Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling Sports in the Olympics

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Melissa Reese" <melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net>


> ----------- Original Message -----------
> 
> From: jflannery_at_hotmail.com
> Date:  Mon, 25 Sep 2000 16:53:58 GMT
> Subject:  [Paddlewise] Paddling Sports in the Olympics
> 
> >>I think that in the Olympics they should have a real course and not 
> a man made course for the kayaking.<<
> 
> Though I would like to agree with your basic sentiment, as it would 
> be nice to have these things in a natural setting (including the 
> rowing events as well), there's this to consider...
> 
> What about all the spectators, camera crews, officials, etc.?  In a 
> natural setting, all these people with all their equipment (and 
> trash) could really make a mess of a nice place.

I've been thinking of the same recently with respect to the 2008 
Olympic bid by Toronto.  They announced the WW and flat water 
venues and I went "Whaaa?".  The WW is at Twelve Mile Creek in
St Catherines - not a place noted for its spectacular WW.  Why 
not the Gull River at Minden (a world-class, natural location),
MKC on the Madawaska or the Ottawa river.  Twelve Mile Creek will
be a man-made course in an existing creek.  

The flat water course is in a relatively unused area of the Toronto
Harbour.  I went paddling through it a few weeks ago and wasn't too
impressed.  Why not the traditional flat water racing venues - Toronto
Islands or the Humber bay area where the rowing clubs are?

Yesterday I paddled through the old rowing course in Toronto Islands.
One side is in a "natural" state - left alone as a wetlands and allowed
to grow back into its former state.  The other side is lined with _big_ 
old (probably older than the city) trees - very majestic looking.  The 
thought of them ripping up that area to allow for the spectators and
cameras makes me cringe.  Same with the Gull River at Minden - it's
too nice to ruin with the crowds.

So it makes sense to create an environment that is made for the sport 
if one isn't readily available.  

Mike

PS: I'm opposed to the Olympics in Toronto as they are proposed.  I lived
through the mess in Montreal in 1976 and know first hand the difference 
between what you see on TV, what the politicians and hangers-on say and
reality.  The indoor kayak and rowing facilities that were constructed
for the teams to train in were converted to warehousing after the games.
A friend of mine, helping to run the McGill rowing club, was almost in 
tears as the city auctioned off the kayaks and rowing sculls to affluent
Ivy League colleges to the south, while Canadian universities, short 
of cash, got nothing.  All payed for by the Canadian (mostly Montreal)
taxpayers (latest word is the debts will be retired in two more years!)
Canadian athletes have had the short end of it for a long time.  It
shows in Sydney - 1 gold, 1 silver several bronze.  The Aussies, an
amateur sports crazed country, with a population 2/3rds of Canada's
is second only to the well financed and very determined US team in
medals count.  Return the summer olympics to Greece with a _permanent_
installation, find a suitable spot for the winter olympics and stop
the money, greed and politics surrounding the Olympics.

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************