Love it or hate it, BBC won’t let you ignore it
Commonwealth Games coverage, while in-depth, overplayed its role of trying to inspire nation,
I do not give a monkey’s about diving or mountainbiking. Why should I pretend I do?
The BBC coverage of the Commonwealth Games needed a big finish – and got two unmissable moments for the Sunday morning audience.
First, sport’s agony, when Scottish marathon runner Callum Hawkins went down in a heap: a ghoulishly fascinating sight shown multiple times. Second, sport’s ecstasy: the thrill of a last-second win for England’s netball team over Australia and their wild celebrations.
The rest of the morning on BBC Two was given over to the closing ceremony, a guileless but harmless mixture of precocious children performing poetry, politicians taking a rare chance to speak without everyone hating them and domesticquality pop stars enjoying a taste of the big time.
Kylie Minogue – Australia’s one true queen and their only fair dinkum, internationally significant performer now that Steve Smith is sitting out his ban – was working elsewhere, a huge setback for the leadership group and no doubt the cause of further national weeping.
And there was, of course, the gently fluorescent lighting. Always with the gently fluorescent lighting. If I had my time again I would invest in those translucent plastic cubes they put bulbs in during Games ceremonies: these multi-purpose gizmos used to represent everything from the environment (we must care for it), inclusivity (in favour of this) and children (the future).
Chuck in a choir harmonising “ahhhh” and some tribal drums and your ceremony is home and dry.
For the finale, a young person performed the 1980 hit Xanadu, originally a joint venture between Olivia Newtonjohn – who is a de facto Aussie – and the Electric Light Orchestra, who were formed in Birmingham. Geddit?
The international spirit of sporting friendship as represented by this sustainably powered glowing wicker donkey now passes to … and blah-di-blah-blah, you know the rest. The BBC wrapped up, and everyone seemed well pleased.
The BBC coverage of the Games was everything we have come to expect.
Comprehensive, yet also focused squarely on the Brits. Telling stories with an eye for the human angle, always aware of a perceived need to give the personal-life backstory to the individual’s “incredible journey”.
Plenty of Clare, as per the 2007 Balding Act mandating no television station can broadcast for more than two hours without her presence.
The BBC sought always to place the Games in a 2018 social context (homophobia, the participation of undemocratic nations at international beanos, women in sport, transgender issues). There was the familiar sense that decent people behind the camera feel passionately they are doing things the right way. And on-screen, a battery of jolly hockeysticks types urging the viewer to get involved, to be inspired, eat your sporting five-a-day. All of this either adds up to a national institution using its powers for good, or a form of nanny state social engineering. Each of us has his or her own view.
Personally, I could not give a monkey’s about diving or mountainbiking, and why should I pretend I do? However, if others like them, or might grow up to participate in them, I am happy to pay £150.50 a year for that public good to be available on TV.
With the Winter Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games, TV schedules have been packed to bursting with sport, only not really the sport we are bothered about.
Thank God the World Cup is coming soon.