The BBC's Response To My Complaint.

**Original post date 23th August 20120** 

If you've been following this blog over the past couple of weeks you'd know I wrote a complaint letter to the BBC. This is their response: 

Thank you for contacting us about the report on eugenics during the Olympics 2012 programme on the 9 August. 

The item was broadcast before the Men’s 200m final and was a legitimate and serious exploration of the fact that top level sprinting has been dominated by black athletes. The item was intended to provide context and initiate debate with our leading athletics experts, including Michael Johnson and Colin Jackson. Both Michael and Colin have presented programmes examining this issue in the past.

We’re sorry if you were unhappy with this item. Your views have been added to a report for our producers and other staff who have covered the games, this will be helpful in shaping our future coverage. 

Thanks for taking the time to contact us. 

Kind Regards
BBC Complaints

The BBC have pussyfooted around the points I raised (which is no surprise if I'm honest).

Legitimate and serious? It's still offensive to me that a genetic factor has to be explored to explain the success of black athletes. Culture, work ethnic and sporting facilities/coaching were factors that weren't mentioned in the segments at all. BBC, I'm hoping there will be a program dedicated to finding out why white European athletes dominate particular sports such as sailing and swimming because that is a legitimate and serious exploration too.

It's double standard and offensive that black athletes have to be researched and have their whole genetic code uncoded while white and even Asian athletes can get away with being successful and their success remaining unquestioned.

The BBC didn't even consider the fact that Jamaica's national sport is track and field, which makes the whole segment offensive and gives the idea that black people need to have something natural in them to achieve and accomplish.

Colin found out with his program 'The Making of Me' that the same fast twitch muscle found in Caribbean athletes is found in many European athletes too; rendering the claims of the segment inaccurate and making that research unnecessary.

This complaint is a backhanded apology. 'We're sorry if you were unhappy', I can't accept this.

I may take this further but I haven't decided yet.