A far cry from sport

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 15

A far cry from sport

Product, sponsor, image, television rights, hype, computer war,, the tourist dollar, commercial patriotism, patriotic commercialism. No, not the latest multinational launching of a new soap powder, but the core of "Challenge 87,” a documentary about the America’s Cup. It raises some issues about the nature of sport. Certainly, there will be an eventual winner, but, “For the Tshirt industry it was a whole new field day.”

It was a well-made documentary, showing more hypocracy per minute than any enterprise since the last General Election, or the one before. Worst of all were the standard clones in stand-ard-business suits leavened by special sunnies, spouting about "honour” when the dollar signs lit up their eyes like the windows in one-armed bandits.

It was all pretty repulsive, but .the launching of Stars and Stripes in Hawaii bordered on the obscene. The other Stars and Stripes strained away in the background whilst everyone held his or her left breast in place. “I christen thee Stars and Stripes.” Thee. Thee. It is almost beyond belief. Then a minister of religion gave the boat the nod from on hight, presumably under the assumption that none of the other boats was of the same religious persuasion.

Princess Di did a more precise job on what was first called Crusade, with none of that silly “thee” business. Britannia gently ruled the waves in the background. It didn’t really though, the actual ruler was the White Horse Whisky Co., which put in £1.2 million. This gave them enough clout to add “White”’ to Crusader and give us an example of commercialism gainsaying the future queen. Meanwhile, what were once called the boffins were at work. Men, who looked at computers which were full of winged keels. The atmosphere was made by that great romanticised euphemism for moneyed theft — "industrial espionage.” So, the vast sums invested took the America’s Cup in the direction of a star war-type of technical support.

Putting this commercialism to one side hard though it is, the boats look absolutely splendid as they compete. It is good television. And to be partisan for a moment, the last

Ken Strongman

on television

few months have given another terrific instance of just how good New Zealand is at anything wich approximates sport. The trouble is that this is all that the America’s Cup does — it merely approximates sport.

The men who work on the 12-metre yachts are superbly fit, highly trained and very strong. The winchmen are very impressive indeed. The starboard grinder ... well, say no more. They are definitely fine sporting specimens, but the commercialism somehow prostitutes the idea of sport. Alan Bond has invested $25 million. Michael Fay said, “We’re racing for the America’s Cup industry.” As the commentary put it, “Sportsmanship is hardly high amongst the traditions of the America’s Cup.”

Apart from the matter of commercialism versus genuine competition, the America’s Cup also prompts some other questions. Where are the women? The documentary covered much of the action and showed all the main competing nations, even the Italians (“As smart as a chocoate box and sails about as fast”). There was not a woman in sight. The America’s Cup must be the last bastion of all manner of things male dominated, as well as being a forerunner of sport to come. The puzzle is, with all this huge investment, why do sails still split and masts buckle? It was an interesting documentary and it was good to see KZ7 again, briefly, but it is all a far cry from sport. Tailpiece: Again the Grumbleweeds Radio Show was not screened, with no reason given. Programmers: come clean.