- Olympic Gold: Athlete’s may have to settle for bronze

Sheffield is home to the English Institute of Sport, as well as a whole host of professional Olympic - level athletes and yet many of them won’t be competing in the Olympics due to a lack of funds. This is something the athletes have in common nationwide.

 ‘Organised in less than two years and with a budget of £730,000, it was a pared-down and practical affair. By contrast, the 2012 Games is expected to cost £7.267bn.

Medals were made of oxidised silver instead of gold. And because of food rationing, competing countries contributed provisions. "The Dutch sent over 100 tons of fruit and vegetables for all the teams. Denmark gave 160,000 eggs. Czechoslovakia gave 20,000 mineral water bottles," recalled Olympic librarian Sandy Duncan.’

Click here to read full article on BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10659711

We may not be in post-world war era but surely the money we do spend on the Olympics should firstly go to training our athletes? There is much dispute of whether we should even host the Olympics in our current financial state however, it’s very unlikely that the Olympics wouldn’t happen but what we should be first spending our money on is training the England team for the Olympics and allowing the country to succeed in that way.

Shelly Rudman and Kristan Bromley (the Bobsleigh team) along with Jess Ennis & co are from the steel city and it is mainly through sponsorship and winnings, athletes such as these are able to train. It is the fringe sports that the recession has hit the most as the sponsorship budget of company’s have been restricted.

I do love all things dramatic and spectacular but the most I’ve heard about the Olympics is the opening ceremony which has been agreed to be directed by Danny Boyle, as well as the new stadiums and facilities being built… but even a dramatic visualist like myself, would prefer that money to be spilled out onto our sportspeople first. As my dad would say: ‘ all fur coat and no knickers, there's no point.’

I hope that all the new facilities that are being built have a long-term plan that will see them utilized for year’s to come rather than like a lot of Olympic Villages that remain desolate and a sign of ‘what once was.’

To end on a positive note, we had the Yorkshire Gold launch of the Olympics this July and myself, Christopher Stone (BGT Classical singer) and other performers and sportspeople from the region kicked it off in the centre of Leeds in a fun and colourful style.

With the right preparation and harnessing local talent as well as new athletes – London 2012 can be a turning point in our financially depressive country… and who knows maybe a bit of optimism will help us out this recession.

(Psst. If you hadn’t already heard I’m pleased to say that the US diving team have announced that Sheffield will be their training city in the run up to London 2012, after a long lasting relationship with the city. After all, Sheffield is home of Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor (now turned yoga fanatic) who also trains young champion Tom Daly. )

The A Level results have been released and so have the GCSE’s and of course a furore over how easy the exams are...

Do you know what? I don’t care. From the moment you can hand write, school throws you into a frenzy of exam stress; revision, mock exams, tests and private tuition. All for the promise of a better future and successful career you are hoisted through exams whether you like it or not.

Yes they are invaluable and yes they can help you to become successful but the last thing students need after exam stress is more stress on the fact that people again have over-achieved.

Achieving my 13 GCSE’s was the best moment of my life (I made myself ill over studying for them) and yet our year group were also criticized.

Entry into University now seems harder than ever, you can’t get enough A’s or even A*s to guarantee anything, so it’s all about your extra-curricular’s right?

Well according to the Cambridge admission staff on BBC Radio 4 they “don’t think that playing a flute means you’ll be any better rounded as a student.”

I hear that BNP leader Nick Griffin went to University of Cambridge – so I needn’t think students should worry about their credibility if they don’t get into University this year. After all, a bit of travelling and seeing the world can do a lot of good for the closed mind.

I think the top dogs of higher education need to put their heads together and decide what they do want. One thing’s for sure academia doesn’t equal intelligence it just helps. As a young woman wanting to go into the media I know my degree is needed as a backbone.

One final word to all the exam cynics:

Celebrate success don’t question it.

-       Trapped: the miners in Chile may be trapped until Christmas. Have you ever been trapped for a substantial length of time?

One of the top news stories this week has been the case of the Chilean miners being trapped underground and they are likely to be there for a further 3 months. That’s 33 men trapped in a small cave with only a tube to contact the outside world. No wonder a judge has ordered the mine to put 1.2 million aside as the company who owns the mine will be expected to pay compensation to the miners and their families.

I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel as my only experience of being trapped lasted about 30 seconds but that half a minute felt like a lifetime. I had decided to rent a canoe with my elder sister when we were holidaying as kids in Malaysia. We took the canoe out into the current of the South China Sea until the waves were stronger than us and we didn’t have enough strength to oar ourselves back. I took the wimp and impractical approach by throwing up, crying and wailing whilst my sister ushered for help from the shoreline.

Eventually, the ‘lifeguard’ came to our rescue on a jet ski and told my sister to swim back in her life jacket whilst he towed the canoe and me, back to shore. He attached a rope from his jetski inside the canoe by my leg and drove off. As he drove ahead, the canoe and I capsized and unfortunately for me the rope that attached the canoe to the jetski wrapped around my leg and I was trapped wriggling under water. After what felt like a lifetime, I managed to get my leg free and head above water. That was 30 seconds.

Those miners could be trapped for 3 months.

Being trapped;

-       1. A contrivance used for catching game or other animals, as a mechanical device that springs shut suddenly.

-       2.

-       any device, stratagem, trick, or the like for catching a person unawares.

Spreading the Stigma

A young singer has received a two-year suspended sentence for dangerous bodily harm after infecting a partner with HIV.

Nadja Benaissa, 28,has been the centre of media frenzy after having unprotected sex with three men whilst knowing that she had the HIV virus – she infected one of them.

Under German law, a person can be sued if they are HIV positive and have (unprotected) sex with a partner without telling them about their HIV status.

Consequently, German’s version of Cheryl Cole has been characterized as a heartless criminal after contracting the virus at the age of 17 and spreading it onto one ‘victim.’ After all, she is an attractive vixen who obviously forced the man to consensually sleep with her and then forced him not to use any contraception.

I’m being sarcastic.

It surprises me that in this day and age we are still criminalizing sufferers of HIV and passing the blame. After all, it takes two to tango, it takes one of the two to be mindful and it is both of whom who are to blame.

OK, it was careless behaviour on her part, but at the age of 17 years old or even older, do you really think you would disclose your HIV status to this world full of stigma and hate?

There are so many charities out there that work tirelessly to help people with HIV and Aids, to live as normal a life as possible but their hard work is put to waste where we scaremonger people out of getting tested.

Let’s just hope that the mass coverage of this case promotes more awareness and education surrounding HIV and sexual health…

Don’t forget World Aid’s Day is on 1^st December 2010.

http://www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/hivandaids/

- Reality is ‘mental’

“ All people who go on reality TV are psychotic,” I overheard an elderly lady say the other day.

This opinion came as no surprise to me as it is widely believed that reality TV is an ‘abattoir’ for the insane as well as for the mundane human.

Then again, 11million of us tuned in to watch 2010’s first episode of the X Factor. I am ashamed to say I forgot and went out for a drink.

Although there have been two big waves of publicity since, such as the singer Gamu Nenghu who had been auto-tuned, much to the public’s disgust therefore, the poor staff have to re-produce all the episodes to not include auto-tune. I guess it’s like the debate between allowing notes into an exam.

Axed X Factor hopeful Shirlena Johnson, from east London, begged TV bosses to take her back, after The Sun's untactful revealed that she has mental health issues. Nonetheless, Rethink (a mental health charity) condemned The Sun for their reckless write-up that described Shirlena as a ‘ticking time bomb.’

Whatever the truth is of the story it is not for the public/unqualified specialists to cast aspersions on people’s mental health. If it is being reported on, one must be mindful to not cause offence and spread stigma as 1 in 4 of us will suffer from a mental health issue in our lifetimes.

MEI INTERNATIONAL FROM YORKSHIRE MAKES STARTUPS 100

MEI International Ltd. from Sheffield, South Yorkshire makes it into this year’s Startups 100, which identifies UK’s most innovative, inspiring and ground-breaking new companies.  

Startups 100, organised by the startups.co.uk, the UK’s most popular website for small businesses, celebrates the 100 most exciting, promising, disruptive new businesses and entrepreneurs shaping the start-up market right now.

MEI International Ltd is the umbrella company for Sophie Mei schools and Creative Octopus Media Services (COMS) specializing in media relations, campaigns and entertainment, events and social marketing.

One of our company's key purposes is to work with the Public and Private Sector to increase their profile, product and service awareness amongst identified target audiences and particularly to encourage health literacy and well-being in the general public, and in seldom-heard groups, through media campaigns, training, diverse entertainment and events.  We are a social enterprise and we pride ourselves on insight gathering that provides a solid foundation to our campaigns.

Sophie Mei Co-founder of MEI International says;

“We are thrilled to win our first award as we are so new to the market.

“We’re incredibly proud to have MEI International on our list of the UK’s most innovative and dynamic new businesses and look forward to watching its continued success.” Sara Rizk, editor, Startups.co.uk

In choosing the Startups 100, the team were looking for businesses and entrepreneurs that demonstrated:

• Innovation, in concept or delivery
• Ability to disrupt existing market places
• Growth potential
• Strong management, bright thinkers
• Evidence of existing or future revenues

For more information or to see the full Startups 100 list please visit: www.startups.co.uk

The Sheff Guide: September- October

Brought to you by MEI International: Delivering Substance with Style

September

It’s like the worst Sunday feeling ever when September arrives, the kids are kitted up in their uniforms, SBS Removals have moved all of the new tenants’ furniture in – all ready for a September term at University and work.

Once everyone’s settled, you’ll be ready for some Fun Lovin’ Criminals at Plug on 3^rd September. You then have enough time to recover for 5^th September, as it’s the BUPA Yorkshire Run. You can join Sheffield’s Dick (from Dick and Dom), Hugh Dennis (comedian), Tony Audenshaw (Emmerdale) and me – Sophie Mei. We’ll be raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society helping lead the fight against dementia – you can find out more here http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

It’s always advisable to have a post-run treat and word on the street is that Sheffield designers Roc & Doll are having a sample sale where you can buy your designer goods on 10^th October in Darnall (Sheffield’s shabby-chic Shoreditch).

You can even complete the look on 12th September at new bar - Alibi with their Mizani hair show by Toni&Guy in aid of Help A Hallam Child

Where art thou this month? As Hamlet is on at Crucible Theatre from 16^th September – 23^rd October – I’m going to see Mr. Hamlet opposed to Michael Buble’s Concert, which has already sold out at Hallam FM Arena.

Finish the month off on a buonissimo high as Fargate will be home to an Italian Market from 24^th – 28^th September.

October

No excuse not to be active this October as there is something for everyone from Chinese Pole at Greentop Circus on 2^nd October to bopping at the Manic Street Preachers gig at 02 Academy on 6^th October.

Even if you’re papa don’t preach you can still ‘say a little prayer’ at the Wedding/Civil Partnership showcase on 10^th October at Sheffield Town Hall.

October’s always a funny month, as there’s not much on until Halloween and tinsel season strikes. Luckily for us Sheffielders however, October is jam-packed with the Magners Grin Up North Comedy Festival. We can have the last laugh with acts such as Jimmy Carr, Dara O’Brian and Sheffield’s very own Toby Foster.

Even closer to home, is the chance to find out about fostering in Sheffield, a service that is in great need of your support in order to be sustainable in helping care for young people. The Fostering Information Evening takes place on 13^th October at Quaker Meeting House.

The one man who has a tan that I even can’t compete with is John Barrowman who will be performing at Sheffield City Hall on 14th October... there’s no business like show business...

Have a good couple of months and we’ll be back for the (deep breath) Christmas issue... I can hear the bells...   

MEI Motto: September’s the new New Year for us big kids. SO get your dancing shoes on for a party workout in a Zumba (mixed) class or ladies can shake their bon bons at a Bellydance (women only) class at Sophie Mei Schools.

Check out www.sophiemeischools.com

For full event details log on to: http://blog.sophie-mei.net

To get your event featured in The Sheff Guide –