Tom Daley Has a Boyfriend, Who Cares?

Online Features Editor Meg Lawrence explains why knowing Tom Daley’s sexuality shouldn’t be a big issue.

On Monday, Olympic diver Tom Daley released a video via his Twitter account, saying that he had a boyfriend. It was a brave, public thing to do which has sparked media attention across the country. But in this day and age, it’s wrong that anyone should feel the need to make a video stating they are in a gay relationship; straight celebrities don’t announce their new relationships, but those who are gay or bisexual feel that they have almost a duty to ‘come out’. If society was truly accepting of homosexual relationships, Tom Daley wouldn’t have felt the need to dedicate a video explaining his.

Image credit: Jim Thurston

In the five and a half minute video, Tom says: ‘People are going to make a big deal of this. Is it a big deal? I don’t think is. But I wanted to say something and I feel like now I’m ready and I wanted to do it.’ It’s not a big deal, and although Daley was very open about his relationship, the fact that he felt he had to tell the world, to explain himself, shows that we are not as open about gay and bisexual relationships as we should be.

Owen Jones, British author, columnist and commentator wrote an article for The Independent in 2012, in which he argued that those who are gay or bisexual shouldn’t feel the need to ‘come out.’ He said that: ‘The very fact that coming out- whether you’re a TV anchor, pop star, teacher or train driver- remains such an event shows how far the struggle for equality has to go.’

He went on to say that: ‘We will have achieved total equality when “coming out” is completely abolished as a process. Being gay will not be seen as a separate, defining identity. The frequent social segregation of LGBT and straight people will be ended.’

Tom Daley’s honesty and pride will hopefully help to eradicate the homophobia that many people in society still convey. Daley said in his video that: ‘Come spring this year, my life changed massively when I met someone and it made me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great. And that someone is a guy – and it did take me by surprise a little bit.’ The more open people are about their sexuality, the more accepting others should be of it. Still, it’s abhorrent that anyone has anything negative to say on the subject.

Tom Daley twitter abuse
Image Credits: Storify

Tom Daley twitter abuse
Image Credits: Storify

Whilst many people have been supportive of Daley since he announced that he was bisexual, there are of course those on Twitter and other public domains voicing homophobic views, with one girl even saying: ‘I can’t believe Tom Daley is gay I’m not a fan of his anymore! he’s (sic) going to hell it’s Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.’

It is also appalling that Daley felt obliged to confirm in the video that his dad would have approved of his sexuality, stating that: ‘People will say, “What would your dad have said?” But he always said, “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.” And I’ve never been happier.’ Daley’s sexual preference isn’t for anyone to question or discuss.

Already, Daley’s video, entitled Tom Daley: Something I want to Say… has had over 1,780,000 views (as of 8.30pm 02/12/13) on YouTube. Only one of his other 102 videos on YouTube has more views than this, which may be because it involves Team GB dancing to LMFAO’s Sexy And I Know It.

Why has the video gained so much attention? Being gay or bisexual is not a new, unheard of idea. In a survey conducted by the Office of National Statistics in 2011, it was revealed that approximately 545,000 adults identified themselves as Gay or Lesbian. Furthermore, 220,000 adults identified themselves as Bisexual. Although it’s in human nature to be nosy, to gossip, I hope that people’s interest in Daley spans further than this, that he will have had an impact on those who had been homophobic before, and that they will realise it is not unnatural to be gay or bisexual.

Image Credits: The Guardian

Statistics also show that the younger people are, the more likely they are to state they are gay or bisexual. 2.7 per cent of people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four have openly stated that they were gay or bisexual in the UK, compared to 0.5 percent of over sixty-fives.

Clearly, society is becoming more open when it comes to homosexuality. The more it is talked about and integrated into every day life, the less prejudice will surround it.

However, as Owen Jones said, sexual inequality and prejudice will exist until the day that people like Tom Daley feel they have to announce their sexual orientation to the world, and to justify it.

Tom Daley is an Olympic diver. He hopes to win the Gold medal in Rio in 2016. He was a mentor on Splash! on ITV, and in interviews seems like a genuinely nice guy. This is all I need to know about him, knowing that he is bisexual doesn’t change any of these facts. The sooner society accepts that being gay and bisexual is just as ‘normal’ as being straight, the better life will be for everyone.

Watch Tom Daley’s video here.

Meg Lawrence, Online Features Editor

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Gearing up or slowing down? The perks and pitfalls of cycling in the UK

British cycling successes have motivated even more people to take to their bikes. Picture: tejvanphotos

Despite its recent resurgence in popularity with Wiggins at the vanguard, cycling in the UK still faces many challenges, something that road cyclist and University Cycling Club member Arthur der Weduwen knows all too well.

Cycling is currently experiencing a renaissance in England. Increased environmental and health awareness, coupled with the strains of the global economic crisis, has turned many to the bike – be it for commutes, exercise, or sport. The efforts of British Cycling have also shone through on a professional level. British cyclists are now among the best in the world, from success on the track to success on the road, which culminated in Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France victory last year. This rise has motivated even more people to take up cycling as an alternative mode of sport and transport, with cycling stores citing greater sales than ever.

However, this renaissance, like any other, shakes the foundations of the old order and creates new problems. Whereas cyclists in England used to be represented by few, they have become a distinct physical presence. This has caused considerable friction on the narrow roads of England, both in urban and rural areas. Subsequently, cyclists are the ones who have lost the wrestle. According to the Times, the year 2012 saw a record number of cyclist deaths in the UK (122). The Guardian has voiced similar concern, stating that accidents involving cyclists have risen sharply over the last five years. These accidents are mainly with cars and around 90% of the accidents are quoted as not being the fault of the cyclist.

On 8 November, Bradley Wiggins was hit by a van on a training ride. The next morning, Shane Sutton, the head coach of British Cycling, was also

Bradley Wiggins: an inspiration to cycling Brits. Picture: robkingcameraman

hit by a car, similarly landing in the hospital. Whereas a ‘regular’ cyclist would not receive much media attention if he/she was hit, Wiggins’ and Sutton’s accidents raised immediate concern. However, next to the voices raising the question of safety and calling for more protection on the roads, others rose up saying the contrary: the blame lay with cycling as an institution and its crazy, lycra-clad adherents. The Guardian quoted one person who stated that “one thing that really annoys me is when cyclists use the road when my hard earned taxes have gone into providing cycle paths”.

Similarly, if you enter the words “cycling” and “hate” together into Google, you will stumble upon Twitter feeds, blogs, and websites dedicated to complaining about and wishing death to cyclists.

Of course, road rage incidents driven by hate remain relatively rare. Most accidents are caused by the state of England’s infrastructure. English roads are narrow, designed purely for two, if not one, cars moving in opposite directions. Because cycling has suddenly surged in attention and popularity, cyclists have flooded the roads, becoming a permanent presence whilst a lot of drivers aren’t used to them. They are simply not looking out for cyclists and have no idea how to drive around, and with them.

In Amsterdam, bikes dominate the streets. Picture: I_am_Allan

The problem of infrastructure has added a constant stream of abuse and frustration to any cyclist’s ride. Whenever I go on a 40-mile club ride with the University cycling team, we get on average three or four drivers almost slamming into us, and many more shouting, swearing, and honking aggressively. As a Dutchman from Amsterdam, a city where bikes dominate the road, this seems ridiculous. It is common that countries which spawn many successful professional cyclists have a respectful attitude towards cyclists on the road. In Spain, cars will wait minutes behind a cyclist going uphill at ten miles per hour, without honking or swearing. In England, they won’t wait a second, even if the country is currently producing some of the best professionals around.

On the other hand, it should be noted that most drivers would never think of doing something hateful towards cyclists. Nor are cyclists angels on the road: they can ride recklessly as well and are a part of the problem. However, in the end, the cyclist is not usually the instigator of accidents, because he/she has no reason to do so. The cyclist is exposed, fragile, and goes fast enough to land in the hospital.

In the end, what does all this say about the future of cycling in England? Olympic and professional success has created a new culture of cycling, but will this culture last? Is it viable to exist in a country which has no infrastructure designed for cycling and no great history of the sport?

It is a dilemma. Cycling will either weather the storm and integrate, or it will die as soon as the professional achievements disappear.

I hope for the former. If England wants to be healthier, more environmentally-friendly, and most of all, safer, then the protection of cyclists through infrastructural reforms is essential. If everyone is praising Bradley Wiggins and going wild for the Olympics, then they should also have more concern for the average cyclist out there. Wiggins too was one of those once.

What is left for the future of cycling in Britain? Picture:tejvanphotos

What will patriotism look like in 2013?

Imogen Watson discusses what it means to be patriotic in Britain today and shares her predictions for 2013.

After one or two false starts, 2012 was very much a year of flag-waving, national self-confidence and, dare it be said, patriotism here in the United Kingdom. Permit me if you will to put the state of the economy temporarily to one side. If you missed the coverage of the Thirtieth Olympiad and the Diamond Jubilee, you can only have been hiding under a rock; even being on the other side of the world does not constitute an excuse in this day and age with the global interest in these events being quite as it was. So with just under twelve months ahead of us, how can this year match the last? Should it? As a country viewed as somewhat self-deprecating and reserved, does this kind of national recognition even have a place in our everyday society or does it in fact turn us into something we are not?

The Brits are a cool, guarded, polite people; stoicism is our middle name. Everyone personally knows the Queen, perfect tea comes out of the taps, and we spend whole afternoons and evenings down in the pub drinking pints or out on the green playing cricket. This is all true of course only if you were to pay any attention to the rest of the world and, let us be honest here, that is not exactly a key British trait.

Our true eccentricities abounded during the summer months as we floated boats galore down the Thames and scared small children in hospital beds with giant versions of Lord Voldemort and the Child Catcher in the middle of a sports stadium. Someone even let Mr Bean play the piano. The humour and happiness of the London 2012 Games Makers have gone viral, and it seems that even if no one quite understands us, the vast majority of the international community enjoyed the spectacles, at least enough to broadcast them in all types of news coverage.

Photo credits to SouthEastern Star

Moreover, the Union Flag is popular again. In Britain, the British National Party has used it as their logo for years now, yet abroad it is fashionable to wear it on every item of clothing: bags, shoes, earrings, scarves, t-shirts. You name it, and it is out there. It may come as a surprise to know that it is even popular in France, that country which supposedly hates us. So if the rest of the world can love it, it is surely time to continue the trend of 2012 and take it back completely from the hands of the likes of the BNP. It has been a statement of being a racist, but no more. It must become again a statement of tolerance. The flag is ours if we want to use it and certainly not the property of a tiny minority that the majority cannot stand.

 

It is not that we ought to join the ranks of the countries which demonstrate their patriotic tendencies for everyone to see – after all there is only just about room for one United States of America on this planet – as flags around all our public buildings, for example, has simply never been, and never will be, our style. However we ought to lose our fear and embarrassment of proclaiming our national pride when appropriate, now we know our abilities in overcoming last-minute difficulties to put on a show. 

2013 lacks the major national festivities of last year, and therefore opportunities for us to all unite and complain outwardly about everything that we secretly rather enjoy. But perhaps our patriotism is in fact best as it is: subtle and infrequent. It exists in everyday actions and helps make us what we are but big displays are just unnecessary (except the obligatory Last Night of the Proms).  When the British come together in our own slightly bizarre way on an international scale, the surprise and puzzlement of the rest of the world is frankly one of the best bits.  Now we are thoroughly aware of our successes in 2012 and will be able to repeat them when the time comes, without blowing our own trumpets. Instead we just accept it, and move on. So on reflection, then, maybe this article was badly thought-out. Maybe none of this should have ever been said. I apologise – I temporarily forgot how to be British. Please, forget that you ever read this.

Exeter University make offer to Daley

Exeter University is understood to have made an offer to Olympic medallist, 18-year-old Tom Daley. This is now the second known offer Plymouth born Daley has received, with Plymouth University also having made an offer.

The two universities are now head to head in order to win over Daley, who specializes in the 10 metre Men’s Diving and who achieved a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Photo credits to Georgie Gillard/Georgie Gillard/ Nopp

Despite Exeter recently being named University of the year by The Sunday Times University Guide and also ranked as best for teaching in the South West, Plymouth may seem more appealing to diving loving Daley as Plymouth is investing £4 million in a new diver training centre. However, Daley’s degree would need to accommodate his intensive training as he prepares for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Daley, who currently stars on ITV’s ‘Splash!’ attracting 6.2 million viewers every Saturday night, is believed to be interested in pursuing a degree in Media. However, whether he chooses Exeter or Plymouth, Daley is still unsure of whether he will take a year out after completing his A-level exams (including Spanish and Maths) at Plymouth College in the summer.

 

By Caitlin Synnott

Inspiring a generation: a critical look at London 2012

Photo credits to Richard Parmiter

Everyone who was lucky enough to receive tickets for the Olympic or Paralympic Games will agree that London 2012 not only will live long in the collective memory, but also, in the words of Lord Coe, will ‘inspire a generation’ of future British athletes. However, surprisingly, it was Jacques Rogge’s speech at the Opening Ceremony that seemed to resonate even more, when looking back over the events of the last 6 weeks. What struck me was that the President of the IOC seemed keen on emphasising how all the athletes were champions in their own right before competition had even begun, an honour determined by ‘how you compete’, not ‘whether you win.’

This epitomises the spirit of the Games: that anybody from any background can take part, and that winning the gold medal isn’t always the be all and end all. For this reason, a few incidents in the Olympic Games that went against these core values made for uncomfortable viewing. On the final day, for example, there were one or two stand-out moments. Camera operators are experts at catching displays of emotion, and diver Qiu Bo’s stony face upon receiving his medal, combined with fresh tears on the face of one of his coaches encapsulated the team’s despair at finishing 2^nd in the men’s 10m platform. This perfectly contrasted with Tom

Photo credits to jaloisiosoares

Daley’s jubilant bronze medal celebration. If we keep in mind the death of his father, it is highly admirable that he managed to compete to such a high standard which resulted in a finish only 12 points off gold. Another marvellous reaction to coming third came from Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in the men’s tennis. If one hadn’t known the context of his win over Novak Djokovic, it would have seemed like he had just won a Grand Slam, the biggest tennis prize on offer. Considering this was not the case, we must give the 6”6’ ‘Tower of Tandil’ huge credit.

In the archery, one scenario made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. South Korea’s Ki Bo-bae provided a somewhat different show of emotion, not so much ungrateful, but instead unnecessary and slightly amusing. Apologising to her country for a score of 8 when apparently it wasn’t possible for “Koreans to shoot 8s”, combined with yet more tears, certainly made for quite a few furrowed brows. What links the world champions Qiu Bo and Ki Bo-bae together is a set of attitudes that arguably do not comply with what the Olympics are supposed to be about. It is a question of mental mindset, something that in retrospect may be hard to change for future Olympic Games.

Fair play is another Olympic ideal of paramount importance that has been upheld for much of these Games. Yet there was one shambolic fiasco in the women’s badminton which threatened to undo all that. Uppermost in the minds of four teams (two from South Korea, one from Indonesia and China) was the opposite of what one would expect: to lose as badly as possible. This ‘sickening, disgusting’ occurrence, according to retired badminton great Gail Emms, involved more serving into the net than in, let’s say, a match featuring myself vs. Boris Johnson! Regrettably, this was only made possible by a relatively new, controversial group stage system.

The Paralympic Games did not escape such negative attention either. Oscar Pistorius, arguably the face of Paralympism, caused a stir in the aftermath of his first defeat in a 200m final, complaining about the lengthy blades of Brazilian winner Alan Oliveira being a decisive factor in the race. The South African is no stranger to controversy himself, seeing his unfortunately named “Cheetah Flex-Foot” blades being outlawed way back in 2008. Nevertheless, the “Blade Runner” would go on to redress the balance in the T44 400m sprint, fittingly winning a gold medal in the final athletics race of London 2012. It remains to be seen though, whether such deep issues manifest in both forms of the Olympic Games will be addressed in time.

Photo credits to pallab seth

Despite this,  the Olympics were an outstanding success. Some people believed London would be ill-prepared to cope with the burdens that accompany hosting both Olympic Games. Mitt Romney’s immensely unpopular and somewhat misguided comments immediately come to mind. These were memorably rebutted by Boris Johnson in the most epic of circumstances at Hyde Park. Yes, there were problems concerning the security firm G4S amongst others, however, the vast majority of these were successfully overcome. The result has been a Games to remember and savour, not just for Britain. In fact, one could say this was a breakthrough Olympic Games in every sense of the word. It was one where, perhaps most importantly of all, every country had female athletes for the first time, one where two iconic athletes performed each other’s trademark celebrations, the Mo-Bot and lightening poses (the Mo-Bolt?),  in an outstanding show of mutual respect. Also of great significance, the Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was allowed to race alongside fully able-bodied competitors, who, at the end, exhibited great sportsmanship. The 23 year-old Kenyan David Rudisha put in one of the all time great performances to break the men’s 800m Olympic record as well. It’s fair to say these Olympics haven’t been short on spectacle.

It was even more amazing to see the Paralympic Games exceed all expectations, being the equal of the Olympic Games in every respect; from ticket sales to heroic performances on land and in water. Several heroes arose: Jamie Peacock (100m sprint), David Weir (wheelchair athlete, 4 golds) and Ellie Simmonds (swimming, 2 golds), whilst Sarah Storey swept into the record books with 11 Paralympic medals now to her name. Certainly, the Paralympics have continued the outstanding sporting legacy the Olympic Games have left behind. Above all, we must not forget that it was at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire, where the idea of the Paralympics was born, very much a feather in the cap for British sporting history.  All in all, you can understand then, the motives behind Boris Johnson’s claim that these Olympic and Paralympic Games have contributed not only to the greatest sporting summer in British history, but of all time as well.

Elliot Lang

British sporting summer 2012: Editors' picks

Photo credits to Angela N

As the summer of sport draws to a close, Sports Editors George Hobbs and Jamie Klein take a look back at some of the heroes who made 2012 a year to remember for British sport:

1. Andy Murray (Tennis)

Following his latest Major final defeat at the hands of Roger Federer at Wimbledon, Murray finally cemented his place as a British sporting hero during the Olympics, as he crushed the same Swiss who had rolled him over on the very same court in SW19 just four weeks prior.  That Gold Medal seemed to free Murray from the shackles of his ‘perpetual bottler’ image and thirty-six days later he clinched his first Major at the US Open in imperious fashion, edging Novak Djokovic in a thrilling final.

2. Mo Farah (Athletics)

On ‘Super Saturday’, Farah ignited the Olympic Stadium and the whole of Britain by surging to victory on the last lap of the 10,000m.  An event seemingly monopolised by Kenyans and Ethiopians over recent years, Farah became the first British gold medallist in the event ever.  His win in the 5000m the following week was equally composed, whilst his celebratory ‘Mo-bot’ pose ranks alongside Usain Bolt’s ‘To Di World’ salute as iconic images of the London Games.

3. Bradley Wiggins (Cycling)

 

Wiggins successfully ended an agonising 99-year wait for a British winner in the Tour de France, never losing the lead of the general classification that he picked up on the seventh stage. ‘Wiggo’ held on to win the Tour by a margin of three minutes from fellow Team Sky rider Chris Froome, before taking the fourth Olympic gold medal of his career in the Men’s road time trial event at London 2012.

4. Rory McIlroy (Golf)

The loyal British sporting public can be forgiven for not giving golf equal attention this summer. While Emma Bunton’s head was popping out of a black cab in a stadium in Stratford, Rory McIlroy was cruising to his second Major victory in South Carolina.  Fourteen months after his US Open win – also by eight shots – Northern Ireland’s finest was at it again, pulling away on a windy Sunday as America’s best could only watch and admire.

5. Jessica Ennis (Athletics)

 

Ennis more than lived up to her billing as the ‘poster girl’ of the London Games, winning the gold medal in the Heptathlon with consummate ease. She set three personal bests – in the 100 metres hurdles, 200 metres and javelin events – en route to a British record-breaking points haul of 6,955 that put her 308 points clear of silver medallist Lili Schwarzkopf.

6. Johnnie Peacock (Athletics)

If the face of the Olympics was Ennis, then the face of the Paralympics was unquestionably Peacock.  The nineteen year old stormed to victory in the T44 100m, beating the ‘blade-runner’ Oscar Pistorius in the process, and affirmed his status as the fastest amputee in the world.  His winning time of 10.90 was just five hundredths of a second off his own world record and capped a remarkable few weeks for British athletics.

7. Lewis Hamilton (Formula One)

Two wins from the last three races have served to put Hamilton firmly back in the running for this year’s Formula One championship. The McLaren driver headed into the summer break on a high note after fending off the advances of Kimi Raikkonen to take victory at the Hungaroring, whilst a dominant display from Hamilton at Monza has put him within reach of the points lead of Fernando Alonso.

8. Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee (Triathlon)

The Yorkshire-born Brownlee Brothers made history by becoming the first British siblings to both win medals in an individual event at the same games since 1900. That they did it in such a gruelling event as the triathlon, and considering Johnny had a time penalty mid-way through the run, makes their 1-3 finish all the more remarkable – their mother must be so proud.

9. Laura Robson (Tennis)

Robson’s recent performances have breathed new life into British women’s tennis – after accompanying Murray all the way to the mixed doubles final at London 2012, Robson then proceeded to defy all expectations at the US Open. She beat two former grand slam winners in Kim Clijsters and Li Na before being halted by reigning champion Sam Stosur in the fourth round.

10. Cal Crutchlow (Motorcycling)

It had been 12 long years since a Brit stood on the podium in a MotoGP race, making Crutchlow’s mature ride to third place at Brno worthy of mention. A maiden rostrum finish was a just reward for beating more experienced teammate Andrea Dovizioso in a straight fight; with a more competitive bike Crutchlow could yet become the first British MotoGP winner since Barry Sheene in 1981.