You've probably seen this ad on yer telly:
If so, you might have wondered what it's all about.
On the face of it, it's an ad about how National Lottery funding has helped one K. Edwards to represent GB in the 2012 Olympics as an 800m runner. It's oddly anachronistic and we still can't figure out why her mum looks so old at the end of it, but I suppose that only the nit-picking few would be bothered by that.
Of course, K. Edwards doesn't really exist. The ad is based on the story of Team GB athlete Jenny Meadows and her mother Barbara, who was also an athlete, but unable to compete in the Olympics because of a lack of funding. The Meadows are played by actors and the story is narrated by the mother, looking back at their lives.
Here are a couple of clickable quotes from the world of the meeja:
The ad was first aired on June 11th, is still on the box today and is scheduled to run until July 13th.
Admirable stuff.
Until you consider the fact that on July 3rd Jenny Meadows was omitted from Team GB...
So, lots of funding yet no possibility of an 800m result for Jenny Meadows. Or for Marilyn Okoro, Emma Jackson and Jemma Simpson.
Surely the National Lottery folks should stop peddling this ad. It has become so detached from reality that it could be considered a lie.
