Thinking about a possible field event for this month, I visited the John Charles Centre for Sport Athletic Stadium. It’s a fine facility on the outskirts of Leeds with indoor and outdoor athletics areas. Perfect for plenty of Half as Good challenges.
Reception couldn’t help much, but they suggested that I chat to the Leeds Athletic Club who use the facilities each week, and were over in the athletics and bowling building.
I went to find them and have a chat. It seems there are a lot of rules. Very important rules. And memberships, and competition numbers. You can’t just do, say, the high jump and measure it. It has to be a competition for any activity to be measured. And we’re nearly at the end of the season, so not many competitions left. It seems a very serious business and I was clearly, politely, not welcome! I suspect that Usain Bolt would not be welcome either, certainly not at the beginning of his career.
As a member of the most relaxed climbing club in the area – which is so welcoming to new members – I despair of this Olympic legacy which seems to be set against people giving new things a go. Rather entertainingly, they actually mentioned health and safety, protecting coaches, and governing body rules. I’m sure the sharp end of a javelin isn’t a comfortable place to be, and a shot put dropped on your foot isn’t going to be great for you, but are those the real reasons behind not wanting to get new people involved?
Meanwhile, my search for an event for this month continues. I will post the challenge by the end of the weekend!
Wish me luck!
The 'Half as Good' Olympic Decathlon 
Good research B. I am reminded of a poetry night in Bolton. (yes, such things do exist) In a grim pub we all took turns to read our poems. A rather loud and completely drunk lad appeared from nowhere and in his own way staggered into the limelight. Half the audience were for throwing him out, the other half for listening to see what he had to offer. It might be a string of expletives or a recitation of Burns? What harm could he do, he was up for it. In the end he was ‘included’. His oration half baked at best BUT he came back again and again with things self penned and those nights (whatever he does now) were a part of his (and our) lives. This is a bit tenuous but the legacy should be about this. Should be about inclusion, fun and accessibility
Perfect Win. I wish I could persuade more people to get into the spirit of Team Half as Good. It seems most of the country have written themselves off as either too unfit or too serious!