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Gibraltar sport attacked - and those concerned do nothing about it
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In a feature on the official website of the European Championships, Gibraltar's Dominic Carroll was hailed as someone who "embodies the true spirit of Barcelona 2010." Yet, he was shown the red card and ousted from the games, while the Gibraltar delegation was not allowed to take part in the opening ceremony of the games, thus the Gibraltar flag was kept out of sight.
But despite Gibraltar not being recognised, the Gibraltar delegation did not walk away - and judging by what a senior official has been saying, they intend they intend to do precious little about this renewed attack on Gibraltar - apparently because the local athletics body do not mix politics with sport.
But it is Spain that keeps mixing politics with sport, not Gibraltar. So, why cannot Gibraltar kick up a stinking row about the poor treatment it got in the games in Barcelona, given that we apparently did not protest whilst being there.
Our sport cannot keep misinterpreting what the phrase 'not mixing politics with sport' means. It does not mean that we accept whatever treatment we get. What it means is that Spain must be exposed for attacking Gibraltar sport for political reasons. That's what it means.
Coming as it does so soon after the World Cup fandango, this renewed attack against Gibraltar sport is all the more repugnant.
The Sporting Life says that the 26-year-old sprinter is his country's sole representative in Barcelona and has been working seven days a week to make ends meet. A trainee draughtsman during the week, Dominic Carroll has been working nearly 11 hours a day on weekends at a petrol station.
It had all the makings of a heart-warming story, right up until Carroll's major championship debut which lasted just a fraction of a second, the time it took him to commit a false start in heat three of the 100 metres and be disqualified. He could not be given a second chance under new rules.
An official showed him a red card as he returned to the blocks and that was that, Carroll looking close to tears as he crouched beside the track.
That website story had proved eerily prescient. Its last paragraph which read: "He will have the eyes of millions across Europe on his heat of the 100m where he will play a small, but crucial role, in putting Gibraltar on the map.
SPANISH POLITICAL INTERFERENCE 'CONDEMNED'
Meanwhile, the Progressive Democratic party says it condemns the fact that the European Athletics organisers blocked the Gibraltar contingent from attending the opening ceremony in Barcelona. lt is obvious that this has happened as a result of direct or indirect pressure from Spain or to spare Spanish sensitivities.
This is once again proof of continued Spanish interference in politics and a refusal to change old attitudes that is symptomatic of the way Spain has always conducted itself.
The add: If the tripartite process is to truly create a new climate in relations then it needs to be reflected at ail levels which includes Spain ceasing to interfere in this type of sporting event. The Government should make the strongest representations to Spain on its continued interference in sporting matters within the trilateral process.
'The Spanish Government heralded the Tripartite Process as a new era in good neighbourly relations between Gibraltar and Spain but there is little real evidence of a real change of attitude. This is just one more recent example of double standards,' said PDP spokesman Kayron Pozo.
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