Leo Manzano and Galen Rupp of the United States Olympic team each won a silver medal in their individual events this past week in London. On the surface this may not sound too impressive, as Americans routinely bring home gold medals in track and field at the Olympics. However, in their respective events (the 1500 meter run and the 10,000 meter run) they are the first Americans to win a medal of any kind in those events since the 1960's.
Manzano's silver was the first medal for an American in the 1500 meter run since Jim Ryun's silver medal in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City (one side note: another American, Matthew Centrowitz, was just two one-hundreths of a second away from winning the bronze medal in the 1500). Meanwhile, Rupp became the first American to win a medal in the 10,000 meter run since Billy Mills won the gold, in what is still considered one of the monumental Olympic upsets of all-time, at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
For the past several decades, Americans (and to a lesser extent, Europeans) bought into the notion that they could not compete with the East Africans, believing the popular myths that the Africans had bigger hearts, stronger will, and genetics made for distance running. As Alberto Salazar, the coach of not only Rupp, but also the Gold medalist in the 10,000 meters in London, Mo Farah of Great Britain, said "The Americans and Europeans had a defeatist attitude, they gave up."
Salazar's refusal to buy into the notion that Americans and Europeans could not compete with the Kenyans and Ethiopians, are what lead to this year's breakthrough. Salazar took a three pronged approach to get here. First, he infused his athletes with his belief that the East Africans were human and beatable. Second, he took a long term approach, focusing on gradual improvement (no quick fixes). Finally, he remembered something he learned in college while competing for the University of Oregon, that the Kenyans ran as a team helping each other out in their races.
Now Salazar has a stable of top runners that train together, including Farah and Rupp who ran as a team to win their medals. Interestingly, when Salazar competed at Oregon he and teammate Rudy Chapa faced their toughest competition from Kenyans who were attending Washington State University and the University of Texas at El Paso. Soon they noticed in track and cross country meets that the Kenyans would speak in their native tongues during races, to keep their communication secret. Salazar was always a fierce competitor and rather than grow frustrated by the Kenyans tactic, he came up with the idea of fighting fire with fire, as both he and Chapa were fluent in Spanish; it worked.
Rupp has a chance to make history again this week as no American has ever won Olympic medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000, much less in the same Games. This quote from Rupp is why I think he has a shot at another medal this week: "I'm training with the best distance runner in the world right now. We do 99.9 percent of our training together. I'm right there with him in all that. So there's no reason I can't beat everybody."
I always say, 'it's impossible to outperform your belief in yourself,' and that is a large part of why the USA has gone without medals in these events for so long. It took a coach like Salazar to stand up to all the doubters and believe when no one else did. As Salazar said recently "I want kids to be able to look at American distance runners, guys like Rupp, and say, 'I can do that.'" All great achievements start with belief, and thanks to Salazar and Rupp, believing in what seemed impossible just became a lot easier for future generations of American runners.
You can follow Sam on Twitter: @SuperTaoInc
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Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Can We Create Wheeled Robotic Coaches For Olympic Track and Field Training?
During the 2012 Olympic Games in London perhaps you noticed the camera set up on the track which followed the runners around? Well, what if such a system existed for coaching and training of Olympic track and field US athletes? Indeed, it is my contention that this is now completely feasible, and the robotic system could even give advice on pacing, timing splits, form, and other important issues. Okay so, let's talk.
You see, there has been a vast amount of technology which has come forth in the last decade with regards to human gait and mobility. Plus, the military has done work to help wounded soldiers as well, we've learned so much, it's truly amazing. Why not take some of that technology in the ergonomic science of "gait recognition" and apply it to a wheeled or tracked robotic track and field coaching system.
Prior to my main business career I competed in track and field, and most all of us athletes at that level had far surpassed our coaches' abilities; past, present, or future. They flat had no chance in hell keeping up with us, so they stood at the center of the track with a stop watch, that's basically how they did it, some of the coaches had binoculars, but let me spare you the worthlessness of that strategy.
Well, in track and field I ran the 800 m, the 1500 m, the mile, mile relay, the two-mile, and I can't tell you how many 5 and 10K's I've run my life, I don't even want to think about it. Yes, I've also done a number of marathons too. I can remember my track coach yelling at me during the last hundred meters of the 1500 and 800 telling me to drive with the arms, lean forward, and fight the pain. Anyone who's ever run those races realizes that your feet are on fire, and the front of your legs between your knee and where your leg attaches feels like they are going to explode.
Having the proper form even when you are fatigued, tired, and beat is the key to pressing forward in reaching your personal best. If you had a robot alongside of you coaching you along as your running gait got slightly off, you'd eventually have the perfect stride and thus, the talent to overcome some of these hardships. No, your running wouldn't be without pain, or sacrifice, that's what it takes to win. Nevertheless you could become a better runner very quickly if you had a robotic coach running around the track on its own track with you. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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You see, there has been a vast amount of technology which has come forth in the last decade with regards to human gait and mobility. Plus, the military has done work to help wounded soldiers as well, we've learned so much, it's truly amazing. Why not take some of that technology in the ergonomic science of "gait recognition" and apply it to a wheeled or tracked robotic track and field coaching system.
Prior to my main business career I competed in track and field, and most all of us athletes at that level had far surpassed our coaches' abilities; past, present, or future. They flat had no chance in hell keeping up with us, so they stood at the center of the track with a stop watch, that's basically how they did it, some of the coaches had binoculars, but let me spare you the worthlessness of that strategy.
Well, in track and field I ran the 800 m, the 1500 m, the mile, mile relay, the two-mile, and I can't tell you how many 5 and 10K's I've run my life, I don't even want to think about it. Yes, I've also done a number of marathons too. I can remember my track coach yelling at me during the last hundred meters of the 1500 and 800 telling me to drive with the arms, lean forward, and fight the pain. Anyone who's ever run those races realizes that your feet are on fire, and the front of your legs between your knee and where your leg attaches feels like they are going to explode.
Having the proper form even when you are fatigued, tired, and beat is the key to pressing forward in reaching your personal best. If you had a robot alongside of you coaching you along as your running gait got slightly off, you'd eventually have the perfect stride and thus, the talent to overcome some of these hardships. No, your running wouldn't be without pain, or sacrifice, that's what it takes to win. Nevertheless you could become a better runner very quickly if you had a robotic coach running around the track on its own track with you. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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Does The Olympics Really Bring Nations Together? It's Always Claimed to In The Traditional Sense
As a highly competitive individual, I see the Olympic Games as abundantly beneficial to humanity. I see it as a way to bring nations together, and show each other that we are not really all that different. In doing so in sporting events, it allows for maximum nationalism while still uniting all humans across the planet in a common cause; the cause of the human spirit if you will. Okay so, I'd like to discuss this with you for a moment if I might.
You see, not long ago on July 25, 2012 there was a very interesting article the Wall Street Journal titled; "Olympic ideals don't match reality That," by Andrew Roberts who stated that perhaps we should; "enjoy the sports competition, but shield yourself from self-congratulation about world peace." In the article he noted that although the Olympic Games do bring nations together, there have still been wars, including two major world wars, and a myriad of military conflicts, and the Cold War during this time.
Whereas, someone might say; "it could've been worse," which is obviously true, the author does make a good point in his op-ed piece. War is a lot like competition, but I would submit to you that good clean competition beats war and conflict any time, and the Olympic Games have been nothing short of a stellar performance of human achievement, and a time of commonality where we can all come together, put aside our international tensions and compete in sports. It is great to see even the most obscure nation with an Olympic champion all to their own, perhaps in a sport we know little about.
When we see their raw emotion and sense of pride and nationalism flow outward as they take the Olympic medal, it reminds us of ourselves, and our own goals and dreams. It reminds us that we are not so far apart, even if we speak a different language, look differently, or are born in a faraway land. The Olympics brings people together for a good reason. No, it's not always perfect, and there is always controversy, but in the end it is a good thing, which few would deny.
From a historical standpoint I would say that yes, the Olympic Games have not stopped human conflict or wars, or maybe they have, maybe they've had an impact on world leaders, or made us think twice. Even if they have only prevented a few wars along the way, that's a good thing. Of course, we will never know and that is the unfortunate reality. Still, I do believe, and it does stand to common sense and reason that the Olympic Games have indeed brought us closer together. I hope they continue to do so. I ask that you please consider all this and think on it.
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You see, not long ago on July 25, 2012 there was a very interesting article the Wall Street Journal titled; "Olympic ideals don't match reality That," by Andrew Roberts who stated that perhaps we should; "enjoy the sports competition, but shield yourself from self-congratulation about world peace." In the article he noted that although the Olympic Games do bring nations together, there have still been wars, including two major world wars, and a myriad of military conflicts, and the Cold War during this time.
Whereas, someone might say; "it could've been worse," which is obviously true, the author does make a good point in his op-ed piece. War is a lot like competition, but I would submit to you that good clean competition beats war and conflict any time, and the Olympic Games have been nothing short of a stellar performance of human achievement, and a time of commonality where we can all come together, put aside our international tensions and compete in sports. It is great to see even the most obscure nation with an Olympic champion all to their own, perhaps in a sport we know little about.
When we see their raw emotion and sense of pride and nationalism flow outward as they take the Olympic medal, it reminds us of ourselves, and our own goals and dreams. It reminds us that we are not so far apart, even if we speak a different language, look differently, or are born in a faraway land. The Olympics brings people together for a good reason. No, it's not always perfect, and there is always controversy, but in the end it is a good thing, which few would deny.
From a historical standpoint I would say that yes, the Olympic Games have not stopped human conflict or wars, or maybe they have, maybe they've had an impact on world leaders, or made us think twice. Even if they have only prevented a few wars along the way, that's a good thing. Of course, we will never know and that is the unfortunate reality. Still, I do believe, and it does stand to common sense and reason that the Olympic Games have indeed brought us closer together. I hope they continue to do so. I ask that you please consider all this and think on it.
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How to Buy Olympic Tickets Online
The London 2012 Olympics are just days away and the more I find myself surrounded by the 'Olympic Fever' the more stupid I feel for not thinking ahead and reserving some tickets. With my Father's birthday on 5th August what better present to give than a pair of mixed beach volley ball tickets, due to take place in The Horse Guards Parade, so I started searching for tickets to buy.
I soon found myself, however, firmly sat in 'Camp Envy', where all I can hear around me is those in the 'Happy Camp' talking at length about the many events they have tickets to and how glad they are to have committed so early. I am of course happy for them and their increasingly vocal excitement.With a bit of investigation I soon realised that there are still a number of tickets available for sale, here's how to get them:
1. Official London 2012 Ticket Site
Surprisingly there are still a number of tickets for sale on the official London 2012 website.. Admittedly they almost all seem to be for Class A tickets, the most expensive, but I was relieved to find two beach volleyball tickets for £125 each. Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Canoeing, Diving, Fencing, Football, Trampoline, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwando, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony.
2. Craigslist
It seems there is a thriving second-hand market for Olympic Games tickets on Craigslist where you can get just about anything you want but, naturally, you'll usually have to pay more than face value. That said, as time goes on, and people still can't shift their Table Tennis seats, expect prices to fall. You don't have to be lightening quick to bag yourself tickets to the 100m final. What tends to happen is that a poster will wait for people to make offers and then choose the biggest one. It's not very nice. Sealed bids are fun only for the vendor but, fortunately, there are some cooler cats out there who'll tell you not only how much they'd like up front but whether prices are negotiable. Tip: prices are always negotiable.
What's more, remember to think out of the box a little when it comes to your search. While browsing Craigslist UK might seem the ticket, there are plenty of sessions up for sale in the US as well.
3. eBay
Whilst it's not possible to buy and sell Olympics 2012 tickets on eBay in UK or Ireland take a look at international eBay sites and you'll find no such restrictions there.
The rules, as far as eBay is concerned, clearly state that anyone selling Olympic Games tickets may not sell to buyers in the UK or Ireland. So, what you'll have to do is either get them mailed to someone you know abroad who can then post them on to you or email the vendors separately and see if they'll do you a deal off-eBay. The best markets seem to be on Dutch, German and US eBay but, obviously, do bear in mind that you don't have long left to get them this way given that, in some cases, you'll need to leave time for two lots of postage as well as time for the auction to end.Finally be very careful of fraudulent Olympic Ticket websites, of which there are many.
Remember the golden rule - if it looks too good to be true it probably is. Happy Hunting and good luck Team GB!
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I soon found myself, however, firmly sat in 'Camp Envy', where all I can hear around me is those in the 'Happy Camp' talking at length about the many events they have tickets to and how glad they are to have committed so early. I am of course happy for them and their increasingly vocal excitement.With a bit of investigation I soon realised that there are still a number of tickets available for sale, here's how to get them:
1. Official London 2012 Ticket Site
Surprisingly there are still a number of tickets for sale on the official London 2012 website.. Admittedly they almost all seem to be for Class A tickets, the most expensive, but I was relieved to find two beach volleyball tickets for £125 each. Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Canoeing, Diving, Fencing, Football, Trampoline, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwando, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony.
2. Craigslist
It seems there is a thriving second-hand market for Olympic Games tickets on Craigslist where you can get just about anything you want but, naturally, you'll usually have to pay more than face value. That said, as time goes on, and people still can't shift their Table Tennis seats, expect prices to fall. You don't have to be lightening quick to bag yourself tickets to the 100m final. What tends to happen is that a poster will wait for people to make offers and then choose the biggest one. It's not very nice. Sealed bids are fun only for the vendor but, fortunately, there are some cooler cats out there who'll tell you not only how much they'd like up front but whether prices are negotiable. Tip: prices are always negotiable.
What's more, remember to think out of the box a little when it comes to your search. While browsing Craigslist UK might seem the ticket, there are plenty of sessions up for sale in the US as well.
3. eBay
Whilst it's not possible to buy and sell Olympics 2012 tickets on eBay in UK or Ireland take a look at international eBay sites and you'll find no such restrictions there.
The rules, as far as eBay is concerned, clearly state that anyone selling Olympic Games tickets may not sell to buyers in the UK or Ireland. So, what you'll have to do is either get them mailed to someone you know abroad who can then post them on to you or email the vendors separately and see if they'll do you a deal off-eBay. The best markets seem to be on Dutch, German and US eBay but, obviously, do bear in mind that you don't have long left to get them this way given that, in some cases, you'll need to leave time for two lots of postage as well as time for the auction to end.Finally be very careful of fraudulent Olympic Ticket websites, of which there are many.
Remember the golden rule - if it looks too good to be true it probably is. Happy Hunting and good luck Team GB!
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Dinosaurs at the Olympics
How Would Dinosaurs Cope in Olympic Events?
With the London Olympics starting, the thirtieth running of the modern Olympiad and the third time that London has hosted the games, we can expect to see a number of records broken over the next sixteen days or so. Team Great Britain has the most number of athletes taking part but what would happen if we allowed dinosaurs to compete in certain events.
The Gymnastic Events
Take for example gymnastics. Although most of the general public would not think of dinosaurs as natural gymnasts some species may have been very at home on gymnastics apparatus. An agile Dromaeosaur such as a Velociraptor, the tiny Bambiraptor, or even a flying Microraptor could excel at a number of gymnastic disciplines. Granted the floor exercises may prove a little difficult, but as palaeontologists believe that one of the roles of feathers on these animals was for visual display, we could be treated to a "Dromaeosaur dance" featuring lots of leaping, flapping of arms and bobbing about. Forward rolls and hand springs would most likely be beyond even the most agile of these small, lightweight dinosaurs but from studies of their leg bones, they could certainly run faster than a human gymnast and they could probably jump very high. These dinosaurs had an excellent sense of balance and some of them were probably capable climbers at home in the trees, so the parallel bars would prove no obstacle.
Giganotosaurus as a Weightlifter
Giganotosaurus would have made an excellent super-heavyweight weight lifter. Its arms were more powerful, longer and stronger than most other meat-eating dinosaurs except the Spinosaurids. Palaeontologists estimate that its jaws were so strong and its neck muscles so powerful that it could pick up and carry a medium-sized dinosaur in its mouth. According to the Guinness Book of World Records (2012 edition) the world record for the snatch in the 105 plus kilogrammes weight category for men is an incredible 213 kilogrammes achieved by Hossein Rezazadeh (representing Iran). Although Giganotosaurus is much heavier (about 75 times as heavy), scientists have estimated that it could have picked up more than a tonne with its super-strong jaws.
Dinosaurs in Track and Field
Turning to track and field, one of the most keenly anticipated Olympic events is the men's one hundred metres. The Olympic champion and current world record holder is Usain Bolt of Jamaica. The Jamaican sprinter covered one hundred metres in an astonishing time of 9.58 seconds in Berlin on the 16th of August 2009. This means that he would have averaged something like 23.35 miles per hour over the course of that race. Compared to most dinosaurs this is pretty quick. For example, an adult T. rex
running in a straight line with a running start would probably complete a one hundred metres race in approximately13.5 seconds. A Diplodocus, a huge, plant-eating dinosaur, despite having an enormous neck with which it could break the tape at the finishing line would have probably taken more than fifty seconds to cover the distance, not withstanding the fact that it would probably have stopped to graze on the infield area along the way.
Speed Kings of the Dinosauria
The real speed kings of the Dinosauria were the Ornithomimids. Ornithomimids (known as "bird mimics") were Theropod dinosaurs related to the likes of T. rex
but anatomically similar to modern, ground-dwelling birds. With a light, compact skeleton and long hind legs these animals were very fast runners. Estimates of how fast these dinosaurs do vary. However, based on Ornithomimid tracks found in the United States, palaeontologists estimate that these reptiles may have been capable of bursts of speed up to sixty kilometres an hour, that is race horse speed. An Ornithomimid could therefore complete the one hundred metres in something like six to eight seconds, given the time it would have taken for this animal to get into top gear.
And in the Pool?
Competing in the swimming events may have proved more difficult for the Dinosauria. Dinosaurs could swim just like most vertebrates, but whether or not they liked getting out of their depth is a different matter. They would have been limited to a single stroke - their form of doggy paddle and a several tonne dinosaur would not have been very streamlined in the water but thanks to one remarkable trace fossil discovered in Spain we do know that some dinosaurs did take to the water. A fossilised track-way discovered in Spain records the moment in Jurassic history when a large, carnivorous dinosaur (possibly an Allosaurid) swam across a body of water. Every now and then this huge, bipedal dinosaur put a foot on the bottom and pushed itself off again. The likes of Rebecca Adlington, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte may be faster, but would you fancy going into the pool with a two tonne Allosaurus in the next lane?
With thirty-six sports and something like a total of three hundred and four medal events it is likely that the Dinosauria might well have found one or two to excel in. After all, if they were warm-blooded just as we mammals they were probably far more active and agile than previously thought. The Olympics may be about "higher, faster, stronger" and such like but when animals from the extinct natural world are allowed to compete then we humans would not have had everything our own way.. Triceratops for the badminton anybody?
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With the London Olympics starting, the thirtieth running of the modern Olympiad and the third time that London has hosted the games, we can expect to see a number of records broken over the next sixteen days or so. Team Great Britain has the most number of athletes taking part but what would happen if we allowed dinosaurs to compete in certain events.
The Gymnastic Events
Take for example gymnastics. Although most of the general public would not think of dinosaurs as natural gymnasts some species may have been very at home on gymnastics apparatus. An agile Dromaeosaur such as a Velociraptor, the tiny Bambiraptor, or even a flying Microraptor could excel at a number of gymnastic disciplines. Granted the floor exercises may prove a little difficult, but as palaeontologists believe that one of the roles of feathers on these animals was for visual display, we could be treated to a "Dromaeosaur dance" featuring lots of leaping, flapping of arms and bobbing about. Forward rolls and hand springs would most likely be beyond even the most agile of these small, lightweight dinosaurs but from studies of their leg bones, they could certainly run faster than a human gymnast and they could probably jump very high. These dinosaurs had an excellent sense of balance and some of them were probably capable climbers at home in the trees, so the parallel bars would prove no obstacle.
Giganotosaurus as a Weightlifter
Giganotosaurus would have made an excellent super-heavyweight weight lifter. Its arms were more powerful, longer and stronger than most other meat-eating dinosaurs except the Spinosaurids. Palaeontologists estimate that its jaws were so strong and its neck muscles so powerful that it could pick up and carry a medium-sized dinosaur in its mouth. According to the Guinness Book of World Records (2012 edition) the world record for the snatch in the 105 plus kilogrammes weight category for men is an incredible 213 kilogrammes achieved by Hossein Rezazadeh (representing Iran). Although Giganotosaurus is much heavier (about 75 times as heavy), scientists have estimated that it could have picked up more than a tonne with its super-strong jaws.
Dinosaurs in Track and Field
Turning to track and field, one of the most keenly anticipated Olympic events is the men's one hundred metres. The Olympic champion and current world record holder is Usain Bolt of Jamaica. The Jamaican sprinter covered one hundred metres in an astonishing time of 9.58 seconds in Berlin on the 16th of August 2009. This means that he would have averaged something like 23.35 miles per hour over the course of that race. Compared to most dinosaurs this is pretty quick. For example, an adult T. rex
running in a straight line with a running start would probably complete a one hundred metres race in approximately13.5 seconds. A Diplodocus, a huge, plant-eating dinosaur, despite having an enormous neck with which it could break the tape at the finishing line would have probably taken more than fifty seconds to cover the distance, not withstanding the fact that it would probably have stopped to graze on the infield area along the way.
Speed Kings of the Dinosauria
The real speed kings of the Dinosauria were the Ornithomimids. Ornithomimids (known as "bird mimics") were Theropod dinosaurs related to the likes of T. rex
but anatomically similar to modern, ground-dwelling birds. With a light, compact skeleton and long hind legs these animals were very fast runners. Estimates of how fast these dinosaurs do vary. However, based on Ornithomimid tracks found in the United States, palaeontologists estimate that these reptiles may have been capable of bursts of speed up to sixty kilometres an hour, that is race horse speed. An Ornithomimid could therefore complete the one hundred metres in something like six to eight seconds, given the time it would have taken for this animal to get into top gear.
And in the Pool?
Competing in the swimming events may have proved more difficult for the Dinosauria. Dinosaurs could swim just like most vertebrates, but whether or not they liked getting out of their depth is a different matter. They would have been limited to a single stroke - their form of doggy paddle and a several tonne dinosaur would not have been very streamlined in the water but thanks to one remarkable trace fossil discovered in Spain we do know that some dinosaurs did take to the water. A fossilised track-way discovered in Spain records the moment in Jurassic history when a large, carnivorous dinosaur (possibly an Allosaurid) swam across a body of water. Every now and then this huge, bipedal dinosaur put a foot on the bottom and pushed itself off again. The likes of Rebecca Adlington, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte may be faster, but would you fancy going into the pool with a two tonne Allosaurus in the next lane?
With thirty-six sports and something like a total of three hundred and four medal events it is likely that the Dinosauria might well have found one or two to excel in. After all, if they were warm-blooded just as we mammals they were probably far more active and agile than previously thought. The Olympics may be about "higher, faster, stronger" and such like but when animals from the extinct natural world are allowed to compete then we humans would not have had everything our own way.. Triceratops for the badminton anybody?
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How Businesses Around the UK Are Benefiting From the Olympics
Tourism
Perhaps the factor bearing most responsibility for the benefits seen by UK business is tourism. This means not only a higher number of people staying in the capital itself, but many of these people are staying in London's hotels, eating in its restaurants and spending money on souvenirs. Business in the capital is simply thriving.
Domestic Spending
It's not only an influx of tourists which is responsible for the increase in activity, however. Us Brits are spending more money during the Games - not only celebrating with friends but taking the opportunity to decorate our homes and source a piece of Games history to hold on to for years to come. Whether it's an Olympics themed party, a range of souvenirs or a trip to the nation's capital that we're shelling out for, the knock on effect is being felt by businesses across the country.
Industry Contracts
Personal expenditure is undoubtedly having a positive impact on the private sector, but the colossal investment in industry that has come over the years leading up to the Games is overwhelming in its impact on the success of UK business.
With contractors working on the creation of an entire Olympic village, comprising a wealth of houses as well as sporting facilities, work has been plentiful in the London area despite the harsh economic conditions. The investment in the Olympic Games has guaranteed a certain amount of work within a number of industries and a whole host of companies have benefited hugely from the government's commitment to the success of the Games.
A Lasting Success
In excess even of the current benefit which businesses in the UK are seeing, the legacy of the Games looks set to bear greater fruits still. Sara Parker of CBI explains that a boost in tourism of $4 billion is to be expected between the end of the Games and 2015. As people continue to flock to the UK from abroad, businesses can expect this hike in activity to continue for some time.
It is important to remember that, while much of the activity going on during the Games is to be short-lived, there are aspects of the Games which will outlast the two week period during which the sporting events are being held.
With the transformation and regeneration of huge parts of London, the infrastructure is now in place for the continued existence of a number of jobs in the Olympic Park. Furthermore, many of the sporting facilities created for the Games are expected to undergo further transformations as they are adapted for ongoing use.
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Perhaps the factor bearing most responsibility for the benefits seen by UK business is tourism. This means not only a higher number of people staying in the capital itself, but many of these people are staying in London's hotels, eating in its restaurants and spending money on souvenirs. Business in the capital is simply thriving.
Domestic Spending
It's not only an influx of tourists which is responsible for the increase in activity, however. Us Brits are spending more money during the Games - not only celebrating with friends but taking the opportunity to decorate our homes and source a piece of Games history to hold on to for years to come. Whether it's an Olympics themed party, a range of souvenirs or a trip to the nation's capital that we're shelling out for, the knock on effect is being felt by businesses across the country.
Industry Contracts
Personal expenditure is undoubtedly having a positive impact on the private sector, but the colossal investment in industry that has come over the years leading up to the Games is overwhelming in its impact on the success of UK business.
With contractors working on the creation of an entire Olympic village, comprising a wealth of houses as well as sporting facilities, work has been plentiful in the London area despite the harsh economic conditions. The investment in the Olympic Games has guaranteed a certain amount of work within a number of industries and a whole host of companies have benefited hugely from the government's commitment to the success of the Games.
A Lasting Success
In excess even of the current benefit which businesses in the UK are seeing, the legacy of the Games looks set to bear greater fruits still. Sara Parker of CBI explains that a boost in tourism of $4 billion is to be expected between the end of the Games and 2015. As people continue to flock to the UK from abroad, businesses can expect this hike in activity to continue for some time.
It is important to remember that, while much of the activity going on during the Games is to be short-lived, there are aspects of the Games which will outlast the two week period during which the sporting events are being held.
With the transformation and regeneration of huge parts of London, the infrastructure is now in place for the continued existence of a number of jobs in the Olympic Park. Furthermore, many of the sporting facilities created for the Games are expected to undergo further transformations as they are adapted for ongoing use.
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Monday, 15 October 2012
Lessons From the Olympics
"We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time." ~ Vince Lombardi
It is my honor to treat a number of professional, amateur and elite athletes. I want to share an observation from the recent Olympic events in London that can hopefully help your own performance.
In watching both the men's and women's gymnastics events, as well as in field and track, I noticed a pattern in the competition; the anxiety increased exponentially when the athlete waiting to perform watched the successful athlete before her, and/or read his/her score. If the previous performer excelled, the athlete grew more nervous. The ole "tough act to follow" syndrome kicked in. The stakes were raised, and the stress and the pressure to be "perfect" were enormous. If the previous performer did poorly, the athlete many times followed suit and made a similar error! Most notably, and sadly, this overcame the USA gymnast McKayla Maroney at the vault event. The Russian gymnast before her literally fell on her face, and immediately the commentators (and perhaps well-meaning coaches and teammates) stated that all McKayla had to do to win the Gold was basically "not fall on her dismount." Guess what? She fell on her dismount. This cost Maroney, already the World Champion in this event, the Olympic Gold Medal for 2012.
Watching the Russian's fall, Maroney took the non-verbal "hypnotic suggestion" that she, too, might fall on her landing. During competitions, unlike practice scenarios, athletes go into the fight-flight mode. This is equivalent to a hypnotic trance state. Whatever you see, hear, feel, perceive in your environment can "slip into" your unconscious mind as a negative suggestion. It is crucial at this time to focus on only that which serves you. Easier said than done, I know. But this talented young gymnast, unfortunately, focused unconsciously on exactly what she did not want to do. This thwarted her ability to focus on what would have allowed her to win the Gold instead of the Silver: a beautiful landing on the mat, doing her personal best, and her love of her sport.
The legendary Vaudeville artist, Al Jolson, was famous for staying backstage in his dressing room and running the water faucet full blast before he went onstage, to drown out the laughter and applause for the performer before him. Stagehands and the like were forbidden from speaking about any other performer to him before he went onstage. He avoided crossing paths with other performers, using a different side of the stage to enter so that he was completely in his own zone, as free as possible from any suggestions but his own for excellence in his performance and connecting with the audience.
Of course in many sports, it is impossible to avoid your opponent's performance (football, basketball, boxing, fencing, most team and one-on-one sports). But for the solo sports (golf, skateboarding, ice skating, triathlons, gymnastics), avoiding any excess arousal can allow you to stay in your zone. We saw this modeled by Michael Phelps, who kept his headphones on until the very last second possible.
The lesson to learn from McKayla Maroney and other Olympiads is this: If it is at all possible in your sport, find a way to "run the water faucet" and avoid watching the performance of your competitors and seeing their scores. Ask your coaches and teammates to avoid apprising you of any other performances or anything but your goals.
Keep winning!
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It is my honor to treat a number of professional, amateur and elite athletes. I want to share an observation from the recent Olympic events in London that can hopefully help your own performance.
In watching both the men's and women's gymnastics events, as well as in field and track, I noticed a pattern in the competition; the anxiety increased exponentially when the athlete waiting to perform watched the successful athlete before her, and/or read his/her score. If the previous performer excelled, the athlete grew more nervous. The ole "tough act to follow" syndrome kicked in. The stakes were raised, and the stress and the pressure to be "perfect" were enormous. If the previous performer did poorly, the athlete many times followed suit and made a similar error! Most notably, and sadly, this overcame the USA gymnast McKayla Maroney at the vault event. The Russian gymnast before her literally fell on her face, and immediately the commentators (and perhaps well-meaning coaches and teammates) stated that all McKayla had to do to win the Gold was basically "not fall on her dismount." Guess what? She fell on her dismount. This cost Maroney, already the World Champion in this event, the Olympic Gold Medal for 2012.
Watching the Russian's fall, Maroney took the non-verbal "hypnotic suggestion" that she, too, might fall on her landing. During competitions, unlike practice scenarios, athletes go into the fight-flight mode. This is equivalent to a hypnotic trance state. Whatever you see, hear, feel, perceive in your environment can "slip into" your unconscious mind as a negative suggestion. It is crucial at this time to focus on only that which serves you. Easier said than done, I know. But this talented young gymnast, unfortunately, focused unconsciously on exactly what she did not want to do. This thwarted her ability to focus on what would have allowed her to win the Gold instead of the Silver: a beautiful landing on the mat, doing her personal best, and her love of her sport.
The legendary Vaudeville artist, Al Jolson, was famous for staying backstage in his dressing room and running the water faucet full blast before he went onstage, to drown out the laughter and applause for the performer before him. Stagehands and the like were forbidden from speaking about any other performer to him before he went onstage. He avoided crossing paths with other performers, using a different side of the stage to enter so that he was completely in his own zone, as free as possible from any suggestions but his own for excellence in his performance and connecting with the audience.
Of course in many sports, it is impossible to avoid your opponent's performance (football, basketball, boxing, fencing, most team and one-on-one sports). But for the solo sports (golf, skateboarding, ice skating, triathlons, gymnastics), avoiding any excess arousal can allow you to stay in your zone. We saw this modeled by Michael Phelps, who kept his headphones on until the very last second possible.
The lesson to learn from McKayla Maroney and other Olympiads is this: If it is at all possible in your sport, find a way to "run the water faucet" and avoid watching the performance of your competitors and seeing their scores. Ask your coaches and teammates to avoid apprising you of any other performances or anything but your goals.
Keep winning!
ExperTrans language - multilingual services
ExperTrans voice-overs services
ExperTrans interpreting translation services
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