For all the commercialisation, for all the allegations of drug taking, for all the interweaving with politics, the Olympic Games remain special. The soccer World Cup has grown to rival the Olympics as sport’s greatest event, but the World Cup has become bloated and, as it expands to 48 teams, could collapse under the weight of its own self-importance. The recent Euros gave an insight into the likely direction of the World Cup, as quality was sacrificed for the sake of quantity. Track and field is the centrepiece of the Olympics and provided iconic moments from the era of Pat O’Callaghan to Ronnie Delaney to John Treacy to Sonia O’Sullivan. Rochelle touched the lives of so many, including people who never met her face to face.

Source: The Herald August 08, 2024 17:30 UTC