A message to other countries looking to UK Sports

Hi, my name is Steven Pratt, i am 36 years old and I grew up in the UK 1976-2000. I was very FORTUNATE to have had a decent sporting career as a junior swimmer. (8-14 years old). Winning literally hundreds of races including over 20 Hereford and Worcestershire titles, and a douzen Midland District and National titles. I was pretty much unbeatable in Butterfly and Backstroke at the age of 11.

However, after my sports career ended and I could no longer train 8 times a week, i was advised that SPORTS should be my study, and so i studied sports at college, completing a 3 year 'Sports and Leisure studies' course at Stourbridge college. (1993) I gained employment as a Life Guard at the new Crystal Leisure centre in Stourbridge, which replaced the legendary old pool with a new Multi-million pound fun pool: not much fun for serious competitive swimmers though)

After a year or so as a lifeguard I went on to teach swimming in the Dudley area to youngsters for around two years. (and for a while at Brierley Hill Swimming baths, which was demolished under suspect circumstances January 2006. Please seach this blog for 'Brierley Hill' to see more details). All my official (paid) swimming related works ended when i left for America on an intellectual journey. (I should also add that I once gave free swimming lessons to under privaliged children at Layola University, New Orleans in 2003.

Something clicked inside me, when i returned from America to the UK after 4 years swimming in rivers and freshwater lakes such as lake Tahoe and the Feather River, both in California. I realised that swimming in the UK is pretty much limited by the swimming facilities provided, and those facilities are being demolished, at least in my local DUDLEY METRO area. This is a fact i have observed over the last 6 years. This blog lays a testament to these facts.

Stourbridge Baths, Brierley Hill Baths and Coseley Baths have all been demolished, thats 3 pools that would be full of local swimming talent, training for competitive meets and possibly our future National champions? Water Polo, Sychronized swimming and diving could have been praticed in these pools if only they would have been saved. I hope not to sound like a moaning old bitter man, going on about what might have been and what coulda' or shoulda' happened. I find most political activity does not agree with my personal outlook on life, community, health, fitness and goodwill.

In the case of the destruction of swimming facilities by the local Dudley Metropolitan Council (Dudley Metro Culture Police) I cannot say it LOUD and CLEAR enough. Please STOP. Or at least, replace what you knock down with something else, and not a Tesco supermarket, thankyou very much.

As i have been saying for the last 6 years, the voices of the swimmers themselves, and the local community have been totally and utterly ignored on the issue of swimming, but now, during the OLYMPIC fever M.P's all around the country have started popping up with their cheap little speeches about SPORTS and PRESTIEGE and how proud we should be and how we should develope new SPORTS facilities across the country. (Aha, i say to myself, this is a trick, a cheap trick to ride the Olympic fever and come out of it as the good guys again, the saviours who will NOW begin to plan new sports parks, new sports programes and sports sponsorship corporations. Oh, thankyou for doing this, for cutting the blue ribbon. For giving us these new sports centers.

So i wanted to send a message of warning to anybody reading this blog post, SPORTS in Britain have been ravaged and crippled by both Labour and Conservative governments, SPORTS to mean two things: the facilities at which sports take place, and the inherent meaning in the term SPORTS. The Olympics have cost 25 Billion Pounds, 9 Billion of which is from the UK tax payers, or from the people. The three Dudley swimming pools I have mentioned above , together, would have required approx. 4 Million to repair and keep open. And, I estimate by now (August 2012) would have given more than 5 Million unique immersive swimming experiences to the community.

Since the pools were not being built but knocked down in Dudley i turned my interest to the Rivers and Canals, imagining them to be clean enough to swim in at some future point, and what it would take to achieve this, and, if anybody else though it worth doing. From that point i discovered the impossibility of swimming in the Stour due to pollution and obstructions in the first place. Then, once again i was confronted with the only option of doing it myself, since a meeting with my local M.P did not come to anything, not even an email or call to say No, just iced out: (i asked for funds, or donations to aquire a pair of river waders, some rope, and a hook, to begin cleaning the River Stour).

And so, you see, i found out that in the larger scheme of things, to me, our rivers are far more important than a swimming pool, and if we could maintain a river properly it could provide a free, zero emissions, zero running costs, swimming facility. As with a lake. Cherish your natural water facilities. This is my message.

Steven 'Fly Agaric 23' Pratt
Amsterdam
Aug. 6th 2012.

2012 River Stour Renewel articles:

Work begins to save the shabby Stour

3:58pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News

Volunteers cleaning the river Stour near Lye

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THE campaign to save the shabby river Stour got under way when a clean-up crew tackled litter in Lye.
Stourbridge environmentalists were out in force for the first of a series of events to remove rubbish and spruce up the river which they say has been neglected for too long.
Members of Transition Stourbridge joined a Pick 'n' Pint team from Tidy Stourbridge on February 12 to gather grot from Botts Lane, Dudley Road and Mears Coppice plus The Forge Industrial Estate and the River Stour.

David Colley, from Tidy Stourbridge, said “This was our most successful Pick’n'Pint in terms of numbers and litter collected, sadly we should not be in this position in the first place.
"The borough and the UK in general is sinking in it’s own filth and something has to be done to end this environmental vandalism."
During a 90 minute litter pick, around 30 activists filled 30 sacks with rubbish including car parts, fly-posters and wheel trims.
Six sacks of drinks cans were also collected which will be sold to raise cash for a cancer charity.
Transition Stourbridge is urging people to join their campaign to clear up the waterway which gives Stourbridge its name.

The group is planning a series of events during the summer to rid the river of rubbish and pollution which is an eyesore and threatens wildlife.
More events are planned for next month, Tidy Stourbridge will be hitting the streets on Sunday March 11, meeting at 2pm at The Samson and Lion, Brierley Hill Road, Wordsley.
On Sunday March 25 the river will again be the focus of both group's workers during a litter pick from 2pm starting at the Stour, Bagley Street, Lye.

For more information visit www.transitionstourbridge.co.uk or www.tidystourbridge.org.uk

Stour campaigners set for Lye litter pick

12:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News

THE campaign to restore shabby sections of the River Stour is on its way to Lye this weekend.
Members of the Tidy Stourbridge group are planning to team up with Transition Stourbridge for a litter pick on the Stour in Lye.
People are being urged to meet on Sunday February 12 at 2pm at the site of the Formula 1 Autocentre next to The Forge Industrial Estate, Dudley Road, Lye.
Activists are planning to work their way along the river, anyone planning to join the clesan-up is advised to bring suitable footwear and clothing.

Campaigners' SOS call to Save Our Stour

5:14pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News

The shabby River Stour (Picture courtesy Graham Beckley)

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CAMPAIGNERS are sending out an SOS to rescue a neglected waterway which is at the heart of Stourbridge history.
The Transition Stourbridge group says it is time to Save Our Stour and is urging people to get involved with their project to transform the shabby litter-strewn river into a wildlife and tourist haven.
The eco-friendly group's River Project aims to highlight how people can play their part in cutting levels of litter and pollution in the Stour.
Rosanne Adams, from Transition Stourbridge, said: "When we did our first litter pick by the river we saw all this rubbish and we just knew that can't be right, it seemed to be in a neglected and sad state and full of plastic litter.
"There are some lovely areas along the Stour which are littered and pollution is very damaging for wildlife."
Transition Stourbridge says one of the major causes of pollution is household appliances which have been connected to drains that empty into the river.
The group is recommending people check with the Environment Agency to ensure items like washing machines are connected to pipework which will not pour chemicals into the river.
Transition Stourbridge's long-term aim is to work with the Waterside Care Project, a pilot scheme supported by British Waterways and the Environment Agency, to rid the river of damaging pollution and create trails for walkers along its banks.

The River Project is being launched as the town prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Stourbridge, when community activists cleared the area's canal in a demonstration of people power which pioneered the restoration of hundreds of miles of Britain's canals.
Russell Eden, founder member of Tidy Stourbridge and chairman of the Stourbug cycling group, believes the Stour has been forgotten by authorities who lack resources or the will to care for the river which gave Stourbridge its name.
Mr Eden said: "Anybody walking along the river in Stourbridge would be disgusted by what they see. Nothing ever happens, the people in charge are keeping it hidden - it is intentional neglect."

He added the River Rea in Birmingham is a good example of an urban river which has been regenerated to create attractive public spaces for visitors to the city.
Transition Stourbridge is calling for volunteers to join a Tidy Stourbridge river litter pick on Sunday February 12 or the first organised River Project litter pick on Sunday March 25.
For more information visit the group's exhibition at Stourbridge Library or call Rosanne Adams on 01384 390095.

the 25 BILLION POUND OLYMPIC GAMES

STOP the games, start spending money wisely. Maybe...

Food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, SPORTING FACILITIES?

HOW MANY SWIMMING POOLS AND FOOTBALL PITCHES

COULD BE BUILT, MAINTAINED AND/OR SAVED

WITH A FRACTION OF THE MONEY SPENT ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES 2012

(Consider the costs of security alone?)

Can anybody have a conversation or be heard through the torrent of 2012 OLYMPIC NON-SENSE in the news?

--Steve Fly.



From the HUFF:

"London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton claimed that the costs of the £9.3 billion Olympic project was in "very good shape" in the face of reports that the budget could spiral to £24 billion.
Sky News said a compilation of costs not included in the public sector funding package came to an extra £2.4 billion but when the counter-terrorism budget, intelligence and security costs, extra policing and transport upgrades were included, the total came to just over £24 billion.
--http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/27/london-2012-olympic-village-handover_n_1235738.html?ref=uk

Knocking Down swimming pools to pay for Drone bombers

WikiLeaks cables: Conservatives promised to run 'pro-American regime'

Leaked dispatch reveals how US diplomats are amused by Britain's 'paranoid' fears about so-called special relationship

• David Leigh
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 December 2010 23.00 GMT
• Article history



 

David Cameron with Barack Obama at a press conference at the White House earlier this year. The incoming Conservatives appear to have made some wide-ranging offers of political co-operation with the US. Photograph: Rod Lamkey Jr/AFP/Getty Images Conservative party politicians lined up before the general election to promise that they would run a "pro-American regime" and buy more arms from the US if they came to power this year, the leaked American embassy cables show. Despite British leaders' supportive stance, the dispatches also reveal – in what some will see as humiliating detail – how US diplomats in London are amused by what they call Britain's "paranoid" fears about the so-called special relationship. One said the anxious British attitude "would often be humorous if it were not so corrosive" and that it was tempting to take advantage of this neurosis to "make London more willing to respond favourably when pressed for assistance". The UK was said to offer "unparalleled" help in promoting America's aims. The incoming Conservatives appear to have made some wide-ranging offers of political co-operation with the US. The cables detail a series of private meetings with Tory frontbenchers, many of whom are now in the cabinet. Liam Fox, now the defence secretary, promised to buy American military equipment, while the current foreign secretary, William Hague, offered the ambassador a "pro-American" government. Hague also said the entire Conservative leadership were, like him, "staunchly Atlanticist" and "children of Thatcher". Fox met the US ambassador, Louis Susman, a year ago. In a 10 December 2009 cable marked "confidential", Susman recorded: "Liam Fox affirmed his desire to work closely with the US if the Conservative party wins power … adding that 'we (Conservatives) intend to follow a much more pro-American profile in procurement'." He reportedly went on: "Increasing US-UK 'interoperability is the key' since the US and UK will continue to fight together in the future" and "expressed confidence regarding US leadership in Afghanistan and optimism about the way forward". The frontbencher admitted that there was an opposed faction within Tory ranks. "Fox asserted that some within the Conservative party are less enthusiastic, asserting that 'we're supposed to be partners with, not supplicants to, the United States'. Fox said he rebuffed these assertions, and he welcomed the ambassador's reassurance that senior US leaders value the UK as an equal partner." Hague pledged his own loyalty in an earlier meeting with the US deputy chief of mission, Richard LeBaron. A confidential cable marked "no foreigners" from 1 April 2008 records: "The deputy chief of mission asked Hague whether the relationship between the UK and the US was 'still special'. Hague said he, David Cameron and George Osborne were 'children of Thatcher' and staunch Atlanticists … For his part, said Hague, he has a sister who is American, spends his own vacations in America and, like many similar to him, considers America the 'other country to turn to'. "Asking his senior adviser her views, [Arminka] Helic (who is Bosnian), said: 'America is the essential country.' "Hague said whoever enters 10 Downing Street as prime minister soon learns of the essential nature of the relationship with America. He went on: 'We want a pro-American regime. We need it. The world needs it.' " These enthusiastic approaches came against a backdrop of what American officials termed British "paranoia" following the arrival of Barack Obama as an unknown presidential quantity. In a lengthy classified dispatch in February 2009 headed "The British ask, is our special relationship still special in Washington?" LeBaron wrote: "More than one HMG senior official asked embassy officers whether President Obama meant to send a signal in his inaugural address about US-UK relations by quoting Washington during the revolutionary war [against Britain], while the removal of the Churchill bust from the Oval office consumed much UK newsprint." The Times had written, allegedly quoting British embassy sources in Washington, about the distress caused by the removal of the bust, lent to George Bush by Tony Blair from the UK government art collection, in happier times. It was headlined: "Churchill bust casts shadow over special relationship". LeBaron noted dryly: "This period of excessive UK speculation about the relationship is more paranoid than usual … This over-reading would often be humorous, if it were not so corrosive." He advised against taking advantage of British neuroses and said the UK remained highly useful to the US because of its "unparalleled" help in promoting America's aims. "Though tempting to argue that keeping HMG off balance about its current standing with us might make London more willing to respond favourably when pressed for assistance, in the long run it is not in US interests to have the UK public concluding the relationship is weakening, on either side. "The UK's commitment of resources – financial, military, diplomatic – in support of US global priorities remains unparalleled; a UK public confident that the USG values those contributions and our relationship, matters to US national security." Britain's willingness to invest in expensive weaponry is a key part of the so-called special relationship. The UK's annual military budget is running at £37bn a year. Fox's reference to more procurement from the US shows his zest for heavy spending on two future big-ticket items – the joint strike fighter [JSF], and the £20bn replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system. The largely US-built JSF will be formidably expensive, and the original scheme was for Britain to buy up to 138 of them at £150m each, to go on giant aircraft carriers. Fox is having an uphill fight: the recent defence review promised only to buy a cheaper version, and to cut the numbers of planes. Some are urging the purchase of US-made drones instead: the Ministry of Defence recently announced the purchase of 100 small Desert Hawk III drones and five extra Reaper killer drones. Other US purchases may be in the pipeline. Frustratingly perhaps for Fox, decisions on the Trident replacement scheme, which will rely on submarine-launched ballistic missiles leased from the US, have been delayed until after the next election. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-us-special-relationship