Wednesday 26 January 2011

Yes, Sport Can Indeed ‘Bring People Together’…

…but that’s emphatically not what you are doing, is it?
Councillor Terry Stacy, leader of Islington Liberal Democrats, said: 'I think it's important to support minority groups to participate in sports that they wouldn't normally engage in.'
Is there a problem with lesbians and squash, then? And is it really something they need to resolve by giving them our money?
'I congratulate the club on their grant - Sport England must feel there is a gap there.

'We've had women-only sports clubs, Muslim women's swimming groups, girls' tennis - I don't have a problem with targeted provision if there's a gap in the participation.'
Is this some insane measure of our civilisation, then? That we have ‘x’ number of ‘insert identity group here’ indulging in ‘insert activity here’?
Mr Forni added: 'We can show that there are other things to do as an LGBT person, other ways to meet people, not just the stereotypical party scene.

'You can meet like-minded people through doing something that keeps you fit and you enjoy. Sport brings people together.'
By separating them out into ‘targeted identity groups’?
Alison Davies, 43, seemed less impressed with the decision to grant the club the money.

She said: 'It's great that there are clubs for everyone, but why they need £6,500 is a mystery to me - especially when everyone is cutting back.

'If I wanted to join a squash club I'd just turn up at a leisure centre and join the league and that wouldn't cost anybody anything.'
But it also wouldn’t keep a bean-counter in a cushy public-sector or fakecharity job, and that’s what seems to count these days…

14 comments:

Dick Puddlecote said...

It's the modern way. Progressivism and (cultural and financial) egalitarianism have been decided to be the prime goal of all branches of government. They don't need a reason for these things, and common sense doesn't enter into it, either.

Ross said...

I'd have thought lesbians were somewhat over represented in competitive sport.

Timdog said...

I was going to try and say something funny, then I found this.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/cameron-hails-'golden-age'-for-lesbian-squash-201101253467/

Nothing further to add.

Furor Teutonicus said...

XX Mr Forni added: 'We can show that there are other things to do as an LGBT person, other ways to meet people, not just the stereotypical party scene.XX

And....People into leather and lace, auto-asphyxiation, poodles, sheep (Probably, in Edinburgh) model rail ways, combat flower arranging?

Do they ALL get their little tax payers paid for clubs so they can get a bit of shagging in?

Uncle Badger said...

Strange... all I keep hearing from the BBC is the mantra 'Government cuts'.

Seems there's still plenty of largesse around for 'the right people'

Jim said...

On the basis that cricket is a major sport in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, I would suspect that people of those origins are over represented in the cricketing population in the UK. Thus I would like to apply to Sport England for a grant to encourage an under represented part of the population (namely Anglo-Saxon people) to play cricket.

A couple of thousand should do.

On the same basis my local professional football team would like to tender for a grant to encourage young white middle class public schoolboys into the professional game, where they are grossly under represented. A couple of hundred thousand should finance a suitable advertising campaign, based on adverts in West End night clubs, wine bars and Porsche dealerships.

Ed P said...

My local swimming pool has "women only" sessions. I complained that this was discriminatory, as there were no "men only" ones. The reaction I got suggested strongly that they thought this was a gay demand!
Some are more equal than others...

Captain Haddock said...

"But it also wouldn’t keep a bean-counter in a cushy public-sector or fakecharity job" ..

Or a Bean-Flicker, it would seem ..

blueknight said...

What really annoys me is the liberal left agenda that ruins everything with diversity.
In my experience if people want to do something they will. Martina Natrivilova, Robin Cousins,for example.
Slightly off topic who else watched Hard Talk last night, with Sarah Montague coming off second best in an interview with Jimmie Akesson, Leader of Sweden Democrats.

Anonymous said...

An acquaintance who is a retained firefighter in kent told me that kent Fire & Rescue have a LGTB Rainbow liveried car for the Gay History month - cuts everywhere but there is somehow a need for 'special treatment' of homosexuals 'around' fire safety issues'! WHAT???????

http://www.kent.fire-uk.org/about_us/equality_and_diversity/lgbt.aspx

JuliaM said...

"I'd have thought lesbians were somewhat over represented in competitive sport."

If Russian Olympic weightlifters are anything to go by, yes...

"Nothing further to add."

Excellent! I DO love 'The Mash'...

"Do they ALL get their little tax payers paid for clubs so they can get a bit of shagging in?"

No, only the favoured of the progressives. Everyone else is needed to pay for it all.

Although I do rather like Jim's idea! :)

"...somehow a need for 'special treatment' of homosexuals 'around' fire safety issues'! "

Good grief! I don't want to know what they do with candles....

Mr Grumpy said...

I've spent a happy moment or two speculating on how would-be members prove their eligibility to join the lesbian squash club. Stop it, Grumpy, you're supposed to be working...

Rob said...

Not just Fisting, but football too!

Public organisations fall over themselves to throw our money at special interest groups for many reasons. Sometimes it is because those in charge of the group are Marxist loonies, but I would say they were a minority. For the rest the reason is because these groups are very, very well organised and they will make your life absolute hell if you don't buy them off with danegeld. After all, it isn't THEIR money...

dr cromarty said...

On the basis that cricket is a major sport in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, I would suspect that people of those origins are over represented in the cricketing population in the UK.

Indeed so. Try comparing junior rugby tournaments and junior cricket tournaments in this country. The differences in ethnic mix is truly a marvel to behold.

I don't hear any of the usual suspects (MCB etc etc) talking about a quota of whiteys for cricket teams.