Qatar World Cup: It Is Hard To Know What Is Real At An Ever Creepier Tournament
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times, which has been written by Owen Slot, who is Chief Sports Writer of The Times.
This is the sub-heading to the article.
It is a disgrace that, less than a month before kick-off, we still don’t know how many workers died in the construction of the facilities
I agree with Owen Slot.
The article also details what I consider to be other dubious practices.
Fans from around the world have been recruited as a PR army to report anything derogatory to Qatar.
This is a paragraph from the report.
This is the part in the agreement where these recruits are obliged, effectively, to spy on their fellow fans: “You agree to report any offensive, degrading or abusive comments to the SC and, if possible, to take a screenshot of those comments and then promptly delete them.”
The SC is The Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
I can see this and Qatar’s views on human rights, homosexuality and alcohol, leading to serious trouble.
On my several trips abroad to support football teams, there has general been good humour and manners between the two groups of fans.
One trip, that fans on the way out might go terribly badly was England’s trip to Belarus in October 2008.
Everything went well because everyone wanted a good time and gestures on both sides diffused tensions.
- The good people of Minsk helped visiting fans navigate the city.
- A group of us were made very welcome in their excellent War Museum.
- British fans laid a St. George’s Cross wreath on the War Memorial, which was much appreciated.
- The Belarussian police were passing local kids into the England fans to get their programmes signed.
- The hotel were excellent with my gluten-free food, after I gave them instructions in Russian.
- Several locals engaged me in conversation to test their English.
I also wrote a piece for the East Anglian Daily Times about the trip. It is in two parts.
Belarus to me indicates how the good people of a country, with help from a sensible police, can still organise things in a friendly manner.
The Birmingham Bull – 5th August 2022
The non-human star of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was a mechanical bull.
This article on the BBC is entitled Commonwealth Games: Scots Creator Reveals Secrets Of Metal Bull.
These three introductory paragraphs give an overview of the design.
The secrets of the mechanical bull that wowed audiences during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games have been revealed by its Scottish creator.
The 10m high scrap metal sculpture was one of the stars of the celebration in Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
Michael Dollar, of creative model makers Artem, said it took six people to operate the giant structure.
The BBC also revealed today, that the bull would be parked for a few days in Centenary Square outside the Library of Birmingham.
So as my day had fallen apart, I got on a Chiltern train to Birmingham and took these pictures.
Note.
- The first picture has the The Library Of Birmingham in the background, with its lattice frontage and gold dome.
- The Bull seems to have been built on a loader chassis.
- There were a large crowd in Centenary Square looking at the Bull.
I have never seen a public work of art surrounded by such a crowd, most of whom were taking selfies or traditional pictures.
This article on the BBC is entitled Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Ceremony Bull To Stay.
The BBC article says this about the future of the bull.
A giant mechanical bull that became the star of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games opening ceremony it set to stay in the city.
The 10m sculpture is on display in Centenary Square after its debut last week, although its future has been less clear.
Largely made of foam, it was due to be dismantled at the end of the Games, sparking public outcry.
But Birmingham City Council has confirmed the bull has won a reprieve.
It will stay in the square until the end of September before being moved indoors.
This wonderful work of engineering art, is far too good and is now too well-loved to be scrapped.
As it needs to go inside, why not bring it inside High Speed Two’s new Curzon Street station, to greet passengers visiting Birmingham?
A German View Of The Euro 2022 Final
This article on DW.COM is German View of the match.
A French Banker’s View Of The French Police
After the violence at the weekend in Paris, I am reminded of a meeting with a French banker.
Many years ago, I used to do business with a French banker; Andre, who lived and worked in Geneva.
Whether, there had been an excess of violence by French police at the time, I can’t remember, but in a restaurant in Geneva we got talking about the different between French police and other forces in Europe. Andre stated that if you join the French police, you immediately lose all your friends, as no-one wants a policeman as a friend, such is the distrust of the police.
Andre had worked all over Europe, and felt that only in France, is there this attitude to the police.
Does this closed society of the French police lead to them going over the top, as they regularly seem to do?
I’d love to know what the French police think of refugees! I wonder, if they see them as a supreme nuisance and feel the sooner, they have left French soil the better.
Ukraine Crisis: Fifa And Uefa Suspend All Russian Clubs And National Teams
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This first paragraph says it all.
Russian football clubs and national teams have been suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
It looks like it is a complete ban from both Fifa and Uefa.
Vlad the Invader/Mad/Poisoner (Delete as appropriate!), is reportedly not amused.
My father, who had something to do with the League of Nations, felt that we didn’t act soon enough over Hitler and Stalin and I could argue we should have acted with tough sanctions after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014.
Putin Loses A Decisive Poll!
The Times is asking if Russia should be banned from international sport on its web site.
This is a screen capture.
It appears that Putin can’t win them all!
Ukraine Conflict: Champions League Final Moved from Russia To Paris
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
UEFA has done the right thing!
How will Putin get his own back on UEFA?
He could stage the Anti-Nazi World Cup by inviting Belarus, Brazil, China, Cuba, Iran, Kazakstan, Myanmar, Syria, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Russian Grand Prix Cancelled Following Invasion Of Ukraine
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
Formula One has done the right thing!
How will Putin get his own back on Formula One?
He could ban Formula One for ever from Russia, but then somewhere else like Ukraine, Poland or one of the Baltic States would happily stage a Grand Prix.
Novac Djokovic Is Screwed, Glued And Tattooed By The BBC
This article on the BBC is entitled Novak Djokovic: Doubts Over Timing Of Covid Test.
This is the introductory paragraph.
BBC research has cast doubt on the timing of the positive Covid test Novak Djokovic used to enter Australia to try to compete in the Australian Open.
The BBC have done some impeccable research on the tests and their dates.
Read it, as nothing they did was difficult, once they had details of all the tests.
As my old company accountant would say.
Novac Djokovic Is Screwed, Glued And Tattooed.
But then the accountant had ways of making money and numbers talk and perform!
In my life, I’ve had three accountants as friends and all have shown me simple ways to detect fraud.
One even showed me how to dress up a spreadsheet, so that a banker would believe it. As he had been Chief Accountant of one the most famous names in British industry, I always wrote my software to his rules.
The Anonymous Widower 