Before I start, I should mention that somebody saw an earlier draft of this post and made some unremittingly frank comments within it. I've reacted appropriately to that feedback. I didn't notice the comment in the title before I pressed publish, but I decided just to leave it in anyway. If it makes one person laugh....
The motto of the London 2012 Olympics is "Inspire a Generation". They practised what they preach in the Opening Ceremony when the flame was lit by the next generation of athletes. But how do you get to those geeky kids who spend all their time in front of computer screen? How do you show them that sport might be something they might like to do?
Easy. Especially if you share the same ideas as those kids but are an athlete yourself.
All you need to do is make the Nerdfighter sign on primetime tv as British gymnast Jennifer Pinches did the other day. What, I hear you ask, is a Nerdfighter? Well, that's what the community of fans of the Vlogbrothers, John and Hank Green, call themselves. Nerdfighters are, apparently, made of awesome and that's certainly the case with the one I know. This video will tell you more.You might also be interested in my review of John Green's latest novel, The Fault in our Stars.
Sure, as I was warned, some of those kids will watch the clip and then go back to creating Sherlock fan art or writing Hunger Games fan fiction, but, you never know, it might get a few interested in playing sport and keeping fit.Even just for a few hours a week.
John Green himself congratulated Jennifer on being awesome and living her dream.
And then Alex Day, another geek child's hero, went to GB House in the Olympic Park to have a blether with Jennifer. Please don't take the fact that I'm embedding it here as any sort of endorsement, because the approval of an old lady really wouldn't be in any way helpful, but the chat might make you laugh. There are also some interesting insights into the life of an athlete.
Oh, and by the way, John Green tackles the subject of religion and equal marriage,as we call it here, in this video. Let's just say the Daily Mail will not approve. Apparently he's coming to the UK in January. That will have the likes of Jan Moir and Quentin Letts foaming at the mouth. How exquisite.
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