Olympic Gold

Did anyone catch the Olympics Opening Ceremony by any chance? Wiping out three hours of the BBC's evening schedule, it would be pretty hard to miss. Personally, I'm glad I made a point of watching; it was a fantastic celebration of our nation and I felt very proud to be British.

So often I think that as a nation we suffer from a lack of national identity. It's a fluid concept as national interests and tastes change, but most nations are known for something very specific, either in the character of the people or the character of the geography: Germany is famous for engineering and efficiency, Italy is known for flamboyancy, France is known for being insular (sometimes even xenophobic) but also for gourmet cooking, America is the nation of excess, etc., so what makes us British?

I think our lack of identity sometimes stems from the fact that we aren't one single nation. Scotland, Ireland and Wales have their own sense of identity and it's something which can drive a wedge between the people of those nations and their identity as a British National. (Scottish Independence, anyone?) In addition, I think that we are also sometimes guilty of holding on to our historical identity so steadfastly that we forget to embrace our present. Then again, our present isn't always something we would want to embrace when there's rioting in the streets, petty crime is rife and the media is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. However there are somethings that are completely unique to Britain and this is what Danny Boyle so successfully exploited.

We are an old nation with a history spanning millenia, not centuries. Britain was the seat of the industrial revolution and continues to be a breeding ground for some great technological wonders, celebrated in the opening ceremony by the inclusion of Tim Berners-Lee. We are recognised around the world for our British humour (so many of my overseas friends love the likes of Monty Python and Mr Bean), the British music scene is one of the most diverse and vibrant in the world and British literature is celebrated around the globe. And of course, we should celebrate the great British institutions, like the BBC and the NHS, which are both completely unique. Politically, we are both liberal and socialist, defending the rights of the individual and fiercely protecting the welfare state and institutions like the NHS, but also celebrating our monarchy. We are diverse and we are inclusive.

Danny Boyle reminded us of these facts by doing nothing more than putting on a terribly British show. For that alone, at least in my eyes, he is both a genius and a national hero.

NaBloPoMo Day 29 - Another day, another chance to sing

This will probably be a fairly quick one, mainly because I need to get out with the dog and I want to finish watching X-Factor but I really wanted to mention a cool (in more ways than one) thing that I did today.

Today, England played Wales in the Rugby League Four Nations competition at the Leigh Sports Village. I, along with a bunch of my fellow Sing Live members were fortunate and honoured to have the chance to sing the national anthems on the pitch before the start of the match.

It was an early start, to get up, dog walked, both of us fed and watered, showered (that's me, not the dog), dressed and out the door to get to Pennington Flash before 9.30am. Arrival at the car park set the pattern for the day: standing around in the cold. We had a very successful rehearsal in the stadium - although the groundsman gave strict orders to stay off the pitch - and considering that it was the first chance we had to try the two anthems with the band and with each other, I think that on its own was an achievement. After some car moving and lunch, we had a blessedly warm practice in the dressing room and then lined up to go out on the pitch for the performance. Unfortunately the lining up was outside and it hadn't warmed up much since the morning, and then even when we got out on the pitch we were waiting for around twenty minutes before the actual singing. By the time we'd finished, I had cramp in one foot and in my hand but it was a great experience and I would do it again a million times... in fact I am doing it again in November in Hull for Wales v Australia.

Sure, there were a few issues surrounding car parking and I had to move my car a total of three times, and there really was a lot of standing around in the cold, but that can hardly be helped. Overall, it was a generally well organised day and we were provided with a really nice lunch and the people who looked after us we great and made sure we had everything we needed.The Welsh National Anthem is a beautiful melody and I thoroughly enjoyed learning and singing it. Although I think I'm going to have to find a harmony for the next time we do it because it's ridiculously high. And despite what people say, I think God Save the Queen is a stirring anthem and it's a pleasure to sing. The soloist was a lovely young singer named Megan Armstrong, who (I'm told) is the brother of a young rugby star. She was fantastic and has a stunning and powerful soprano voice and she looked amazing in a black sparkly number for the performance. And all of this was possible with Sing Live.

I know I've beaten this drum before, but I really do think that Sing Live is the best opportunity for ordinary people like me, who can hit a note, but have a thoroughly ordinary voice, to sing in brilliant venues and at big events like this. As my husband said earlier, this is the second time I have been on TV in just over a year. Short of getting on one of the talent contests (not going to happen!) how else would I get that chance?

NaBloPoMo Day 4 - The Little Pub That Could

In the news today is the story of pub landlady, Karen Murphy, who took on football's English Premier League and broadcaster, BSkyB, in the High Court. Karen Murphy had used a Greek TV broadcast to show Premier League football matches on the TV in her Red White and Blue pub in Portsmouth, at a cost of £118 per month instead of the usual £480 fee payable to Sky. When she was prosecuted for breaching Copyright rules, she had to pay £8,000 in fines, but she took her case to the High Court. Today comes the news that the European Court of Justice, to which the case had been referred for guidance, has said that national laws that prohibit the import, sale or use of foreign decoder cards and equipment are contrary to the free European market. It's not quite a victory, as the High Court will now have to review the case and make a final decision, but it's a big step. But what does this ruling mean for broadcasters?

Sky, ESPN and the Premier League stand to lose out on a proportion of their income from the sport of football if the High Court upholds ECJ guidance, as there is the potential that many private individuals as well as venues like pubs might make a move to a cheaper foreign subscription service. At the very least, the ruling could have an impact on how the broadcast rights for Premier League football are sold in the EU, but there is a wider implication for other types of broadcast and to film distribution as well, where rights are sold on a country by country basis.

There is, however, a potential grace for broadcasters in that ultimately the High Court might only apply the ruling to sport and even then, with certain caveats. In the details of the ruling, the ECJ said that copyright rules did not apply to football matches as live sport is not consider "works" requiring copyright protection. It seems, however, that any on screen graphics and pre-recorded content are included in copyright rules and as such, pubs may still need to have permission (through the use of an authorised broadcaster) in order to show matches including this kind of content.

Either way, it is certainly an interesting development that could change the face of broadcasting live sport, and possibly other content too. And at the end of the day, I wonder who will remember that the changes are the result of one woman's fight against these huge organisations, and that it all started in the Red White and Blue pub in Portsmouth?

Caster Semenya - All Woman?

When an 18 year old girl runs to a stunning victory in an athletics competition, one would expect testing for performance enhancing drugs, but it isn't often that you see the individuals sex being called into question.

Last week, Caster Semenya, a South African runner aged just 18 years old, won gold in the women's 800m in Berlin with a time of 1:55.45. Even before she ran in the final, questions were already being raised about her gender due to her broad, muscular physique.

In general, I agree with IAAF spokesman, Nick Davies, who said "There is a need to make sure the rules are followed". However, this gender test seems grossly unfair to me. It is true that she whooped the rest of the finalists in the event, beating the reigning champion, Janeth Jepkosqei Busienei, by nearly two and a half seconds, but the South African is still two seconds off the world record, which has remained unbeaten since 1983. It's not been made clear where the accusation, or suspicion has come from, but it is based entirely on Semenya's appearance. As far as I can see she is a typical female athlete: toned, muscular with very little bust. The only difference between Semenya and her rivals is the fact that she has slightly broader shoulders and short hair.

It's sad that even now, when women have much greatly equality than we have had previously, that women still have to conform to a set of physical expectations and rules. I wonder, if Caster had grown her hair long prior to this competition, would the same accusation have been made? Perhaps next time she runs, she should wear a skirt and high heels just to be on the safe side?