As a contrary 13 year old I resolved to hate Take That. I resolutely kept it up for 20 years. I didn't falter - not with Robbie, nor without Robbie, not with him again, not in clown outfits, not in bearskin. That was until they strolled into the Olympic stadium and saved the London 2012 Closing Ceremony from the brink of complete disaster.
We had been subjected to the bizarre, the bad and the out of tune. We had listened to the most unmoving of key-note speeches. Jacques Rogge, the current President of the IOC had 4 years to prepare for the speech of his career. He had time to write a poem, learn a dance, complete his own inspirational montage, yet he read from a sheet, no trace of emotion, "we will never forget the smiles." Followed by Huw Edwards skin-itching tragi-speak "the cauldron...soon to be extinguished...gently...gradually..." until we are all dead.
Arrive Gary Barlow and his man-band. A man grieving from the loss of his baby girl, tragically still born only one week ago. With his opening line he instantly renewed our wonder in London 2012 and evoked such unimaginable pathos that I am reduced to wracking sobs even as I write, "You light the skies up above me, A star so bright you blind me, Don’t close your eyes, Don’t fade away, don’t fade away." Followed by elation. Elation at hearing the little one's voice supporting Gary - Mark, and marvelling at their smart Continental soldier jackets, and that we do have someone who can sing in tune, that the black paddles did have a purpose and that 204 nations are standing on a majestic Union Jack, waving their arms and singing "We Can Rule The World" with marmalade and jam. Tell me the coverage stopped right there, please.
I go promptly to the DirectGov website to nominate Gary Barlow for a Knighthood. He restored a nation's credibility, at the most difficult time in his own life. That is selflessness. That is inspiration. Turns out he already received an OBE in the Queen's Jubilee Honours list. Officer. Not enough. He needs a Knighthood and to be a Sir. I demand it. I'll fill out the forms right now.
These forms are remarkably straight forward. Anyone can be nominated. I wonder. Let's look at some of the awards, what were these people doing when they were 33? Maybe we are all on track for a Knighthood?
Dame Zaha Hadid, made DBE in June 2012, aged 62. Iraqi-British architect responsible for the London 2012 Aquatics Centre design. Degree in Mathematics from the American University of Beirut. Partner at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture by the age of 27. Established her own Architecture practice in London at the age of 30. She goes a bit quiet then, teaching at prestigious institutions around the world, until she is made the first female and first Muslim recipient of the Protzker Architecture Prize (comparable to the Nobel prize) at the age of 54.
Bit of a high achiever from a very early age. What about this one...
Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, corporate and legal affairs director at Tesco, made DBE in June 2012 at the age of 59. She has a BA and MA in Politics and Philosophy from Oxford. At 33 she was working in the European Community policy unit on Sheepmeat and Milk. She has 4 children. She wasn't headhunted from the Cabinet Office to Tesco by Sir Terry Leahy until she was 44. She didn't get her first accolade - CMG - to recognise overseas contributions until the age of 52.
Hoorah! Hope! From Sheepmeat and Milk policy to Damehood in 20 years, fitting in 4 children along the way.
Think we should all target Damehood by 60.
In the meanwhile, Sir Barlow, I salute you.
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very interesting. As is the norm for most of the accolades handed out by our politicians to others, I knew nothing of either of them. Good luck with the charge for Gary.
ReplyDeleteMy take on the closing ceremony was similar about Rogge and add Coe to the list of ill prepared to speak on such an occasion.
I guess i also need to add my own shock. Having suffered the apalling row conjured up by Mcartney at the openning ceremony, even after a full but bad practice at the Quuen's do, I was dreading the Spice Girls - but fact is they did not do any harm and added some good sound.
I loved the olympics - I was amazed by the park and the stadia - I now await the tirade of politicians trying to use the efforts of others, to justify themselves - I see the legacy is now being softenned to sustainability - next stop ???
We, as the people, must keep the politicians away from our games and the aftermath. We must press for all that we need in our own areas to give our youngsters a chance to feed on what they saw being done my most, not all, but most UK atheletes. That is their very best at the right time, in the right place. anyone know where the nearest handball court is?
Thanks anonymous. Yes, it was a pleasure to be relatively politician free over the Games- David Cameron was scared off by suggestions that he was bringing bad luck to our gold medal hopes early on.
ReplyDeleteI did note an article in yesterday's paper though, 'No medals, no money', where, due to the fact that both men and women's handball lost every game, they are unlikely to receive any central funding towards Rio. The money will go to the sports which are excepted to deliver gold- a very blunt instrument.
The swimming funding will be reduced, for example, due to the disappointing medal count, but when you hear that a couple of our medal hopes are still training in 25 metre pools you feel that there is a huge amount that could be done cash splashed sensibly.
Perhaps the funding should go to those Performance Directors who are able to pitch a convincing strategy and detailed talent plan for the next 4 years, rather than base it on a retrospective view of 2012 performance. I think the handball could perhaps make a case based on the popularity that it garnered.