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Archives for October 2010

Softening lower level could make Scots harder to beat

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John Beattie | 18:52 UK time, Sunday, 31 October 2010

I don't know how this would work, but have patience with me. Perhaps rugby at a lower level has to be "softened" to attract new players.

In fact, is, so prevalent in other countries but lost without trace here in the UK in relative terms, a key selling point for rugby? Or am I barking up a tree, or just barking?

Former rugby player and I took part in a night at my club, , on Saturday evening. We both did our bit (unpaid, your honour, except for a bottle of lovely whisky) and then it was question-and-answer time.

In the audience were two great men of Glasgow rugby, Chas Afuakwah and Colin Guthrie, both former Glasgow players. And the questions they put forward had the same two themes as many of the other questions.

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Glasgow's time to do Commonwealth Games proud

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John Beattie | 09:40 UK time, Saturday, 16 October 2010

Now it's turn to deliver. And how the people of Glasgow and Scotland react will make or break the .

What few in Glasgow will appreciate is the scrutiny we will be put under in the lead up to - and then during the Games. Overseas TV crews will be looking for our , our failings, , our and our relationship with England.

The Scotland I know is a diverse and happy place and there are a few basic lessons to be learned from .

The first is that the local population and the volunteers have a huge role to play in whether the Games succeed. Delhi should have been a disaster, but it was a delight, principally thanks to the people of the city. They were unfailingly helpful and courteous, and I know Glasgow folk will be as well.

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The dangers of delightful Delhi were overhyped

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John Beattie | 12:05 UK time, Wednesday, 13 October 2010

The West overhyped the dangers of Delhi on several fronts.

Liz McColgan predicted that athletes would skip the 2010 Commonwealth Games because they would be scared of getting sick. Just how much effect did warnings like hers have on the decision of some to wimp out?

Although the Games have been chaotic, India, and particularly Delhi, has been a winner.
Without tempting fate, Delhi (we were told by someone who should know his safety and statistics but because of his job has to remain nameless) is safer than London.

Yes, it'll be hard to forget the little girl who does backward somersaults through a hoop at the same set of traffic lights every morning to earn money.

The image of homeless families sleeping roadside will be imprinted on my mind forever, as will the small children calling us "uncle" and putting hand to mouth in a universally understood plea to be fed.

And I can't figure out if drivers smoking illegal substances as they crash into roundabouts will ever take off in Glasgow.

But athletes are in a protected bubble and I, as a broadcaster, have felt more susceptible to a mugging in Glasgow than in Delhi.

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Building a winning mentality

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John Beattie | 11:32 UK time, Monday, 11 October 2010

How is it that Scotland can win the medals it does? Our athletes, at times, defy logic.

A few years ago I met the Samoan rugby team, who were to play Scotland at Murrayfield the next day.

They had been to see Braveheart, that accurate portrayal of everyday Scottish life brought so lovingly to the big screen by Mel Gibson.

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India must learn valuable lessons

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John Beattie | 13:45 UK time, Friday, 8 October 2010

Sorry, but the level of organisation at these Games has not been acceptable, and somebody has to say it.

I've said all along that India has the right to host the . I've been really positive about the Indian people and their openness, and negative about the west's squeamishness around heat, poverty and the third world element of a country they once ruled.

Athletes who are here were right to come to India and most have. No doubt their lives have been enriched in the process, as mine has.

Those who stayed away missed out on the must culturally diverse sporting event I have ever attended.

But India is learning a lesson here. It has to do better than this if it wants to put on international competitions.

I've heard a lot about new India being let down by old India, and I think that's right. India needs to harness its business brains to get out of this logistical, bureaucratic, tangled mess.

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Lack of athletic progress is a worry for Scots

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John Beattie | 20:10 UK time, Thursday, 7 October 2010

I wish they'd break more records at the Games and show they are moving forward.

When here in Delhi he did so in a time of 10.12 secs. Come on. Allan Wells, the Scottish sprinter, won a gold medal thirty years ago at the Moscow Olympics, and he was faster. His time was 10.11 secs.

The Commonwealth record for the 100m is held by Ato Boldon at 9.88 secs and was set in 1998.

Debbie Ferguson from the Bahamas holds the women's equivalent from Manchester in 10.91 secs. Aussie Sally Pearson won this year in 11.28 secs.

By the way, long jumper Myra Nimmo is the current Scottish record holder at her event and she set the mark way back in 1973 at 6.43m.

And no Scottish woman has run faster than Helen Golden did over 100m and that was way back in 1974 when she clocked 11.4 secs.

So a Scottish woman's time from 36 years ago means that she would have finished fourth in Delhi, beating both English finalists in the process.

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United through injury at the Commonwealth Games

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John Beattie | 16:32 UK time, Wednesday, 6 October 2010

What is the meaning of sport?

Sport could be a force for good in the world.

Today we went to see a project that gives the poorer children of India the entitlement to play.

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Delhi's great, but where are all the spectators?

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John Beattie | 18:32 UK time, Monday, 4 October 2010

The lack of fans turning up to watch events at the Games is not good. Frankly, countries like China force their populations to go, the Aussies would buy a ticket for two flies racing, and the Brits can spot value for money. Please, India, fill the stands.

But let's be positive.

All in all, Glasgow has a task ahead in trying to live up to India's lead. It was Charan Gill, a friend of mine and successful businessman in Glasgow, who said all along that Delhi and the East End of Glasgow would be just the same because both are full of people in tracksuits who can't speak English.

Actually, India is a massive English-speaking country.

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Can the Commonwealth brand be salvaged?

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John Beattie | 18:42 UK time, Sunday, 3 October 2010

Commonwealth 2010 has damaged the Games "brand". The damage wasn't solely inflicted by India and its inability to finish projects in time, nor by corrupt politicians - my you surprise me - no, the brand has been damaged by athletes who were scared to come here or didn't think it was important enough and, as I said in the last blog, the "civilised" West's toffee-nosed look down at the Indian way.

Everyone was assured that if the village wasn't ready then top hotels would be paid for.

As there is extra pressure on we Scots to make out that the Games remain every bit as important as before, but key athletes told us that, actually, they don't think that's the case.

Therefore they can't be. Some top athletes have snubbed India and the Commonwealth concept.

The huge job now is to rebuild this brand for Glasgow 2014. It is, to some extent, up to my little country to persuade the greats of the world stage that the event is something you have to attend.

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A video tour of a vibrant city

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John Beattie | 15:53 UK time, Friday, 1 October 2010

I thought in this edition that I'd let pictures and sound do the talking.

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