Olympics bonus for MP Andy

9:45am Tuesday 26th August 2008

MOST of the time I don’t envy Leigh’s Minister for Culture, Sport and the Media Andy Burnham MP his job - but I do now.

On Monday last week he flew out to the Olympics where he was lucky enough to have a VIP seat in the magnificent new Birds Nest stadium in Beijing.

Something of a change from Sunday when he was at the soon-to-be-defunct Hilton Park where he joined Leigh’s past players and fans to say goodbye to the old stadium after 60 years . . .

Talk about from one end of the spectrum to the other.

I’m almost Olympic-ked out. Since the athletics started I’ve been up most nights tuning in to live events. More fool me.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but must admit I’m totally baffled by the different cycling disciplines.

I can’t understand why they don’t just have fast races from the start instead of following each other like a cat and mouse - and in some cases hovering behind a little moped?

Having said that the team performance has been tremendous and they should surely win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year team title.

As for the sailing, well I fail to see any spectator thrills in that. Sorry all you local sailors.

All in all I think we have the national lottery backing to thank for the fantastic performance of our elite athletes and perhaps by 2012 and London some of our Leigh hopefuls will have received its backing to help them on their way to glory.