logo XVIII Commonwealth Games
Blog: 17th March 2006
[line]
Home [line] About [line] News [line] Quotes [line] Images [line] Contact Us [line] FAQ [line] Links [line] Archive
[line]

XVIII Commonwealth Games Blog: 17th March 2006


One of the most exciting things about these kinds of international sporting events is the way things can go so far against expectations - and they usually do. We always endure months of hype over this competitor or that one who' expected to break records or collect an unprecedented number of medals. And of course these Games are no exception. Still, it's always rather painful when the victim of an upset is the host nation - and Australia really had to keep a game face last night in the swimming pool.

They came here with expectations of cleaning up - taking almost all of the gold medals - but last night they had to settle for just one. Even their highly touted freestyle whiz kid Libby Lenton had to be happy with silver, when Scotland's Caitlin McClatchey crushed a Games record to claim gold. And Scotland kept cheering as David Carry snatched the men’s 400-metre freestyle title. Sure, the Aussies collected loads of silvers and bronzes, but it kind of put a shadow over their triumphant expectations.

And there were other upsets too - in cycling ad gymnastics and so on. These are the things that make major international sporting events such fun to watch. Anything can happen. And as a journalist, it's great fun to be right in the middle of it all. Although it's also a litle frustrating, since we can't watch everything at once like the fans at home who get to switch back and forth between venues. Unless we sit hunched over our computers all day (and believe me, there's plenty of that), we don't usually find out who won what until long after the fact.

My favourite story yesterday was about the 24-year-old Australian heavyweight boxer Brad Pitt - yes, that's his real name, and his teammates are apparently merciless in tormenting him about it. They've nicknamed him "Hollywood", and he gets his chance to show his stuff on the world stage today in Melbourne. Who knows - maybe he is a star in the making.

Rich Cline


Blog entries:
13th Mch   14th Mch   16th Mch   17th Mch   18th Mch   19th Mch   20th Mch   21st Mch   22nd Mch   23rd Mch   24th Mch   25th Mch   26th Mch  


[line]

If you have any comments on the site please Email our Webmaster

Last Updated: March 18 2006 09:28:56.