Yep 16 athletes.
Yep 16 athletes.
GB had two women at the WC and are sending a team of four to the Europeans in a few weeks. Similar story in the mens event. Steve Cram commentating says it’s disappointing and feels that they should have focused on the Commonwealths given that it’s being held at hoe
who's watching the men'.s. Liam adams catching 3rd with 2.2 left.
such a shame, especially with the huge supports and crowds out on the course. would've been fantastic for the home nation athletes. unfortunately a victim of the scheduling - GB have 6 men and 4 women entered in the Euro champ marathon in a few weeks, where a Euro team medal is being targeted. Perhaps some prefer the prestige of a GB vest too.
Liam 5 seconds behind a medal in 4th.
Aussie women might go 1,2,3!
Yeah, I can't believe how many people were out on the course. Birmingham really supported all of the marathon events.
I think this is what helped -
1. Timing. The races were at a decent time on Saturday morning. Most people are not in work, and it wasn't too early like 6am. They started the races at 9:30am and 10:30am.
2. Weather. It was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. It was cloudy and about 20C. Perfect weather to stand outside. No risk of sunburn. No rain. The same as being inside - perfect room temperature.
3. Central location. The marathon courses started and finished in the city centre and went down the Bristol road where a huge amount of people live. The course also went past a large number of pubs I notice. I wonder if they factored that in? With the massive rise in beer gardens and outdoor seating. Having said that, I think they are using the course from the Birmingham half marathon and that predates that. Anyway, this course is very easy to get to, on a lot of bus routes, and it also goes past a lot of homes. Birmingham is the second biggest city in the UK.
4. Publicity. It has been advertised well locally.
Forgot one of the most important things.
5. It's free. Everyone is struggling with the massive increase in prices of everything. Gas and electricity is up 50%. Food prices are up massively. This is a non-ticketed free event. Birmingham loves a free event and they love to get behind people and support them. They also love sport. So people turned out to watch and cheer the athletes.
16 women and 20 men.
How often do we actually watch outside of the top 20 finishers anyway though?
I do agree it's a shame that the field wasn't larger, but from a TV point of view the race appeared exactly the same as it always does, and from a crowd pov I've never, ever seen crowds as good as that, it was amazing. There were supporters all of the way around the course, even the quiet bits. Families, kids, people milling around, flags, people had put tables down to sit out, it was great!
There won’t be a CG in 10 years time, C list event
CommGames are pretty much an irrelevance and a "who cares" these days, gives the host city a bit of an expensive feel good factor, which the local pollies like because they think it reflects on them and also gives them a opportunity to strut their stuff, but the games ain't much good for anything else.
Next one is Melbourne again and that will probably be the last one, not worth the expense.
It is what it is. wrote:
CommGames are pretty much an irrelevance and a "who cares" these days, gives the host city a bit of an expensive feel good factor, which the local pollies like because they think it reflects on them and also gives them a opportunity to strut their stuff, but the games ain't much good for anything else.
Next one is Melbourne again and that will probably be the last one, not worth the expense.
It's unlikely to end any time soon, don't see why it would.
As long as the old world wants to remember their colonial past and pay homage to the Queen, there will continue to be CG. Only thing that keeps some member of the club away are expenses. Countries like Canada, Oz, India cant get enough of the Brits. East Africa will show up to medal in distance events.
This show will go on.
I think for the Marathon at events like the Commonwealth Games and Pan Am Games, etc., they should allow any country that wants to send five people (within limits and qualifying times of 2:20 for men and 2:40 for women.)
trollism wrote:
It's unlikely to end any time soon, don't see why it would.
The sun never sets on the British empire, until it does.
Once Elizabeth II passes and King Charles III takes the throne, I think that the Commonwealth will disintegrate. She was very respected and the younger generation is not respected nor have they earned any respect.
Great run by Jess Stenson for the win. Why didn't the UK have a full team?
Anyone notice that there were zero New Zealand athletes in either marathon event?
Don't know if they're injured, and/or still in Athletics New Zealand's bad books, but the Robertson twins would have made it interesting in the men's.