Rollover
24 October 2004. Inspired by .
Forget your football and your World Series. The game of the moment, my friends, is Roller Hockey. It's everywhere here, though that may have something to do with the fact that Catalunya was allowed to participate as a separate entity in the World B championships (ie division two) in Macau - an event which they duly went on to win yesterday. "I reckon we might lose about five or six nil," said the England manager Carlos Amaral cheerfully beforehand, before proving himself entirely correct. (The England team, unlike the Catalans, are not well-funded professionals.)
It was significant that beloved Albion was the defeated party, as the UK's historical split from the sum to its parts in the sporting arena is a significant part of the local seperatist argument for splitting off from the whole. Only in sport, you understand. For now.
But England never plays against "Great Britain" - a match that Catalunya could face in the World A championships next year, if they're drawn against Spain. That is, if they're allowed to compete, for their existence as an international roller hockey team is only provisional, with industry body FIRS to give a final ruling in November.
Whether or not roller-hockey will join speed-skating, korfball and women's futsal (five-a-side indoor soccer - look it up) in allowing the region its representation, it seems we've not heard the last of the very lengthy Catalan anthem in weird minority sports. Which probably means that Grandstand will be featuring them very soon.