US Soccer team’s away kit for Rio World Cup causes a stir

The USA’s new away kit, designed by global giant Nike, has caused controversy amongst fans, with critics saying that it looks remarkably similar to the French flag!

Ironically Nike also designs the French team’s kit and many have taken to social media sites, most notably Twitter, to compare the US’s kit to not only the French but the Dutch and Russian flags as well.

One fan wrote, “ Is this April Fools’? Trying to look like France?”

One particularly aggrieved fan sarcastically tweeted, “Want to see the new USMNT [United States men’s national soccer team] jerseys? Google ‘Netherlands flag’.”

The new kit is certainly a dramatic change from the previous navy blue away kit and carries the USA’s patriotic blue, white and red in three bands. The majority of the jersey is red(as is the shorts and socks to complete the outfit) with the top half in a bold blue colour and white separating the two. The jersey also has a pennant tag that features thirteen red and white stripes to represent the original thirteen states that declared independence from British rule.

With many fans believing it to be April Fools’ joke, it has been anything but a joke for the players who will wear the jerseys at this year’s World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. Indeed the criticism has arguably strengthened the resolve of the team who will be wearing it.

Many players have come out in support of Nike and its latest design, including the Men’s Captain Clint Dempsey who said, “I like the patriotic design and colour scheme and I think it will look great on the pitch. Hopefully they will serve us well as head into a competitive group [Group G, alongside Germany, Portugal and Ghana].”

Indeed, Nike has responded emphatically to the criticism, with Martin Lotti, the Global Creative Designer for Nike Soccer emphasizing, “The USA have a profound and passionate pride in their nation. We wanted to create a design that reflects this in a daring and colourful fashion to give them an even more imposing appearance on the pitch.”

Although the team kit should be popular with both the fans and the team, not everybody can be satisfied. However one can hope that with good performances the outcry over the design of the away kit will fade away. Only time will tell if the controversial away kit will bring the USA team a run of victories and success in Rio but as one philosophical fan wrote, “ What makes a good kit, is a kit you win in.”

The legacy of Kauto Star

When the National Hunt racing hero Kauto Star retired,  two time winner of the Cheltenham gold Cup and five times winner of the King George VI, there was a great debate amongst the media and the general public about his future.

Kauto's owner Clive Smith undoubtably had the horse's best interests at heart. Whilst many have argued that he should have remained at trainer Paul Nicholls, continuing his fitness work on the gallops, Smith believed Kauto should be retrained in a new discipline in order to keep his mind stimulated.

Smith's decision to move the former racehorse to up and coming event rider Laura Collett proved controversial. Indeed Smith and Nicholls fell out over it with the latter apparently upset and accusing Smith of not consulting the team that had looked after Kauto during his brilliant career.

I believe that Smith made a brave and creditable decision. Kauto Star is not known to be the easiest horse and being a former racehorse he would need to be kept active, albeit at a slower pace in "retirement". Considering these facts Kauto would need a professional ,and therefore extremely competent, rider who has had experience with "blood" (thoroughbred) horses.

Laura Collett was chosen alongside British eventing Chef d'Equipe Yogi Breisner to assess the horse's potential for dressage. The media immediately began to think the Kauto would be capable of competing in pure dressage in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

However those in the equine industry knew Kauto would not be of the standard to compete in dressage at the Olympics. Kauto is 13 and it takes around 5 years for a international dressage rider to produce a horse to the level required for the Olympics. His age would prevent him competing internationally, where the movements required would place intense strain upon him mentally and physically. Moreover whilst Kauto has been bred for galloping and jumping for racing, in which he has become one of the all time greats, he does not have the elevated movement for dressage. Indeed as a thoroughbred he is bred to move close to the ground at a fast pace instead of performing rather like a ballet dancer.

However critically, Kauto is the shining star for raising awareness for the rehabilitation of former race horses. Many of whom many do not share the fortune of Kauto after their career has ended. A huge number of former racehorses have gone to the abattoir due to the simple fact that they were not sold at auction or the fact that they are seen as "untrainable" for a different career.

Kauto Star has shown that it is possible for a racehorse to go on and be retrained for other equestrian disciplines. Indeed it is the equivalent of Usain Bolt retiring from running and taking up gymnastics or ballet. With Kauto he leaves he legacy as not only one of the best steeplechase racehorses of all time but an equine superstar that ,with retraining, can turn his hand to many things.

Can the Grand National ever be free from deaths?

The Grand National is one of the most prestigious events in the British horse racing calendar. However in recent times, with the introduction of increased safety measures, fatalities have marred the image of the race.

In the past two years, 2011 and 2012, four horses alone were killed in the National,which raises the question - Can the Grand National ever be free from fatalities?

I believe that the event has become ever more dangerous for equines and humans alike due to the measures imposed after the 2011 event. These included reducing the drop on the side of the infamous Beechers Brook and reducing the heights of the fences. Many in the racing industry have argued that these measures have made the race inadvertently more dangerous. It is not the height of the fences that kill, it is the speed. The faster the horses go into the fences, the increased liklihood that poor jumps by the horses will occur. Rotational falls, where the horse somersaults over itself, are often fatal for horses. This is shown by the 2011 race where Ornais was instantly killed after landing on his neck and breaking it.

Moreover fatalities have increased as the fences and drops have been reduced in size. For example, between 1959 and 1967 only two horses died in the race whereas from 2002 to 2009, seven horses were killed.

Many have pondered on how the National can be made safer. I alongside a great number of people enjoy horse racing in general as well as the National. However, it is often forgotten that equine sport is intrinsically a high risk sport . More extreme Animal welfare groups ,such as Animal Aid, have argued that racing is akin to Bullfighting where people intend for the animals to be fatally injured. In the National, the horses are the pride and joy of their trainers and owners alike.

The size of the field, the number of horses and jockeys taking part, is what sets the National apart from other jump races. With the large number of entries, 40, there is a greater risk of 'pile ups' ie when a horse in the lead falls and others fall as a result of fallen horses and riders in their way. This proved to be fatal for a 2012 runner, According to Pete. The horse was jumping well and was near the leaders on the second and final circuit when the horse in front fell and According to Pete tangled a leg and broke it.

I believe the health and safety measures introduced in the National have increased the fatalities- as the horses will not entirely careful over smaller fences. In my eyes the bigger the fences, the more the horses and riders will respect them and not take the fences for granted.