Olympic Games Uniforms-Snell’s Singlet Sets the Bench Mark

Olympic Games time is a special time in the sporting calendar.

The four-yearly extravaganza creates interest in some sports that don’t usually get to feature much in the public psyche and for a couple of weeks everyone can share in the delights of New Zealanders pitting themselves against the world.

It has been interesting to witness the interest in 1960 and 1964 gold medal winner Peter Snell’s 1964 winning singlet after research showed the article being offered in a recent auction was not what it was thought to be. Interesting because, New Zealand has traditionally had a readily identifiable uniform.

Black, with the silver fern. It is most distinctive, especially when its wearers are setting the pace. But having seen all the fuss and hoopla surrounding the launch of this year’s team uniform you would have to ask yourself if it is all worth it.

If Prince von Metternich could describe the impact of the Holy Alliance of 1815 as a ‘loud-sounding nothing’ then the New Zealand uniform for Rio de Janiero, prospectively one of the more colourful Olympic venues, could be described as a ‘dull-looking nothing’.

Hopefully that doesn’t diminish the performances in Rio which are shaping, especially with the way the rowers have been preparing, as New Zealand’s most successful.

Back to that Snell singlet though.

The great champion, for my money still the greatest New Zealand sportsman, was surprised that his singlet should attract to much monetary attention.

That’s true New Zealand egalitarianism coming through there. The fact of the matter is in most other western nations with a sportsman of Snell’s calibre, any memorabilia would be going through the roof in value. His was a significant feat, and just how hard it was can be seen from the fact that no-one has managed to repeat it.

Speaking of Rio, you can’t help but feel that for all the emphasis that has gone on the first staging of rugby Sevens at the Olympics, New Zealand are not looking the certainty to win that they were a year ago.

The introduction of the sport has seen other nations push hard to try and win the gold with some surprise results happening during the regular season.

Three things stand out: the British entry has been forced into a Lions-type combination as the separate countries cannot compete in their own right – how much will that reduce the England threat?

Secondly, what a marvellous occasion it would be if Fiji were to win and give the island nations their first Olympic gold medal and thirdly, how gracious was All Black Liam Messam over his non-inclusion in the side? That was professionalism at its finest. And it is to be sincerely hoped that New Zealand’s yachties are able to compete in something like reasonable water in Rio.

The signs are not good however, and that has to be a genuine concern, especially for any who end up in the water and not just on top of it.

By Lynn McConnell.

Lynn writes for GrownUps, courtesy of Golden Oldies & Vintage Sports Tours.

Please view Lynn’s first column about Cricket, on GrownUps here.

Read Lynn’s Muhammad Ali article here.

Read Lynn’s All Blacks article here.