Day:218, Words:218

The Olympics are taking up a lot of time during these late summer days. The Norwegian hopes have been active in events such as rowing, middle distance running and walking. I have a problem with walking as an Olympic sport. Granted the athletes are highly skilled in their craft and train incredibly hard, but the line between walking and running is extremely thin and the legal definitions appear to be occupying an emormous grey area.

Walking in the dictionary is stated as 'advancing with the feet alternately so that one foot remains on the ground at all times'. The hundreds of slow motion replays during the 30 km event suggest that almost all were not walking, according to the definition. Official judges spread around the course offer red card warnings to those who 'accidentally' run and three of these warnings equate to a disqualification.

My concern is that often a walker/runner will win with two red cards ahead of a walker with none. There is also the question of subjectivity from the judges. What deserves a red card? Are there some competitors that luckily avoid a warning or two, despite their inclination to trot a little? It is a frustrating sport to watch and a bugger to officiate.

Keeping walking in the park and off the medal dais!

 

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