Why do they bother?

They bother because they've invested a hell of a lot of time and effort and made a lot of sacrifices to compete in their chosen discipline at the very highest level.

In countries like Ireland, winter sports are an extremely niche enterprise. In my opinion, an Irish bobsleigh team placing in the top twenty in a great achievement, considering that describing it as a minority sport would be generous in the extreme. I'm living here in Canada, and last night in my place of business I was having a bit of banter with locals about the concept of an Irish Winter Olympic team and that we have six athletes representing the country. Lo and behold, the Irish girls came on live television after the US and the Canadians and the Swiss and the Russians, and everyone stopped and watched. That they were over three seconds outside the lead wasn't a factor for the Canadians who watched, it was the fact that a team from outside the traditional countries with a tiny population and no history of winter sports were competing at the highest level. Alas, this appears to be lost of some of the people at home, who know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

Here, the level of expectation that surrounds each home athlete is enormous at the moment. Although if they don't win gold, sure there's a little disappointment, but Canadians are generally reflective rather than begrudging. They know that the athlete gave their all, represented their country with pride and honour, and is competing at a level that 99.99% of people wouldn't even bother dreaming of.

I can bet you that the thing top athletes in any sport respect more than achievments, records and medals is courage and determination. Of course it's easier to be the best when you are a child blessed with natural talent and your family have the resources to provide you with top training and equipment and all the opportunities you need to succeed. But what about the people who just taking part is a daily struggle? What about Marjan Kalhor? Should be be denied a chance to be the best she can be because she'd unlikely to medal? What about Eric Moussambani, who had never seen an Olympic swimming pool, let alone have the chance to swim in one?

I don't buy into misty-eyed romance stories that the media sell when it comes to sport, but last night a young girl took the ice, and no matter what the result, she's an Olympic champion in my eyes. Joannie Rochette is a 24 year old figure skater from Montreal, and has probably spent most of her life practicing to skate at the very highest level. Everything was going to plan, she was in Vancouver, feeling good, and her friends and family were arriving in to see her skate. Her parents arrived in Vancouver last Saturday, but within a few hours her mother had a heart attack and died early Sunday morning. She didn't even get to see her daughter before she passed away.

Now Joannie is ranked #5 in the world, and a good shot at a medal, but if she had decided to withdraw after that tragedy no one would have batted an eyelid. No fan or athlete would have berated her for giving up, or questioned her determination had she quit. She decided to go on, and performed her short program last night. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through this; standing out in the middle of a vast bright rink, spotlights on you, waiting for the music to start, the television coverage being beamed around the world and a packed house of fans and media. Looking into the vast darkness of the stands, it must have been a very lonely place. But she persevered, and nailed her routine. She stands third halfway through the competition.

She may falter in the more difficult long program, but no matter what her position on the scoreboard, she's already dealt with more during these Olympics than anyone else we know of. And for that, she is a champion.

Perhaps the OP would favour a situation where the top three athletes/teams in a chosen sport are sent to the Olympics/World Cup/World Championships etc and they battle it out for the spots on the podium. Sure why bother sending anyone else if they're not going to medal? Because the inherent value of sport is not about being the best, it's about being the best that you can be.

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that
whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.

I cant relate. Too busy browsing images of Lindsay Vonn....

2009/ 2010 World Rankings
They no way the worst team in existence. They made it to the Olympics on merit, which is one up on the Aussies who had to complain to get let in.

InTheTrees wrote: »

nice. It reminds me of the Buzz lightyear quote from toy story "flying is just falling in a controlled way".

I think he stole that line from Ford Prefect. "Flying is throwing yourself at the ground and missing", or something along those lines.

Pittens wrote: »

On the subject of whether the OP ever got into a Bobsleigh.

I think 5 or 6 Irish people from Dalkey have ever got into a Bobsleigh, and they are at the Olympics. So it is unlikely.

That could be because there's no interest in it here. Having an Irish team partake in any sort of sport is a good thing, it shows youngsters that they can achieve something, even if it's prizeless

I know a good few people that started playing cricket as a hobby just because of Ireland's involvement in the World Cup a few years ago,
it's better to feel that something is worth doing rather than assuming it's not worth trying

bonerm wrote: »

When I see two black girls from Ghana dominating the ladies game I might take your point.

Because black girls from compton are known to have full access to daddys chequebook and hopping on planes?

This one, you lose.