But the sporting action actually starts today as Team GB kick off the women’s football tournament against New Zealand at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. But questions should be posed about whether football should be included in the Olympic Games at all.
The Olympic Games should represent the pinnacle of sporting competition. Ask a rower, long jumper, diver or virtually any other athlete what they dream of winning and they will respond Olympic gold. Ask a footballer, especially in Europe, and competing at the Games probably doesn’t even register.
While it is fair to say that the exposure given to the women’s tournament helps grow its popularity (a record crowd is expected for the opening game), the same justification can’t be used for the men’s game.
From the pointless rules restricting the men’s tournament to mostly under-23s to the ramshackle way Team GB’s side has been thrown together, Olympic football appears to be leaving everybody cold, despite being hosted in the biggest football loving nation on earth.
Criticised for excluding David Beckham, Team GB boss Stuart Pearce appeared unconvinced about the former England captain’s ability to handle tournament football, only to then include the creaky Ryan Giggs, who is even older and was seemingly called up on former reputation alone.
Players like Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard would undoubtedly offer more than Giggs, but remain sat at home. With decision making like this it’s no surprise that thousands of tickets remain unsold, even for Team GB’s fixtures.
A convincing friendly defeat against Brazil last week did little to stop the apathy and Gareth Bale’s withdrawal through “injury”, before happily playing in a friendly for Tottenham, shows even the players aren’t taking it seriously.
Perhaps the Olympic organisers should consider switching the men’s football tournament to amateurs only, much in the same way Olympic boxing works. That would be more in the spirit of the games, and would prevent the event from looking like the beautiful game’s unloved cousin.
