A good side story

Tragedy is no basis for sports spectating, but it happens in most sports, and the possibility of it is one of many features that attract the avid fan. A good side story works well too, like doping to gain an athletic advantage, or as the revelation last week of the storied New England Patriots football team and their propensity of illegally video taping the opposing coach’s player signals. Sailing seems to be getting into the act too, as the Chinese government and the British sailing team have gotten into a bit of scrap regarding some surveillance equipment.

With recent press releases announcing how the mayors of Miami and Qingdao were getting together this Tuesday at Coral Reef Yacht Club (Miami, FL) for some breakfast and to reaffirm their brotherly relationship as great sailing cities, ‘butthead John Browning wonders if the American mayor might also discuss the problems of the Brits. In a letter to Miami’s Mayor Diaz, he says, “I hope that you will mention to your Chinese guests on September 18, that abuse of power gets wide publicity in the West, and if they expect to create any 'respect for their City' from sailors, they need to change, and to do it now.

“I refer to: The British Olympic sailors gear that was taken, when their police officers raided the team's flat, removing two 5ft tall weather stations, worth US$16,000 [£8,000], from the apartment in March 2006. The U.K., team was in China preparing for the 2008 Olympics, and had been using the equipment to download data on temperatures and wave and wind directions.

“Stephen Park, the Royal Yachting Association's Olympic manager, said September 7, 2007: ‘We have been told by friends and sources in China that the authorities thought our equipment could be used for spying. In fact, it is purely so we know the precise weather conditions we will encounter.’ He added: ‘We'd like the equipment back.’ The raid took place in March last year and the equipment has not yet been returned.

“Of course keeping other Sailing Teams from knowledge of the weather at the Olympic site, will give an advantage to their National Team. Possibly if enough US sailors e-mailed the Mayors Office, a 'hint' at the breakfast could help not just the Brit's get their equipment back, but prevent similar happenings to our US Team (and other teams). Isabel M. de Quesada is the Executive Director, of the Mayor's International Council. Her e-mail address is: idequesada@ci.miami.fl.us"