LISTEN: Radio 5 ‘Sportsweek’ interview with Tony Blair on the Olympics. Scroll to 41 minutes. Note the words on Blair at the end (47m) – “I know with absolute certainty that London would never have won them (the Olympics) without him.”
Ahhh… Blair, The Winner. Those were the days, eh, Labour party?
Comment at end
12th July, 2009
ON THE BLAIR TRAIL
Yes, I had to take a second glance too. But relax – it’s “trail” this time, not “trial”.
I found this article noteworthy for a reason that had nothing to do with sport. (I referred to his tennis enterprises on the previous page, here.)
Putting aside the fact that Mr Blair was joined on the train by his former friend and cabinet colleague John Reid – (co-incidentally on his way back to Scotland, I’m sure!) – this intrigued me:
“… it felt fleetingly as if the Blair of a decade ago was back but when I asked him would he like to be back at number 10, he wouldn’t be drawn.”
He wouldn’t be drawn?
I wonder why not?
“No” is an answer too.
On the Blair trail
Mihir Bose – BBC sports editor | 15:18 PM, Friday, 10 July 2009
Tony Blair is rarely in Great Britain for long, so to get him on his own, and especially talking about sport, is something of an event.
But there I was with him on the 0900 train to Darlington – the quiet train as he recalled it from his days as an MP when he regularly took it to return to his Sedgefield constituency.
This Friday was anything but quiet. We had no sooner left King’s Cross, London, when Dr John Reid, his former home secretary, slid into the seat next to him.
Given the media was full of telephone hacking stories, it is doubtful if the two men spent much time talking about their respective football clubs, Newcastle and Celtic.
Blair wouldn’t talk about politics but he was keen to expand on the idea that sport can reach beyond the playing fields, improve both bodies and minds, and help bridge the gap between divided communities.
The opportunity to talk to him was provided by his journey to Sunderland where he was visiting his sports foundation. Set up in November 2007, it has so far helped 10,000 children from 350 schools receive tennis coaching.
In convoy, on the way to the sports foundation from Darlington station, I was provided with my one and only glimpse of being a VIP.
Escorted by speeding motorbike outriders, I found myself being driven on the wrong side of the road, while traffic on either was held back and our vehicles sped past more red lights than I can imagine.
Prime minister he may no longer be but a shadow of that power is quite telling.
At the foundation, as he signed yet another tennis ball from an admiring young boy, it felt fleetingly as if the Blair of a decade ago was back but when I asked him would he like to be back at number 10, he wouldn’t be drawn.
For his real feelings, we shall have to wait for his memoirs, which are some time away but should be an interesting read.
Tags: back at number 10, BBC sports editor, Blair wouldn't be drawn, Darlington, john reid, Mihir Bose, on the Blair trail, Sportsweek Blair Olympics, Tony Blair
