GB medal haul crucial to success of 2012 Olympics
The best moment for many of us at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday afternoon was before the kick-off.
and after Arsenal's six years without a trophy, and their awful start to this season, it was great to see at least one Gooner who's won something.
But it's also a reminder that the success of 2012 will rest on the success of people like Mo. For all the challenges we talk about - transport, security and the rest - there's one rather more obvious factor that will determine whether Britain regards the Olympics as a success.
Simply, can we repeat the ? And will the unique status of being the home-team provide a boost or an extra hurdle for our athletes?
My colleague Dave Gordon wrote a helpful day-by-day guide when the Games timetable was released, and it's easy to see how the opening days can teeter between triumph and disappointment for
you can envisage the celebrations across the UK. If we're empty-handed after the first few days, you can imagine the frustration.
The second scenario looks unlikely.
Britons are doing well enough in the major championships to suggest Team GB will deliver some thrilling successes in 2012, but if you listen closely you can hear the odd murmur of concern.
It centres mainly around the limited 'margin for error' - the reality that our very top athletes have to deliver what's expected, while there aren't many outside chances likely to make up for them if they don't.
It was a theme discussed by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport's Tom Fordyce after Daegu which showed the headline targets being hit but some bothersome gaps further down the team.
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So in the coming months as we see the Team GB announcements there will be a mix of confidence - the recognition that British sport has made massive progress in recent years - with a touch of nervousness that so much rests on people like and and and .
But the other factor we should hope comes into play is the love that people in the UK have for sport in general - and the internationalism of British audiences.
My most memorable night at a sport event in recent years was and the mix of Jamaican and British patriotism created sensational noise and emotion.
Equally, would mean an Olympic tennis final at Wimbledon between Djokovic and Federer or Nadal wouldn't need to make the crowd satisfied.
So all will not be lost if Team GB fall short of expectations. But you can't underestimate the effect on London 2012 - and the lift to our national spirit - if they exceed them.
I'm Roger Mosey, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's director of London 2012. That means I'm overseeing all the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's 2012 preparations including not just sport but the Cultural Olympiad, our Olympic news and information services and everything that will bring the story of the London Games to audiences at home and abroad. I want to share here what we're planning - and debate some of the big issues. You can also follow me on .
Comment number 1.
At 13th Sep 2011, Jordan D wrote:Two good moments at the Emirates on Saturday, Roger: in addition to Mo appearing, you'd be remiss to fail to mention the wonderful Arsenal Ladies team who have already won two trophies this year! (Both were presented at half time).
Don't our gold rush days tend to happen on the middle weekend when the athletics is starting and the cycling is peaking? What we need is an early banker (to avoid the Vancouver syndrome for the Canadians when the "when will it happen" issue pops up) and then for the media to not overcook it and remind people that are our big potentials are later in the fortnight ...
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Comment number 2.
At 13th Sep 2011, Archleftback wrote:Isn't it the case, though, that Britain has had quite a lot of success across a range of sports lately? Haven't there been world golds in sports such as triathlon and Taekwando-I know judo has been disappointing- and hasn't even that arch pessimist and bad mouther of ritish sport, Guardian columnist Kevin Mitchell, referred to excellent prospects of British boxers?
Isn't it also the case that countries like Australia depend on a relatively limited pool of talent? look at their performance at Daegu when Hooker,Deakes, Watt, and Samuels failed to deliver.
I think GB can be reasonably confident -though not complacent-about equalling and probably surpassing its fourth place and 19 golds of Beijing.
Sage advice about not getting to hysterically despondent in early days, though.
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Comment number 3.
At 14th Sep 2011, Tom Blight wrote:Totally agree with Archleftback above, while we must be cautious, it's also easy to be too pessimistic about our prospects. The one thing that is easy to forget is that in so called 'lesser' sports such as rowing and shooting, we still seem to have strength in depth. The real question in 2012 will be whether the public get behind these less well known athletes, as much of Team GBs success will come outside the Olympic Stadium.
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Comment number 4.
At 14th Sep 2011, taffy6270 wrote:A cav victory would set the games up brilliantly for the UK as Nicole did in Beijing. I feel at these olympics we have more chances in a wider variety of sports. As an earlier poster commented, we are relatively strong in Taekwando and other so called minority sports. Sailing and Rowing will be the main hub of our medal hall along with cycling, though changes to the make up of olympic track cycling events have slightly weakened our dominant position from Beijing.There has also been improvements in the strength in depth of our Swimming and Gymnastic teams. GO TEAM GB!!!
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Comment number 5.
At 14th Sep 2011, HCumber wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 6.
At 14th Sep 2011, Archleftback wrote:I would just like to record my full agreement with the eminently sane and judicious comment made by Tom Blight in comment #3 above.
I would aso like to add that I think that the likes of Fran Halsall will come good in London and that Jessica Ennis will prove to have successfully addressed the questions posed recently by Chernova.
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Comment number 7.
At 15th Sep 2011, Roger Mosey - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director, London 2012 wrote:I'm not sure I can cope with all this agreement and mutual compliments in comments! But I hope you're right about Team GB's prospects.
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Comment number 8.
At 15th Sep 2011, Archleftback wrote:You must be quietly confident about GB prospects yourself Roger. Be honest now.
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Comment number 9.
At 15th Sep 2011, Roger Mosey - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director, London 2012 wrote:Yes, I am - though having worked in News for many years I'm also conscious of "the narrative" and the way it swings from triumph to frustration and back again. That potentially adds to the pressures of a home Games. An early golden start would be ideal, even though as Jordan says there are some great prospects in the middle weekend.
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Sep 2011, Fedster wrote:³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's hotels for Olympic staff who live just eight miles from the stadium
Read more:
Roger what is your take on this story?
How would you justify it?
Yes a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Source has tried to justify it but should we believe this ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ source, because as our previous conversations stated a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Source could be anyone.
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Comment number 11.
At 18th Sep 2011, Fedster wrote:Just to add as well as a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Source a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ spokeswoman also spoke to the Daily Mail, why didnt they name the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ spokeswoman, i can understand not naming the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Source, buy why say you have spoken to a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ spokeswoman and not name this so called ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ spokeswoman?
Where is the logic?
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Comment number 12.
At 18th Sep 2011, Roger Mosey - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director, London 2012 wrote:Fedster - a post in response is about to go up. Just on journalistic practice: attributing to a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ spokesman/woman should mean it's an official comment from our press office.
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