Failure of leadership
Your article about the World Health Organisation’s inquiry into the source of the pandemic was interesting but also scary, given we cannot trust them to be totally professional in their service to us.
So much devastation has been caused by the virus to millions of people around the world, but the WHO chose to play politics.
Isn’t it time that they themselves are investigated for their utter failure?
W. Samaratunga, Bexley
ANDY BUTCHART was floored by a sucker punch at the European Indoor selection trials yesterday but the Scottish star insists he will pick himself off the canvas and chase gold in Poland next month.
Dunblane’s dynamo lowered his Scottish 3,000metres record to 7:40.85 in Karlsruhe last month but, over the same distance, he was chased down by the unheralded Jack Rowe on the last lap in Manchester to come off second best.
The 29-year-old, who will chase redemption over 1500m today, is still a dead cert for selection but it was a timely reminder that there are no guaranteed wins.
The Rio Olympic finalist said: ‘Jack ran really well. I got hit by a sniper with 200m to go, I had nothing. It was nice to get a race in. I know it isn’t British Championships, but I’m thankful this race was put on and it was a really strong field.’
With no UK titles on offer after the cancellation of the domestic championships in Glasgow, it is no shock that many big names opted to stay away, with Neil Gourley choosing to skip the 1500m and rely on a wild card following his time of 3:35.79 in midweek that made him the fifth-quickest Brit of all-time.
‘I’m going to stay put and train and hope for selection,’ said the Glaswegian.
Zoey Clark admits, however, that sitting out for 15 months during lockdown has left her all-in for any competition on offer. And she breezed into today’s 400m final by winning her heat in 52.23 seconds.
‘I’m just filled with joy to be racing again,’ said the world and European medallist.
At the second trials site in London, her fellow Aberdonian Alisha Rees won the women’s 60m in 7.37 secs but is set to miss out on the Euros despite the withdrawal of Dina Asher-Smith.
‘I would have liked to have gone a bit quicker,’ she said.