ABSTRACT
International sporting success is very important to Britain. The link between sporting success and national pride has been recognised by politicians. For example, in his letter accompanying the publication Sport: Raising the Game (Department of National Heritage (DNH) 1995) the then Prime Minister, John Major, stated that ‘Sport is a binding force between generations and across borders. But, by a miraculous paradox, it is at the same time one of the defining characteristics of nationhood and of local pride. We should cherish it for both those reasons’ (DNH 1995: 2). Such sentiments have been echoed by agencies with responsibility for sport. For example, in its strategy for sport in England, the English Sports Council (ESC) acknowledged that ‘England – the sporting nation – takes immense pride and identity from success on the international stage (ESC 1997: 14)’. Thus, as Treadwell stressed:
we are incredibly naive if we have not realised the international political significance in catering for giftedness in sport. Our international arenas of sport are effectively theatres of ‘pseudo-war’ and success at the highest level can appear to be a reinforcement of the policies, lifestyles and persuasions of any capitalist or socialist state.
(Treadwell 1987: 65)