Escorts

Over in Europe,  the 2012 international football tournament is reaching its climax. Before each game, the players walk out holding hands with their "escorts" - no not the sort they see secretly in hotels but young kids - boys and girls dressed in red and yellow kits. These escorts are kindly sponsored by McDonalds whose corporate colours just happen to be red and yellow too! What a remarkable co-incidence!

England with player escorts before the clash with France.

Do international cricketers or rugby players walk out on to the pitch holding hands with young children? No they don't! So what is the point of these player escorts? When did the ritual begin - because in days gone by there were no player escorts at all. What is the presence of escorts meant to convey? What sort of message? Paedophilia?

The kids have been flown in to Poland and Ukraine from all over Europe which in my view is a waste of aviation fuel. Why are McDonalds sponsoring them anyway since that company's main mission seems to be to promote obesity when football is about fitness and agility. I think it's to do with the red and yellow kits - subtly reinforcing McDonalds advertising and thereby encouraging sales.

It would make better TV viewing if the players walked out with lady escorts from an escort agency - dressed in fishnet stockings and revealing lacy tops. Instead of being sponsored by McDonalds they could be sponsored by Barclays Bank - subtly conveying that discredited organisation's main raison d'etre.

And now, onwards to Sri Lanka...