Sport and politics do not mix. This mantra was heard for months leading up to the Beijing Olympics as justification for attending the games in a country whose human rights record is second-last to none. Is Adam Price not familiar with it?
He wrote an article recently, referring to it on his blog, that questionned the future of the British and Irish Lions. The Lions, he said, should be "superseded by a standing European team which would play a series every two years, alternately home and away, against a Southern Hemisphere XV: a sort of Ryder Cup for rugby." The reasoning behind this idea was "half sporting, half identity-politics". It looks more like 100% identity-politics to me.
Even were this European team to exist alongside the Lions - highly unlikely given the already full fixture calendar - such a move would serve to dilute the Lions project. Rugby fans rightly love the Lions: the heritage, the all-too-rare series wins; one simply can't argue for an attack on the Lions from a sporting point of view. In making his case, Price says that the world has changed. Indeed it has; 'British' no longer necessarily means empire.
Plaid made good ground in several south Wales councils in May. They gained six seats in Caerffili, three in Torfaen, seven in Rhondda Cynon Taf and now lead the Council in Caerffili. Price's comments on the Lions will no doubt have been heard and discussed in one of the rugby heartlands. He must hope that his comments, sacreligious to many in the rugby world, do not alienate these new-found voters. As Director of Elections, he should concentrate instead on communicating Plaid's vision for Wales in terms of jobs, education, health and housing.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
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2 comments:
"Even were this European team to exist alongside the Lions - highly unlikely given the already full fixture calendar - such a move would serve to dilute the Lions project"
he is on about replacing them not in addition. I'm from the south wales valley's and am an avid rugby fan and player and to be honest i don't think its a bad idea. I do support the lions but tours such as those are inpracticle. A one off european game as Adam has suggested seems a bit more practicle and why wouldnt i support that? I feel more connection with Europe than i do britain?
Price isn't talking about a one-off game. Instead he proposes "a series every two years, alternately home and away". He doesn't seem to be addressing the impracticality of touring.
I don't think enough people feel the way he does to make it work, or to make it a vote-winner. Fair enough, you could say, he was speaking his mind.
However, my main point was that as Director of Elections, he might concentrate on the issues that are likely to win votes, rather than meddle with something like the Lions, which risks alienating many rugby fans.
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