Let's zoom in on the subject. I am certain that in all countries of Europe, but also outside of Europe, there has been, is and shall be a lot of buzz around this sporty summer, which started in June with EURO 2012 in Poland / Ukraine and with Roland Garros in Paris. For many countries, except maybe for Greece, Portugal, Italy and of course Spain the European Cup Football was a disappointment. Maybe Ireland needs to be placed in the countries that were not disappointed as well, as they won a price for best supporters and were happy to be there in the first place. By the way, interesting list of countries expected to be happy about the EURO (2012)... let's not confuse this with a blessing in disguise and relate the monetary problems of these countries to their results in the European Cup Football, although it is a remarkable list to say the least. Can someone please investigate any correlation between the two? I am sure there is a blurry European funding program available for such a study somewhere.
For my country, The Netherlands, EURO 2012 was a huge disappointment. Started as favorite team Orange ended without a win and did not advance. Germany was also disappointed, although they reached the semi final, they did not win a title for the fourth tournament in a row, which had never happened before.
After the football there was the tennis. There was Roland Garros, the French Open Tennis Championships, where Italy (RU Ladies) and Spain (Mens Champion) again had plenty of reasons to be happy about their players performance, with Russia also happy because of one of their modeling tennis players (or should it be tennis playing models?) won the Ladies Tournament.
The day after the sizzling European Cup final the most important tennis tournament in the world started, Wimbledon. A special Wimbledon this year, as there are two versions of this traditional tournament with the Olympic tennis tournament of the 2012 London Games in the same venue. It became the tournament of Champions, as record breaking Roger Federer collected his 7th Wimbledon crown, leveling the record of his idol Pete Sampras. He also reached the World #1 position again, leveling Pete Sampras' record of most weeks on the #1 position. Serena Williams collected her 5th title, leveling her sister Venus' number of Wimbledon singles titles. Poland and England did reach the finals for the first time in a very long time with Radwanka and local hero Andy Murray, but could not surprise the seasoned Champions. Dutch tennis did not play any role in both Grand Slam tournaments.
The 2012 London Olympics are starting shortly, but before that super sports event starts, all eyes have been on the Tour de France these last three weeks, for me personally the most exiting and heroic sports event there is. This year the expectations for the Dutch cyclists were high. No less than four Dutch riders aimed for a top 10 position, the Rabobank team had 2 men for the top positions, to prevent that the team would be decapitated once their top man would have to leave the race due to misfortune, as had happened with Robert Gesink the previous year. Team Argos had a top sprinter with Marcel Kittel and was curious how many stages they could win. And Vacancesoleil would do what it always does, go for the escapes and try to win a stage, with Wout Poels as their top 10 contender and Kenny van Hummel as dark horse for the sprints. At the departure in Liege, no less than 18 Dutch cyclists started the Tour, only topped by the number of French cyclist. Old times seemed to relive, the times when the Dutch teams like the TI Raleigh team ruled the peloton. On the last day of the Tour de France 2012 the score is zero stage wins, no Dutch rider in the top 30 and only 10 out of 18 riders will reach Paris. Rabobank's strategy fell into pieces when almost the entire peloton fell in the 6th stage. Wout Poels is still in hospital with severe injuries from that same fall and Marcel Kittel was ill before the first group sprint had taken place and left the Tour early. Kenny van Hummel turned out a pony rather than a dark horse. Dutch cycling did not play a role of importance in the Tour de France. It were the Brits with 6 stage wins, the French with 5, the German Greipel who won three and the Spanish with two wins who scored high points in this part of the summer of sports.
Well then, one more event to go, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Team Holland is aiming for 17 medals, one more than in Beijing in 2008. Gold is expected in women's hockey, in women's cycling, sailing, men's gymnastics, judo and swimming (women's 4x100 freestyle relay). Other contenders for medals are the horse riding teams, table tennis women, beach volley teams, fencing, men's hockey, rowing, BMX racers and several participants in track & field events. The Orange army of supporters that will land in London will definitely find a way to celebrate their being there, taking part in this Olympic event. Not so much in the spirit of Baron De Coubertin's famous paraphrased words "competing is more important than winning", no I am referring to the #1 Dutch attraction at the Olympics: The Holland Heineken House. Any misfortune or disappointment will be forgotten once the Dutch enter this Green Temple of Joy. It is our way of putting things into perspective.
I do hope for a very successful Olympic event for The Netherlands, it can still save the summer of sports 2012, but my expectations are low. I expect the Brits and the French to do very well and compete with usual suspects team USA, China, Australia, Germany and the Russian team for the top spot in the Medal Earnings top 10.
Maybe things will be different, maybe Euro 2012, the tennis grand slams and the Tour de France were the disguise that was required to uncover the blessing of Dutch gold medals in the Olympics. Maybe the blessing is the low expectation level, hence the low pressure, so the Dutch all of a sudden could start winning! We will find out in the coming weeks, let us pray for clean games, without incidents.
Anyway... we have been and still are enjoying a great summer of sports. Holding a cold Heineken!
And in case Team Holland somehow should not win... there is always that correlation question that still needs to be answered...
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