Tavish Scott: Follow the lead of our fine Olympians

LONDON 2012 is over. At least for a couple of weeks. The Paralympics are now approaching and millions of tickets have already been sold. Channel 4 have the broadcasting rights. Clare Balding, who was the standout BBC presenter of the past fortnight, has been poached to present. Balding’s duo with the incomparable Ian Thorpe at the Aquatics Centre during the swimming was great to watch. They were simply superb. Articulate, knowledgeable and blessed with a memorable turn of phrase.

The only person who came close 
was Michael Johnson. The former Olympic sprinting star has a great broadcasting voice. When he was 
paired with tennis legend John McEnroe, the results were highly entertaining. Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton looked a touch bemused as they were interviewed by these sporting greats, but it worked.

Can Channel 4 keep this incredibly high level of broadcasting going? Why not? They used to have Test match cricket and excelled, and Channel 4 News is, for many, the best on television. But all this brings home two thoughts.

Firstly, the return of Match of the Day this weekend. As a Liverpool fan I want to see whether Brendan Rodgers, the new manager, can challenge for the Premiership title.

But few will look forward to 
Gary Lineker conducting post-match analysis with Alan Shearer. Shearer is 
no Michael Johnson or Ian Thorpe. 
Go on BBC. Make a big change!

The second is the return of politics. After the success, cheerfulness, humour and good manners of athletes over the past fortnight we are back to the tedium of discussing the constitution. I have not missed it this summer. Yet the future of the nation matters, so it is a debate that must be had.

But the Olympics and the Paralympics surely give politicians and commentators room for thought: behave. We could all do a lot better for people who are interested in the debate if the proverbial bar was raised.

I was taken aback by the ebb and flow of online comment after Ian Davidson MP and interviewer Isabel Fraser had a fair set-to recently on BBC TV. Watch this discussion of a Westminster committee report for yourself. 
Make up your own mind.

Debate in public life has to be robust. Parliament is there to hold the government of the day to account. Newspapers, online commentators and the wider media are there to inform and comment on what each side of the debate is saying and why.

But it does not need to be rude and personal. It is why I have “unfollowed” some on Twitter. Many on this social medium believe that abuse helps an argument. That is no different from the pub on a Saturday night. So if such articulation does nothing for you, change the channel or unfollow.

The best of London 2012 is 
about inspiring a new generation 
of cyclists, rowers and runners. 
A little of that approach rubbing 
off on political discourse would 
be all to the good.