steve roberts Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I work within the tourism industry and recently spoke to a group of Danish visitors who knew about speedway in their homeland although admitting never having attended. They were very aware of the influence of Nielsen, Gundersen, Olsen etc and their successes and one visitor even talked at length about Daisy Nielsen's golfing exploits knowing that she was the daughter of Hans!. I got the impression that speedway received more publicity in Denmark than it does here in Britain generally. Also I am constantly made aware of British visitors who used to go to speedway but no longer do very various reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Bet they were from Jutland. Seven of the eight DSL tracks (Slangerup is the exception) are in Jutland/Funen. This would be the equivalent in the UK of having all but one Elite Lge club in an area with the population of Wales. And football isn't as big in Denmark. Last time I was there I watched a Danish Superliga fixture (Sonderyske v FC Copenhagen) and the crowd was just over 6000 - equivalent to a League one/two match over here - but these are two of the best teams in Denmark. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiseguy Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) One thing I do know, is that the likes of Nicki Pedersen do make tv appearances in Denmark which are not solely based on speedway He posted something on his facebook account the other week showing him on a pushbike, jousting with someone else in a studio, it looked like a game show similar to question of sport, but was in Danish so can't be sure I can't remember a speedway rider on a chat show, tv game show, or any other celebrity style show in this country with the exception of a program about Tai, and a radio broadcast mid morning just before the Cardiff GP. maybe Denmark doesn't have as many pointless talentless z listers as we seem to have filling our tabloids on a daily basis, their sports stars actually get a bit of coverage on national tv Edited October 15, 2015 by Wiseguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I can't remember a speedway rider on a chat show, tv game show, or any other celebrity style show in this country with the exception of a program about Tai, and a radio broadcast mid morning just before the Cardiff GP. It does happen. Rarely. I wonder if any speedway riders have ever pushed for a chance to appear on QoS or similar? http://www.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/gamechangers/video/9225886/change-your-aim-tai-woffinden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Women's Football & Cricket gets massive coverage on the BBC but I couldn't tell you the first thing about it... same goes for Bake Off. If you ain't interested, you ain't interested 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 It does happen. Rarely. I wonder if any speedway riders have ever pushed for a chance to appear on QoS or similar? http://www.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/gamechangers/video/9225886/change-your-aim-tai-woffinden Ask Sam Ermolenko, Jason Crump and Gary Havelock. I think a few others went on A Question of Sport over the years. In Sam's case they fawned over a Rugby Union player who had just recovered from a broken wrist, expressing huge sympathy for his injury. They turned to Sam (this was after his severe long track crash) "Sam, I understand you ride in a different country each day..." There is a Farcebook campaign to get a speedway rider on A Question of Sport. The fundamental problem is finding someone within the sport who could handle themselves well, away from the track. Tai has worked hard but how many others, especially British riders could hold their own elsewhere on TV? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) HARDLY surprising that Denmark's relatively small population is more likely to know about speedway given the record of their riders, both individually and collectively over the past 40 odd years. Countless World titles, the GPs live on TV and plenty of coverage in their national newspapers. Edited October 15, 2015 by PHILIPRISING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Ask Sam Ermolenko, Jason Crump and Gary Havelock. I think a few others went on A Question of Sport over the years. In Sam's case they fawned over a Rugby Union player who had just recovered from a broken wrist, expressing huge sympathy for his injury. They turned to Sam (this was after his severe long track crash) "Sam, I understand you ride in a different country each day..." There is a Farcebook campaign to get a speedway rider on A Question of Sport. The fundamental problem is finding someone within the sport who could handle themselves well, away from the track. Tai has worked hard but how many others, especially British riders could hold their own elsewhere on TV? I think we all know we're peeing in the wind and whoever goes on will have a tough time. People just don't "get" the sport sadly. I was thinking Scott Nicholls, multi-times British Champion, and comes across well on TV when he works for Eurosport and is capable of a bit of a laugh/banter. I'd suggest most certainly NOT Chris Harris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMungo Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I think we all know we're peeing in the wind and whoever goes on will have a tough time. People just don't "get" the sport sadly. I was thinking Scott Nicholls, multi-times British Champion, and comes across well on TV when he works for Eurosport and is capable of a bit of a laugh/banter. I'd suggest most certainly NOT Chris Harris! And definitely not Garrity! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 And definitely not Garrity! Actually, can it be Garrity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I've generally found Danes from Jutland at least have some familiarity with speedway, and could name Olsen, Nielsen and Gundersen etc.. I think less so those from Copenhagen. In contrast to most Poles who seem to know nothing about the sport, despite us being constantly told that speedway is the most popular sport in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKYLANE Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) If you go on the dmu site and look at the Speedway section then you will see the large number of meetings from 50 cc all the way to 500 cc..... Including " old timers on their 500 ccbikes.It certainly is an eye opener. Edited October 15, 2015 by KIRKYLANE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) I think we all know we're peeing in the wind and whoever goes on will have a tough time. People just don't "get" the sport sadly. I was thinking Scott Nicholls, multi-times British Champion, and comes across well on TV when he works for Eurosport and is capable of a bit of a laugh/banter. I'd suggest most certainly NOT Chris Harris! I'm p[leased to agree with you on Scott. Unfortunately he doesn't have a current title to help sell him. Sadly an appearance on QoS is only a chance for the sporting establishment to tick a box and patronise the 'little' sport. The work needs to be done at a lower level, encouraging local radio coverage, so building foundations and hopefully have young talent moving up through the BBC journalistic structure with a liking and respect for speedway. It's only by an accumulation of small wins that we can start a momentum that will rebuild the sport's reputation. We have a huge hurdle to explain guests which will always look stupid to a seasoned journalist unless they've been taught the reason for their existence. Slack discipline over rules (yes, I AM talking again about the EL Play-off final) and poor, convenient rather than principled decision making are also key areas. We have to be cleaner than clean, provide an entertaining, value for money product and.....work damn hard! Edited October 15, 2015 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 I think we all know we're peeing in the wind and whoever goes on will have a tough time. People just don't "get" the sport sadly. I was thinking Scott Nicholls, multi-times British Champion, and comes across well on TV when he works for Eurosport and is capable of a bit of a laugh/banter. I'd suggest most certainly NOT Chris Harris! And definitely not Gary Havelock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 And definitely not Gary Havelock Unless you are looking for a montage of pulled faces into the camera. He's an expert at that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris4gillian Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 I can't remember a speedway rider on a chat show, tv game show, or any other celebrity style show in this country with the exception of a program about Tai, and a radio broadcast mid morning just before the Cardiff GP. Jason Crump was on "A Question of Sport" a few years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 Speedways decline seems to mirror the decline of professional wrestling in the UK! Still exists, but not like it was in the 50's 60's and 70's..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 I can't remember a speedway rider on a chat show, tv game show, or any other celebrity style show in this country with the exception of a program about Tai, and a radio broadcast mid morning just before the Cardiff GP. Jason Crump was on "A Question of Sport" a few years ago There was a rider on Good Morning or something years ago.It caused a bit of fuss on here I seem to remember.The presenters thought speedway was something to do with Indianapolis style car racing and the guy(can't remember his name)was claiming he was some sort of international although his claim to fame was he was track reserve for something like the European Final.All got quite messy and quite funny even his wife joined in on here I seem to remember.But he was basically on the show to talk about an illness he had Back on topic bit,didn't Ole Olsen appear on the Danish Strictly Dancing? And even more on topic,watch out for young Mads Hansen.Seen him a few times on 85cc(in which he was world champ) and last weekend on 250cc in which he is the world champ.Quite a rider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tocha Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 Speedway will have much greater exposure in Denmark because, in sport, they don't have a great deal else to shout about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 Speedway will have much greater exposure in Denmark because, in sport, they don't have a great deal else to shout about. Actually for example in the Olympics they are one of the top countries when you measure medals against population.They also have a major football win and a few top placings in Handball(one of their major sports) along with some very good cyclists and Mikkel Kessler in boxing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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