ABC BBC Website Olympic Post

Olympic Rings

Our BBC Sport post was featured. The debate was about how sports are having their funding cut - sports that have not supplied sufficient medals according to the people upstairs.  

Just when you though sport was about taking part, or did you?  

Our post is: Let's start an Olympics for poor people!! There would be plenty of competitors. Simon Collyer founder of the Association of Pension & Benefits Claimants CIC  www.abcorg.net

Image: A youthful Simon Collyer, ABC founder is - or was, a passionate competitive sailor.

Simon represented the UK at a pre-Olympics in the Olympic 470 Dinghy Class, and won races at National Championship level and more.

Oh, to do it all again! 

This is a race from the 2012 Games at exotic Weymouth. The 470 is a two-man dinghy that uses a device called a 'trapeze' to allow the crew to balance the boat along with the helmsman using toes traps. Off the wind a spinnaker adds to the sail area and of course the excitement.  

Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell were competing in their first ever Olympic Games in the 470 men two-person dinghy class and were sitting in second place, four points behind the Australian team.  The Australian team put up a good fight and remained in first place leaving Luke and Stuart to secure the Silver medal.  They said of their win "The Aussie's sailed a fantastic race, we tried to attack but they are worthy champions. We're happy with second, it's our first Games". "It's just so good. It's been three years hard work together, and here we are standing on the Olympic podium".