Gold or bronze?...

[Guest]

May be many purists will agree with me, but
I have the impression that World Championships
every two years have really depreciated its
symbolical value in track history.
I mean they look more and more like a gigantic
meeting, a universal grand-messe to prepare
the Olympic Games that are to my opinion the
Everest of track.
That's why I think an Olympic bronze medal is
more precious than a World gold medal.
A word for Kelli WHITE I admire and I encourage
to overcome the situation.
She will improve her exceptional finish next
year for sure.

[Guest]

Re: Gold or bronze?...

> May be many purists will agree with me, but
>I have the impression that World Championships
>every two years have really depreciated its
>symbolical value in track history.

To whom? Not to me. Their value in track history must be evaluated by each individual.

> I mean they
>look more and more like a gigantic
> meeting, a
>universal grand-messe to prepare
> the Olympic
>Games that are to my opinion the
> Everest of
>track.
Well, the Olympics are an even more gigantic meeting. The Olympics are more important for generating earnings power for athletes, so an Olympic medal, especially a Gold one, is probably more highly valued by the athletes, but I don't see any difference in value as an athletic accomplishment. In fact, in the early years of WC competition, the WC medal was often much more meaningful because everyone was there, as opposed to the boycotted Olympics of '76, '80, '84 and '88 (just Cuba, IIRC).

>That's why I think an Olympic bronze
>medal is
more precious than a World gold
>medal.

I doubt it, even in economic terms. At least in the US, only winners are remembered.

Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Guest]

Re: Gold or bronze?...

The World Championships have only been around since 1983. How much symbolic value could the meet have generated in the last 20 years, let alone how much could it have depreciated.

Yes, the way the meet is organized now, it seems like nothing more than an Olympic-wannabe.

Perhaps it would take on more meaning (at least different meaning), if it were tweaked? Shorter in length... Fewer athletes (only the world's best are invited, disregard the 3 athlete per nation rule), etc.

[tafnut]

Re: Gold or bronze?...

I'm thinking the label, "World Champion" would look good in anyone's epitaph. As a matter of fact, if you listen to big meet introductions, "World Champion' is used wherever possible, just like 'Olympic Champion" . In the sport itself it is ALMOST as big. To Joe SixPack, I am sure it is not. I VERY MUCH like the concept, and would actually like to see it every non-Oly year. I think we look stupid by NOT having one every year. "You mean there is not even a World Championship this year? What kind of stupid sport is this?"