Why the tunes are so wrong at the Games

Charlie Whelan13 April 2012

I didn't think I'd watch any of the Commonwealth Games especially as England were doing so well in the cricket. However, all the medals have got me excited: if the English don't get a gong the Welsh or Scots probably will.

The highlight for me was not the big stars like Paula Radcliffe or Jonathan Edwards but Mick Jones winning gold in the hammer. And he hasn't even been chosen for the British team for the European Championships.

The athletes have rightly complained that as soon as the competition is over the bulldozers are moving in to dig up the track.

Extra seats will then be put in to convert the stadium into Manchester City's new ground.

This means that the taxpayer and Lottery punter is paying for City to have a brand new stadium where there will never be another athletics meeting.

I'm not in favour of football grounds with tracks round them but you would have thought that, in this case, they could have designed it so movable seats could be put over the track.

But the thing that has really got me annoyed is nothing to do with facilities.

All the competitors seem to like competing for the home nations but the problem with Britain having separate teams is that the "suits" who run these things didn't know what to do about the national anthems.

During the World Cup, supporters were all fed up with having to sing the British anthem when we were supporting England. Why couldn't we have our own song like the Scots? Apart from anything else God Save the Queen is a dreadful song to sing.

I waited with bated breath to see what tune the authorities had chosen for us when England won their first gold. To my horror, it was the anthem of imperialism, Land of Hope and Glory.

I couldn't believe it. Perhaps the men in blazers thought this was still the Empire Games where only whites were allowed to compete. No wonder the English athletes look so embarrassedon the podium and the spectators-mumble the words.

Even if they knew them they wouldn't attempt to sing them. It is a thoroughly inappropriate song - like playing the Sash when Northern Ireland win a medal.

It's time we had a proper anthem and I can think of nothing better than Jerusalem. Some may say that it's a bit too much of a socialist song but if it's good enough for the Women's Institute it's good enough for me.

I wondered if the same people who decided on the anthem also included the Grenadier Guards in the Opening Ceremony.

I thought we were supposed to have doves of peace not symbols of war.

Blank the clubs if they demand photo rights

Evening Standard

It hasn't happened here yet, but in Scotland last week every paper refused to print pictures from the game between Celtic and Ajax because the Scottish club demanded complete control over the rights to any photographs taken within the ground.

They were also seeking the power to use and distribute pictures taken in any way they saw fit.

Many football fans may say, "So what, who cares about a row between the papers and a Scottish club?"

But they should care because Celtic have probably been acting as a stalking horse for the big English clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal.

The clubs obviously want the rights because they can then make more money, but this dispute is not just about that.

As the Standard reported only last year, the Premier League refused to allow anyone to show the television pictures of the incident where Eric Cantona does his kung fu kick at a Palace fan. We were able to show people the incident because the Standard had a photographer at the game but if the clubs had their way, this too would be censored.

Players are also now getting in on the "image rights" issue. This is what delayed David Beckham signing a new contract with Manchester United. Next thing you know Beckham will be trying to stop us seeing any photos or TV footage of him missing an open goal.

United are bound to lead the way over image rights because so many more people want to watch them play - apparently their recent friendly against Bournemouth drew an audience of millions on MUTV. When United decide to opt out of the TV deal with the rest of the Premiership and Sky they will have even more control over what we can see and hear.

They will probably even have their own friendly commentators and "experts" panel who will be sacked if they say anything critical. Thank goodness they will never be able to shut the papers up.

Time to give Sugar one more chance

The fine of £30,000 is ridiculous since he would have been paid that for writing the article in the first place.

The solution to Spurs' problems is simple: Bring back Alan Sugar, all is forgiven.

At least the fans knew who to blame when he was in charge and now that he has confessed that his biggest mistake was to take on George Graham, he should be given another chance.

Since the shares he sold ENIC are now virtually worthless he could buy them all for a song and take back complete control. "We all want Sugar out" always had a better ring to it than "We want ENIC investment company out" which is what the fans will soon be singing.

There is no way that ENIC is going to spend the sort of money required to give Glenn Hoddle the chance to win anything so the sooner they go the better.

And why not get rid of David Pleat? What does he do apart from annoy the manager?

His salary should save a few bob, too.

Suited but not booted

The stewards just sat and watched as a man in smart clothes walked on to escort Sachin Tendulkar back to the pavilion.

Apparently they all thought he was from Channel 4. No doubt if he was wearing a turban he would have been jumped on within seconds.

Breen theme strikes chord

Noticing that the local Korean paper had Breen down as wearing every number in the squad, they adapted 'Yellow Submarine' like this: "We all live in a team of Gary Breens."

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