Dame Kelly Holmes says Commonwealth Games was a chance for unknown athletes to shine
Dame Kelly Holmes, president of Commonwealth Games England, is an experienced middle distance runner with a great deal of success, including two Olympic gold medals and a bronze. She was even appointed a dame in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II. Her opinion is
well respected. After the Commonwealth Games, her opinion is that it’s a shame so many English athletes withdrew from the Games, and their refusal to participate could hurt their chances of competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“A lot pulled out, making rash decisions, instead of trusting us that we as a nation would put them first,” said Holmes. “It's a shame because I think a lot of athletes only pulled out because of what they heard.”
The English were not the only athletes to back out of the Games, and not all withdrew because of fears for their safety, although that was no doubt a factor.
There were outbreaks of dengue fever and malaria. A bridge collapsed, and two tourists were shot. At this point athletes started dropping out, most notably Dani Samuels of Australia, who cited concerns for her safety as the reason for her withdrawal.
Then, making matters much worse, reports came out that said the athlete’s village was ‘uninhabitable’. Dogs roamed the rooms, toilets leaked, and there were even poisonous snakes found inside the village.
At the time few were blaming the athletes for dropping out of the Games, especially with the World Championships coming up next year and the Olympics the year after. The Commonwealth Games comes at the end of a long season so many athletes are simply tired
or have minor injuries that they want to fully heal from for next season.
However, despite all these concerns, and threats of terrorist attacks and kidnappings, nothing happened. The Games went off without a hitch. The biggest problem was poor attendance, and that can probably be blamed on all the negative hype that surrounded
the Games.
So what happens now? Veteran athletes have given opportunities to young athletes to win medals and show what they can do. Holmes thinks those young athletes are going to be more confident competing against veterans now that they have gold, silver, and bronze
medals of their own.
“I think the Commonwealth Games is a huge stepping stone,” said Holmes “If you do well, it elevates your confidence and belief that you can take it to the next stage – to the Olympic Games and beyond.”
New names have been added to England’s list of high profile athletes. Names like Katherine Endacott, who won gold in the women’s 4x400m, and silver in the individual 100m, and triple jumper Nathan Douglas, who finished fourth in Delhi. Douglas is now going
to have much more confidence competing against his teammate, World Champion triple jumper Phillips Idowu, who dropped out of the Games because of concerns over his safety.
“By not having some of the top names here, others have got medals who have never had that platform before,” said Holmes. “Now they are the champions, and they are the ones to look out for in the future.”
Louise Hazel took the gold medal in the heptathlon with Jessica Ennis not participating in the Games.
“All I can say is positive things about Jess, she's great girl, great athlete. It's an honour to be in her shadow,” said Hazel after winning the gold. “But tonight has proved there are other heptathletes about and it's the Louise Hazel Show in Delhi.”
No one is going to think Ennis, or any athlete that didn’t go to Delhi, isn’t good enough for the Olympic Games, that’s not what Holmes is saying. The Commonwealth Games in Delhi didn’t make us forget about people like Mo Farah, Idowu, or Ennis, who didn't
compete in Delhi, they made us note people like Endacott, Douglas, and Hazel; athletes whose names many of us wouldn’t have recognized before now.
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