http://www.sportinglife.com/others/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/07/07/16/ATHLETICS_Pistorius.html

This refers to South African, Pistorius, the amputee who ran at the Don Valley Stadium on Sunday evening - an individual with much to say. He runs on carbon-fibre blades but in lane 8!, he came home last and was then disqualified for straying out of his lane.
I watched all three hours on BBC but wondered if anyone went in such attrocious weather and had any views on the meeting?
Tyson Gay (100m) was the 'big' name but although he won, it was nothing special. Ethiopian, Bekele, put in a blistering performance in the 3000m.
I felt sorry for Becky Lyne in front of her home crowd. She was struggling 200m from home and finshed last of eight. Immediately, BBC pushed a microphone under her nose and I thought Becky handled it very well. The girl has just come back from injury. Any sportsperson/racehorse feels rusty after a long lay-off and although there is much work to be done, Becky knew that and will attend to it - hopefully with no injury recurrence.
The rain and chill was a big disappointment to what otherwise was a meeting of much interest- unfortunately, the stories didn't develop but Bekele's performance will be long-remembered by those who braved the elements.

I can never understand why the BBC do that. At the London marathon every year they grab the winner while he/she is gasping for air and try and interview them. I think the majority of people enjoyed it on sunday but there was some disputes about seating (people trying to get out of the rain) involving sitting in other peoples seats. Why can't they finish the stadium roof off?

I can never understand why the BBC do that. At the London marathon every year they grab the winner while he/she is gasping for air and try and interview them. I think the majority of people enjoyed it on sunday but there was some disputes about seating (people trying to get out of the rain) involving sitting in other peoples seats. Why can't they finish the stadium roof off?

Yes, precisely, I've pointed this out in another thread "Sheffield half-finished", earlier this evening.
KC stadium managed a total roof. It is rdiculous and so lacking in atmosphere unless it's a real summer's day. It's also cold. There is a sun-shade structure on the far-side, fat lot of use that is. I'm not surprised people were seeking shelter, it was awful and a great shame with visitors coming from far and wide.

It was built so that it could be extended 'upwards'. Let's be fair, only one stand has a roof, and it is 16 years old, built at a time when the advances in stadia design weren't expected. It's not the same as the KC.

If ever there was a white elephant from the World Student Games of '91 though, this is it.

I agree it isn't the same as the KC stadium where they managed to get a roof right round there. In both cases, though, aren't the two stadia used for more than one function, sports/concerts (think about the common link -spectators)! My usual dogma of "if anything is worth doing" is appropriate here. You mention the WSG and there was such determination to hold those - despite professional advice from a man they then sacked! - that I suggest a "this will suffice" approach, otherwise the cost will dissuade the ratepayers even more?
A tad better than the Withdean?