After the Olympics this is the world's biggest Athletics event, but a quick straw poll around my office found that fewer than half the folks know where it is happening, and not a single person has watched even 10 mins of it.

What happened to the good old days of Foster / Coe / Ovett / MackembastadCram / Daley etc? I used to be glued to it, could name a good half dozen of the runners at any middle distance event; at a push could name some World Record holders. Now? Hard to recognise any of the Brits, let alone the rest of the world's finest.

Anyone interested at all?

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Answers

Athletics riP?

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Nick I used to be the same way, loved it. I think that since Britain produces so few athletes of superior quality the attention of the nation has all but evaporated. Like when henman was in the semi's everyone wanted to win, afterwards the hardly anyone notices. Seems like we are a fickle nation of glory hunters.....jokin, i was jokin. sorry.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Have watched some. Sweden might do their best World Championships ever so the interest is quite big here. Watched the 100 meters last night, hoped Montgomery should beat Greene, but no.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Had a busy week , socially that is , but when able have watched the athletes from Edmonton non stop, along with wife I would not miss it.

Disapointed that Denise Lewis cried off, Iuan Thomas was clearly unfit , I can understand harking back to the golden era of Cram, Ovett Coe etc, long gone Im afraid , the emerging nations have overtook the Brits in this dept.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

"Seems like we are a fickle nation of glory hunters"

No, that's absolutely right. Most people don't take any interest in athletics for, I guess, some of these reasons: individual sport is trickier to associate with...never seen Sally Gunnell's Barmy Army / Gateshead team on tour; most kids are crap at athletics, and only ever did the events on Sports Day or in PE (unlike football where most kids are crap, but continue to play later in playground, after school etc; it's not much of a spectator sport (100m is over in 10 secs, field events go on for ever, and long distance running is the most pointless thing to do...10,000 metres? surely after 1 lap we will all know who's quickest. How on earth do you know if you're any good at such a huge long run????

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

I know where it'e being held, good old Edmonton Alberta, about 200 mile north from here. That is our "Sunderland" although it is a nice enough city. Lots of TV coverage here, but keying on the Canadian athletes.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

That's Mister MackembastadCram to you yer cheeky Northumbrian get ;o)

I was watching it last night, thinking "sh1t, I can't believe the sun's still up in London..."

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

I was watching it on the net this morning Japan time when Edwards won the gold. It reminded me of that time I watched the snooker on Ceefax..

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001

Christan Olsson second behind Edwards. Wee!

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001

Maybe if he could get Edwards to trip up then he could become as famous as Garderud (sp) !!

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001

let me get this straight, Sudden. This Christian guy is pissing behind Edwards? Any particular reason? Thank goodness he's not a heathen.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001

Hehe ya MacBeth. I'm impressed with your knowledge.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001

my Swedish hosts were too when we were across. I used to be an athletics anorak of knowledge as well as a footballing statto.

I was slightly surpried that there'd been no one since to win a gold, as I felt the high jump guy (Sjolund ?) must have won something, but seemingly not.

Denis Coates who ran for Gateshead was 5th (ish) in 76 which was why I was so interested in the race.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001

Well, Patrik Sjoberg won a gold medal sometimes...gotta check that.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2001