BJesus

[Becks]

I don't blame BJ at all for taking BOF up on their generous offer, it is much better than what he could get from Australia, what I question is whether we should have made the offer in the first place.

Errr...hang on a second. There was no "offer" from "BOF." Let me just make that 100% conspiracy theory obvious thank you very much. Dunno what you think we do in Management meetings but it certainly isn't planning how to poach young members of other National Teams.

There was no offer to BJ. He has made the decision as an athelet and will still have to go through the same selection procedures as every other GB athlete.

When I first started running at international competitions, BJ was the first none British Orienteer I ever knew by first name terms. I don't know him well by any means, (in fact he probably has no idea who I am) but he has always trained (and partied!) with members of Team GB and will have seen the effects that GB input was having on their progress as an athlete.

It can't have been an easy decision guys. But the ability to make decisions like this is part of the bravery and attitude that constitute someone who's willing to give their all to become World Champion.

[harry]

in response to "concerned brit", i wouldn't get too excited thinking about what the british squad may have offered BJ.
They won't have given him any cash personally, the incentive will only have been the chance to come on board the programme which includes extremely well organised training camps in relevant terrain, regular training with the other British guys and girls (as far as I know there aren't Australian squad training camps within short funded travel from his home, throughout the year) and being well looked after at the major competitions and not have to pay entries and accommodation for stuff like World Cups.
If he gets selected for camps and competitions that is.

In response to grant bluett, if you type "sh*t" it gets automatically changed to "jobby" noone as yet has specifically tried to make you look like an idiot. but since it's friday.. and we're talking about someone bringing shame on himself and australia whilst on international duty.. where could we go with this subject?...

[gross2006]

a car? $10 000 every year for the rest of their life?

I don't blame BJ at all for taking BOF up on their generous offer, it is much better than what he could get from Australia, what I question is whether we should have made the offer in the first place.

So concerned Brit.... apart from that I don't think you really are a Brit coz you talk in $ not £ since you know all - what is the generous offer that BOF have made to BJ????

I bet it is zero, nothing, nopeall. At this stage I doubt if BJ is even in the Squad as it's still the 2005 version & as far as I'm aware the 2006 Squad has still to be announced.

[gross2006]

Maybe now BJ will change his nopesport signature:)

[Patrick]

Its incredibly relevant to discuss how funds should be spent to ensure the LONG-TERM success of an elite orienteering program, should money be thrown at established high-performers (whether from the UK or not)who put their heart and soul into orienteering, but would probably get the same results with less funding, or put more money into the development of new talent to pressure the established high performers.

This has been - and hopefully still is - a major issue of squad policy for many years, especially in these times of reduced lottery funds. However, I don't see why you bring it up in this particular context.

Incidentally, how exactly do you identify people "who put their heart and soul into orienteering, but would probably get the same results with less funding"? I'm sure the GB Squad management would love to know.

To suggest that BJ has just decided to run for us completely off his own bat is frankly ridiculous, obviously offers have been made to him at some point in the process to convince him he would have a 'better deal' running for us.

Do you have any evidence at all for this claim? If so, please tell us more. If not then shut up, or at least stop hiding behind the anonymity of your oh-so-sanctimonious guest name.

Patrick

[concerned Brit]

[quote="BJesus"]
- I have been offered nothing from BOF for changing countries (as a concerned brit suggested).quote]

So you are trying to tell me no funding for training camps, races etc until you have run trials against the other orienteers and earnt your place in the squad?

By the way I am not having a go at you, you would be crazy not too take them up but I don't agree with what BOF have done.

[gross2006]

So we ask again...... what exactly has BOF done???? You know, you introduced the idea... put up or nope off

[harry]

i don't know the exact details but to clear up for anyone who doesn't know about the selection policy or how they select for training camps etc..

if BJ is put in the 2006 squad which should be announced soon then he will have the opportunity to join 2005 squad at british squad innaugral weekend at plas y brenin in november to celebrate 2005 and plan 2006

then any early training camps in 2006 prior to the domestic season selection races will be selected by the selectors. this might be 2 weekends training in the UK, usually Lake District and one other and usually the whole squad will go to. and there is also sometimes a smaller warm weather training camp that they will select some people for.

and he has run against people in world cups etc. so they can select or not select based on these results and then if he is going to get picked for the europeans he will have to perform well enough in the domestic season selection races in the spring

[Becks]

For crying out loud, you're making me agree with Gross here! Get your facts right before spouting absolute rubbish please!

[Becks]

Just remembered that BJ spent a day with us on Halden tour last year, organising a sprint race for the GB Junior Start Squad, running against them and then spending the evening chatting to them and getting them inspired about his experiences of moving to Norway for his orienteering and the competitions he's run.

BJ...my hero.

Ahem. Think I need to go find a life now.

[concerned Brit]

Ever heard of saeef said shaheen (or something like that) then you might understand the $10000 reference... Hint: he runs for Qatar but may not have been born there.

To look at it from another angle, how happy would you be if Janie ran for Turkey because they offered him better "training opportunities" oh hang on thats not an offer...

[harry]

who's Janie?

[concerned Brit]

of course that should be Jamie

[Scotia]

As a housemate with BJ i know exactly how hard this decision has been for him. Something i have found out since i moved in here that he is one of the most determined guys i've met and that he'll do everything to be the best in the world.
I totally understand why he made the decision and it's no different from what citizens of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Britain have done in the past.

[concerned brit]
Bj has not been offered any special treatment for changing countries. He doesn't even know if he is even in the squad as it hasn't been selected yet. His father's British and if the selectors of the British squad think he is good enough to be in the 2006 squad then he is entitled to everything that is available to him in the GB squad.

[Grant Bluett]
As a young orienteer i looked up to you.
I think you need to grow up.
At the end of the day, it's SPORT! And only SPORT!
BJ is still Australian.

[gross2006]

Actually if running for Turkey gave an athlete the best opportunity to reach thier full potential in World Orienteering then my answer would be..... 'nope' but best of luck and no hard feelings. Ultimately orienteering is an individual sport & athletes should choose what is best for him / her.