they were joined by Associated Press journalist, Jenna Fryer. Jenna normally reports on Indycar but for these Games, she has been been following various sports.
Fryer is a notable tweeter and has picked up a good following from sports fans like myself. However, she and the two racing drivers used social media for horrid reasons this evening, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.
We have all read of abuse and negative comments aimed at celebrities and public figures. The abuse poor Tom Daley got earlier in these Games highlights this point perfectly.
Yet when it is celebrities and public figures ridiculing defenceless people, social media just seems so crap.
Tagliani, Dixon and Fryer sat next to an old lady in the Olympic Stadium. What happened - admittedly - is uncertain. It is none of my business. But Tagliani felt the need to post this tweet and image:
To quote Tagliani:
“We put @scottdixon9 beside her to entertain her but she is getting pissed.”
This was then retweeted by Fryer here, with the quote:
“She’s horrible!”
I follow Fryer. I found her to be good for Indycar news. However, I took exception to this. Having taken my 77 year old mother to football matches in the past and listened to some under-the-cuff remarks about a “miserable old cow” (this was prior to her double knee operation when she struggled to walk and was in constant pain), I felt for this old lady.
On further exploration around the image I found these tweets:
Fryer: ”80,000 screaming fans and I still found @scottdixon9 @EmmaDaviesDixon @tagliani @BronTeeTag. And the horrible woman seated next to them.”
Tagliani: “how can u get mad @scottdixon9 latest @IndyCar winner such a nice guy @JennaFryer @emmadaviesdixon @bronteetag I think she is in grumpy mood“
People in the public eye tweeting in a negative, inappropriate manner about others NOT in the public eye seems crass. When it is a member of the public who is likely to have no idea that ‘celebrities’ are poking fun at her on a social network, to a combined audience of 150,000 (not including the retweets), it is downright inappropriate.
I replied to Fryer and Tagliani thus:
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to poking fun out of someone like this on Twitter.”
In between Rudisha and Bolt, I got this reply from Fryer:
“She was kind of nasty to us.”
Tagliani then responded to me:
“i am laughing @scottdixon9 he’s my friend its my business & can say if someone is mean @LesRosbifs @jennafryer Oh coming wave i’m busy sorry.”
The moment you take the piss out of someone who cannot respond to the 150,000 you’re sharing your business with means it is no longer your business alone, Alex.
I did respond to both, asking if they felt it was OK to publicly ridicule someone who could not/would not reply on Twitter, why take such a course of action, etc. They never responded.
And that is the crux of the matter. This old lady - whether she be sweet little Miss Marple or the Devil - had no knowledge she was having the mickey ripped out of her in front of a global audience.
Yet these public figures - Tagliani and Dixon race for top line Indycar teams, in a category long-deemed second only to Formula One, while Fryer writes for the most reputable news agency in the world - felt they could get away with it. For fun.
Perhaps I am being precious? Perhaps.
However, imagine if it was your mother. And people you respected were ridiculing her on Twitter.
It feels shit.
When the youths at the football match were ridiculing my mother, it was easy to tell them to where to get off. I did so with the backing of many people sitting around us. They soon backed off.
However, this embarrassing of the old lady took place on Twitter. Not in front of a handful of nearby spectators. But in front of a global audience, where she will not know that those next to her in the stadium (likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her?) are publicly ridiculing her, taking her photo, labelling her.
Alex Tagliani and Jenna Fryer: you really have no class.
If your employers/sponsors have any class, you will at least get your knuckles slapped.
*Screenshots of the tweets are available if requested by anyone.
It is the home of cricket. A mythical sports venue that is admired and adored by many in the sport.
And it is hosting the archery competition during London 2012 as this faulous image/tweet from the BBC’s Sonali Shah shows.
Was chilling in the Pavilion today as they completed the transformation of Lord’s to host the archery. #London2012 twitter.com/SonaliShah/sta…
— Sonali Shah (@SonaliShah) July 23, 2012
We all love an infographic. Well, I do…
Here’s one all about Team GB - it’s rather interesting.
USA women’s football team are keeping busy in the UK, coming up with amusing videos like this one…
Party in the usa2 (by MrsGoing4gold)
Whether or not you are interested in Equestrian sports is by-the-by. Will, of the Great Britain equestrian team, has been posting a fascinating blog daily (click on the link in the title here to read it).
The latest interesting goes into the setting up of their base in Greenwich Park, with some fascinating comments on how the park is being protected from damage, as well as an amusing tale of picking up a parking fine..!
Please, go and read!
BBC get a stunning view of Olympic Park!
Wow - have a look at the view the BBC have from their newsroom in the Olympic Park. It has to be said, watching News 24 today, the view looks stunning, as I am sure it would do whatever the weather!
In a nice tribute to all of the Australian gold medallists before them, the 2012 team will be carrying the names of all 240 of them on the lining of their jackets.
The jackets, which they will be wearing during the opening ceremony, do look rather nice!
Reminds me of my old school uniform…
Some good stories coming from Sport360 in the UAE about the Olympics. In particular their writer, Reem Abulleil, is highlighting the stories around the local athletes.
Clicking on the link above will take you to one such report, which looks at Humaid al Derei, who will be competing in the Judo competition despite an eye condition. Since learning of his qualification he has really had to step up his training programme!
This is NOT where it all began!
Bradley Wiggins did win a bronze in the Sydney Olympics of 2000 but in 2004, he was the first Briton in 40 years to win three medals in one Games, coming home with gold, silver and bronze.
He may be one of the greatest ever British sports personalities, but it is always good to look at Wiggo’s Olympic successes! In total he has three golds, one silver and two bronze.
Allez Wiggo!
Bradley Wiggins makes British Olympic history - Cycling - Athens 2004 Olympic Games (by olympic)
The Daily Telegraph ran a ‘helpful’ photo gallery yesterday on what is not allowed into the Olympic Park.
You can, if you so wish, click on the link here to see it. However, let me spare you the finger use and share with you what they say you cannot bring into the Olympic Park.
- Pepsi t-shirts - “probably not allowed, according to Lord Coe,” says the article. Here we go again. We have covered this - as have other, more reputable organisations - here.
- Large quantities of coins - I am yet to meet anyone who has gone to a major (or minor) event with pocketfuls of coppers in their pockets. As it stands, the advice of LOCOG is not to bring in large quantities of shrapnel, so as to ensure the entrance process is speedy. No major issue.
- Bibles - or as the caption adds (which is part of Olympic ticketing terms and conditions): ’printed matter bearing religious, political or offensive content.’ Again, nothing new.
- Vuvuzelas - Thank goodness!
- Umbrellas - Well, as the article goes on to say, LARGE GOLF umbrellas. Again, good thinking on the part of the organisers.
- Firearms - Does this really need mentioning?
- ‘Politics’ - As in any items making political statements. Again, this is not unique to the IOC or the UK.
- Thermos flasks - Shame, but hardly the end of the world.
- Rollerskates - Clutching at straws now for quirky additions to the list?
- Sombreros - Yes, definitely clutching at straws.
