Sean Badenhorst

What does the law say? Must be mountain bikers that are attorneys. Surely they can give some insight as to where this may go? I know one attorney MTBer, will call him tomorrow and see what he says.

Here's a thought ? SA cycling team members in Beijing that race regularly overseas: John Lee, Robert, Burry and Sifiso. All did well. Course didn't suit Hunter so you can't expect him to have shone. Team members that don't race regularly overseas: David, Marissa, Cherise and Yolande. All but Marissa were outshone, although I believe Cherise just had a bad day and could have been in the chase pack on a good day. Women's road racing is where we have a great shot at international success (read Olympic medal). CSA should get a major sponsor to create a SA women's trade team (or whatever it's called) to be based in Europe for most the year. Maybe Get 2010 organisers and SA Tourism to be major sponsors and use the team to promote tourism to SA and that big soccer tournament coming up. I know you need a minimum number of UCI points for one of these teams, but then hire a couple of good riders with decent points from other nations and have a mostly SA team (say 5 out of the 8 required).

Just because it's better than the rest of the country doesn't make it acceptable! No goal, just think it needs to happen. Oh, well that should be all the Cape Town City Police would need to accommodate you. Good luck. Post pics.

I bet they would make the worst administrators... GET COMPETANT BUSINESS PEOPLETO DO THE JOB Many - possibly even most - retired top athletes/swimmers etc - even rugby players - are successful businessmen and women. But you're right, make sure there is a strong business element involved in sports admin.

How about Sidney Maree Heh, heh! Good point! Okay, we'll get the odd bad seed, but on the whole, the standard of administration should be better...

Agreed! And those that head up the various sporting codes that didn't even play that sport ? in some cases never played any sport! I understand there were apartheid-based reasons for sport being accessible to few, but really, if we are to expect our athletes to be of international standard, why not expect the same of our administrators?

Obviously these three people that head up SASCOC http://www.sascoc.co.za/content.asp?id=11342 have alternative job options. Well, they should have. Four years to get it right and they didn't. I think that's plenty of time. Obviously they don't have an influence on the actual competition at the Games, but they have all the power and money to ensure our athletes are properly prepared for the Games. Here is a pre-Games press release relating to a SASCOC general meeting that has more content about local politics and politicians than it does about the athletes http://www.sascoc.co.za/article.asp?id=262437 Interestingly Mashishi's cell number is published at the bottom of this article. Couldn't find his latest CV, he's hopefully updating it.

So, despite my optimism, Ramaala failed to impress in the marathon today and Team SA will leave the Beijing Games with one medal. One medal ? a silver one from Godfrey Mokoena in the long jump. MuXmAn, turns out your early Olympic Games post of pessimism was actually prophetic. No, make that realistic. For an optimist like me, this Beijing Games was a massive disappointment as far as Team SA goes. Will it be any different for London 2012? Does a poor Olympic Games performance really mean enough to the majority of South Africans to want to do something about it? Does the government not have enough problems to deal with already? Lots of questions. Here's another: who exactly do you ask for answers?

Don't think either. He's training for World Deaf Games cycling events currently as far as I know.

idrive, I know who is doing their PR. All Mr Price sport-related PR is done by one company which is the problem. They have strengths, but cycling/MTB is not one of them, unfortunately.

Kilroy's sister?

Anyway, since we're on about the Chinese, I thought I'd tell this story. Last Saturday, my two-and-a-half year old son is sitting on the couch with me watching the Olympics. Well, he's wriggling around as per normal and glancing at the TV now and again. I'm on a channel showing rowing. It's the Eights in some or other prelim race. The camera shows a New Zealand crew preparing themselves before the start. "Ooh, look at those guys, they're going to use their strong arms to row that boat fast in a race," I say. "They've got strong arms because they eat all their supper." He looks at them for a while, taking everything in but not saying anything. Next, the producer crosses to a camera showing a long, detailed close up look at the Chinese boat. Eight lean, mean looking Chinese guys is what I see. "Dad, those guys all look tired," says Cade.

How many people are actively involved' date=' Serendipity? News24 sports editor: Andrew 'Tank' Lanning ? former Western Province rugby prop turned recreational cyclist... Seriously, the guy has a cycling group called the Cheerful Chunkys. Sites like that employ one or two writers that focus on rugby and cricket. The rest of their sports copy comes from the wire services - SAPA, AP, AFP, Reuters. [/quote'] If only Burry was sponsored by MTN then Burry's name would be much better known... Sean would of put it out there! I think MTB-SA / SASCOC should sponsor media people to provide good exposure for riders representing our country... In all my time as a cycling journalist, I have never, ever been sent one single press release from Burry's sponsors. Other sponsored riders/teams have regular updates sent to the media - both cycling media and mainstream media - via PR companies or media liaison, arranged by the sponsor, mostly to get brand leverage, but partly to raise the profiles of their riders. I actually feel sorry for the guy and punt him to other media where ever possible. Same with Speedy. As I said, Mr Price uses a media/PR company, but they give MTB little or no attention and focus on sports like surfing and that new road/offroad motor bike racing (can't remember the name) etc. Pity.

How many people are actively involved, Serendipity? News24 sports editor: Andrew 'Tank' Lanning ? former Western Province rugby prop turned recreational cyclist... Seriously, the guy has a cycling group called the Cheerful Chunkys. Sites like that employ one or two writers that focus on rugby and cricket. The rest of their sports copy comes from the wire services - SAPA, AP, AFP, Reuters.

Burry's sponsors should employ a PR company to get him more local media coverage. Would help them leverage their sponsorship dosh too. Oh wait, Mr Price does have a PR company for their sports stuff, they just don't know anything about mountain biking...

Must lose a lot of arguments, Alumndena. Seldom has a leg to stand on.

Breaststroke. That's her speciality.