ditzy 24//7
Active member
hello there everyone just had a thought :-\ what do people think about the idea of having caving put on the tv as an olimpic sport?
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caving as an olimpic sport
- Thread starter ditzy 24//7
- Start date
ditzy 24//7
Active member
ian.p that is a good point i see what you mean
francis
New member
Sounds like a very non cave friendly thing to. When i go caving i do it to experience the beauty of the cave, not to compete with the other people on the trip. A better idea would be to have SRT races and obsticle courses where it doesn't matter if things get broken or worn.
Francis
Francis
ditzy 24//7
Active member
francis that a good idea about the SRT races and obstacle courses
AndyF
New member
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! 
Look what happened to climbing.
Climb --> Sport ---> Money ---> Bitchiness ---> Drugs/doping ---> Cheating -----> Rules ----> Insurance = Spoilt
Joe Caverat has tested positive for a banned substance and has been banned from Peak cavern for two seasons...no thanks
I go caving to get away from that kind of cr*p.....
Look what happened to climbing.
Climb --> Sport ---> Money ---> Bitchiness ---> Drugs/doping ---> Cheating -----> Rules ----> Insurance = Spoilt
Joe Caverat has tested positive for a banned substance and has been banned from Peak cavern for two seasons...no thanks
I go caving to get away from that kind of cr*p.....
cap n chris
Well-known member
Hi Ditzy 24:7, it's good for younger people to have ideas which may be innovative for UK caving; unfortunately you've picked on a topic which is not new and has had lots of earnest debate/arguments about it over the years - the outcome is that UK Caving's National/Regional bodies frown upon any competitive use of caves since it is not good for conservation and encourages people to rush in an environment where they ought to be going more slowly, if anything!
However, you may be surprised to hear that there actually IS going to be an Olympic-style event covering caving techniques in Spain next year IIRC - I'm sure if you trawl google you'll find out more: the event acknowledges that caves are not the ideal place for people to put their competitive streak into action showing others how well they can engage in technical caving progression maneouvres such as SRT so that's why they're holding it above ground. Hey ho! Perhaps one day you'll represent the UK!
However, you may be surprised to hear that there actually IS going to be an Olympic-style event covering caving techniques in Spain next year IIRC - I'm sure if you trawl google you'll find out more: the event acknowledges that caves are not the ideal place for people to put their competitive streak into action showing others how well they can engage in technical caving progression maneouvres such as SRT so that's why they're holding it above ground. Hey ho! Perhaps one day you'll represent the UK!
ditzy 24//7
Active member
ok thanx cap 'n chris
graham
New member
Some of the guys went to Pakistan a few years back and returned with medals for caving. The point is that in that country, no sport gets any sort of grant aid unless there are performance targets of some type & medals to be won, so the local federation has devised a scheme to suit.
[rant]Caving in this country gets feck all government assistance (compare and contrast with France where, so I am told, the FFS has two government funded administrators loaned by the civil service) and all such non-medal awarding activities will see their help, funding and indeed status falling further and further as this stupid country of ours pumps more and more resources into the black hole known as the London Olympics 2012.[/rant]
[rant]Caving in this country gets feck all government assistance (compare and contrast with France where, so I am told, the FFS has two government funded administrators loaned by the civil service) and all such non-medal awarding activities will see their help, funding and indeed status falling further and further as this stupid country of ours pumps more and more resources into the black hole known as the London Olympics 2012.[/rant]
Hughie
Active member
Why on earth should caving receive any government funding? The only acheivment in that will be political interference and increased bureacracy, and ultimately - as AnyF said - spoilt.
Can caving even be described as a sport? - it's such a diverse activity. Surely it's a pastime, possibly an obsessional pastime in the case of digging.
Can caving even be described as a sport? - it's such a diverse activity. Surely it's a pastime, possibly an obsessional pastime in the case of digging.
graham
New member
Don't get me wrong, I am not simply arguing the case for government funding for cavers. However, blokes with helmets on who go underground is only part of the issue. We already have a bureaucracy, dealing with access issues of various types and with insurance (like it or not) and we have to hold our own against other vested interests from mineral extraction companies to bat groups whose fields overlap with ours even if they don't directly clash with us.
All this takes time and effort. All this effort is subtracted from time spent either caving, earning a living or being with one's family*. There are times when a bit of outside help would not come amiss. Other activities attract support, are we and our caves less worthy than them?
*Example, a planning issue has come up here which may or may not impact on a local cave. Seven volunteers will be out tomorrow, probably for most of a working day, helping to resolve it. Fortunately the people concerned can spare the time.
All this takes time and effort. All this effort is subtracted from time spent either caving, earning a living or being with one's family*. There are times when a bit of outside help would not come amiss. Other activities attract support, are we and our caves less worthy than them?
*Example, a planning issue has come up here which may or may not impact on a local cave. Seven volunteers will be out tomorrow, probably for most of a working day, helping to resolve it. Fortunately the people concerned can spare the time.
AndyF
New member
graham said:
*Sigh* I wish I had a caving medal
This country is medal obsessed, the older peeps here will remember Zola Bud (SA) who got Uk citizenship so she could win a medal for us...haha, what a joke. That made us look good I don't think.
Isn't it taking part that is important? - the real heros are the "Eddie the Eagle" people, who have no chance but get out there and give it 110%.
Cave_Troll
Active member
a lot of univerity caving has had historical problems as they had to fill in forms like
"how often do you comepte at BUSA level" [if 'not at all' then reduce funding]
"how many medals did your team win last year" [if <1 then reduce funding]
"are you the rugby or hockey club?" [if no then reduce funding]
"how often do you comepte at BUSA level" [if 'not at all' then reduce funding]
"how many medals did your team win last year" [if <1 then reduce funding]
"are you the rugby or hockey club?" [if no then reduce funding]
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