I saw with interest that the International Olympic Committee (the IOC; as we have to abbreviate everything these days,) have decided to add Breakdancing as an Olympic sport when the games are held in Paris in 2024. My initial reaction was one of utter dismay.

In my mind, being an old curmudgeon. The Olympics should solely be an athletics-based competition; as in the ancient Greek times. Hurling lethal weapons, racing around a track and swimming across a pool; not necessarily all at the same time, although that would be interesting to watch.

But of course, now that the line has been blurred between the amateur status of athletes and the crude world of commercialism, we have seen the crazy introduction of (amongst others;) tennis, football and even golf!

For the Tokyo games, now to be held next year; we have the introduction of karate, sport climbing, skateboarding, baseball and surfing. So, is there a place for breakdancing? Well, I have to say ‘yes’.

If it is going to make the games more appealing to the young folk of the world then the decision is a great one.

The IOC Organising Committee see the need to embrace the trend of urbanisation and innovation of sport and rightly so. My only regret is that we won’t be hearing the late great David Coleman describing the technicalities of The Baby Freeze or The Sixstep Movement or the Kip-up. Maybe we will get Brendan Foster giving us a technique demonstration The Worm.

All this seems a million miles away from the ideals of the origin of the Games some two thousand seven hundred years ago (there or thereabouts, even I wasn’t around to take note.) In ancient Greece, where the games started as a religious festival held in honour of the King Of Gods, the mighty Zeus.

Over fifty thousand men, boys and bizarrely, unmarried women gathered for the games. Any married women unluckily caught attending could find themselves being legitimately thrown off a mountainside as punishment. A bit harsh, and nowadays would be frowned upon.

I can’t imagine that in today’s society a huge gathering of all the different religions of the world would end that well either.

And as for the custom of the sacrificing of one hundred oxen on the Altar of Zeus on the third day of the games being reintroduced; well let’s just run that by The Vegan Society shall we? Maybe instead there should be the introduction of a barbecue that caters for all dietary requirements.

To continue along on this sporting theme; I have a request on behalf of the shopkeepers and small enterprises that abound in our area. As we all sprint towards the Christmas finishing line, it is all too easy to reach for the keyboard, press a button and put money into the coffers of the low corporate tax paying global supermarket that shall remain nameless.

I am as guilty as the next person, but this year please spare a thought for our local small businesses that have really been hit hard by the Covid pandemic. Some have managed to get by with online sales and or click and collect service. There are some great gifts available to be had in the town, both new, antique and recycled.

They are all just a short stroll away; just mind out for the swarm of white delivery vans currently hurtling around the town as you cross the roads. Alternatively, many small enterprises have items listed on local social media sites.

Others have shops on websites such as Etsy. Here you can find a whole host of worldwide treasures, but all supplied by small independent traders. The added bonus here is that you get to speak to someone who really appreciates your custom and will be only too happy to help you. Please support local entrepreneurs and make their Christmas great too.