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So, a question about our Bradley

Three sets of Olympic medals, so he\’s a CBE.

That\’s the way it goes: MBE, OBE, CBE, KBE, each successive games you get medals at (golds, I think, no?).

The question. Is a Tour de France title going to be counted like an Olympic gold?

Sure, sure, two days to go yet, but is winning going to mean a KBE?

15 thoughts on “So, a question about our Bradley”

  1. In a word: “Yes”.

    Cue a summer of bicycling mania and copycat silly Bradley Wiggins-style sideburns.

  2. I find it odd that it’s almost automatic to get at least an MBE when you win an international sporting event.

    They are a 2 for 1 deal these days.

  3. Chris Hoy and Kelly Holmes both have knighthoods despite not having got all of those.

    And I think the answer might be no. The state recognises work for the state more than it recognises work in general. Simon Rattle and Harrison Birtwistle were knighted before Paul McCartney, who was, well, involved in something a bit like trade.

    The Olympics is “state” (multi-state, but still a government rather than free market business). TdF is a commercial business.

    All the money and effort poured into the Olympics, and yet the biggest individual achievement in British sport this year is on ITV and has Sky’s name slapped on it.

  4. “Simon Rattle and Harrison Birtwistle were knighted before Paul McCartney, who was”

    …a hack who cruised on George and John’s genius.

  5. “You also have to become a BBC darling to get on the approved person list.”

    Sir Peter Hitchens, wouldn’t that be wonderful!

  6. “TdF is a commercial business”

    … but does the honours committee know that? Sounds sort of State-like, doesn’t it? And it’s French, so there’s a presumption it’s a State thing.

  7. I don’t see how they couldn’t give him a knighthood, Hoy’s got one and he’s admitted Wiggins winning the Tour is probably the greatest British sporting achievement ever.

    Furthermore it’s beating the Frenchies on their own soil, medieval tradition dictates he gets a knighthood, then competes the tour next next year insisting on being referred to as ‘Sir’ and brandishing a broadsword all the way around the French countryside.

    BBC’s coverage of the Tour has been appalling, buried way down the page beneath stories of football transfers and an olympics that hasn’t started yet.

  8. PS we’ve also seen some excellent examples of sportsmanship from Wiggo. Waiting for Cadel to catch up when he was having problems, leading out Cavendish to take the win yesterday, generally being an all round nice guy and praising his team. He can also speak proper and answer questions intelligently.

  9. Shame he’s done it in Olympic year. Its going to get lost in some gallant loser stories much beloved by the BBC, especially as ITV had TdF.

    My bet is he doesn’t even make the podium at the BBC Sports Personality awards.

  10. The Stigler

    Simon Rattle and Harrison Birtwhistle are both classical musicians. The honours system still favours “highbrow” disciplines, so classical musicians, classical actors, ballet dancers etc. tend to receive honours earlier in their careers than their equivalents in more “popular” fields.

  11. When he wins the Gold medal in the Olympic TT (and his two best rivals, Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara are both injured) then the question becomes whether he gets a “G”?

    Seriously, he may actually deserve getting a step above the mere K. GBE or perhaps the Garter (there are two vacancies for Knights Companion of the Garter, watch on 23 April 2013)

  12. Frances Coppola,

    There’s also a strong correlation that the state is involved in all of those fields.

    Look at the Olympics and how many people are knights despite winning a couple of golds in a few obscure sports like track cycling and rowing. The knighthoods are about trying to raise the importance of these sports, to make out that they matter (and that the state funding of them means anything).

  13. @Richard Gadsen, how about Lord, for services to Her Majesty i.e. having God Save the Queen played on the Champs Elysees.

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