The Civilisation Games

Beyond opposing thumbs it’s enquiry and curiosity that separates us from other animals. That we do investigate, that we have higher cognitive ability that manifests, the historical experience has shown, as progress.

It’s how we know we’re more than apes. But the anti-dopers are, perversely, arguing we’re no more than apes. That in the sporting arena, we have our natural faculties, but no more.But of course more.

Through the long history of our species the haters have held thought back. The Flat Earthers, the anti-Copernicans, the Darwin deniers and now the Armstrong attackers. Lance Armstrong, 21st Century prophet of progress. His critics are dark ages’ obscurantist assholes.

What next? Why not allow Lance and his highly sophisticated and scientifically attuned doctors to pump him full of EPO and cortisone, and see where he ends up. We already know where the first round took him: to seven groundbreaking Tour De France wins, which were an awesome athletic feat, inclusive of the drugs.

We should live in the realm where the impossible may be possible. We’re better than apes, no?Let’s drag ourselves out of this swamp of ignorance, and loose the handbrake on what mankind can be.

Let’s broaden our notion of sport. Let’s scrap the eighteenth century elitism of natural selection and get unnatural. Let’s use our brains as well as our muscles and embrace the advances of science.

Bring on The Civilisation Games.