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[RC] Olympics and Security - Kristene SmutsMy thoughts on this ..... Can anybody remember how boring marathon running was? Those guys who start at one end, maybe in the stadium, and not to be seen until 5 hours afterwards, when they all come in in drips and drabs? DEFINITELY not a spectator sport ... did somebody mention paint drying? Now it's a whole new ball game - strategically placed cameras along the route; at water points; mounted on a motorcycle filming the front-runners. Viewer ship has sky rocketed as well as participation in the sport. Our Comrades Marathon is a prime example - first race in 1921 with 34 runners, last year we had in excess of 50,000 (can't find the exact number just now). If you want to read more about it, go to www.comrades.com. And what about the Le Mans 24 hour? Cars going around in circles with nothing much else happening. I know of people who will sit through the entire 24 hours! The argument that the cameras will spook the horses? If the horses are expected to perform at that level of competition, then they should be used to a whole bunch of unusual things - if not, the rider / trainer / owner will be found wanting. As to security ... we've already seen that one prince or sheik can have a heap of personal security arrangements and I don't doubt that any new route would be scrutinised, dissected, inspected. Half the problem solved! The more of the security conscious riders pitch up, the easier the security arrangements will be from an IOC point of view! From a warm, sunny South Africa <evil grin> Kristene =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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