Dear Editor,

Your congratulatory editorial on September 5 on our athletes’ performance at Daegu was timely and commendable. I was surprised, however, that you did not come down harder on the appalling behaviour of two members of the 4x100m team who showed total disrespect for the Jamaican National Anthem while it was being played, in recognition of our country’s victory. I hope we never hear the ridiculous excuse that the inappropriate behaviour of Mr Bolt and Mr Blake in particular, should be put down to youthful enthusiasm. How long can we excuse away Bolt’s antics as part of his youthful charm? If he doesn’t know better by now, then when?

As for Blake, I guess we’re supposed to give him a “bly” too because he’s new to the limelight. Well, neither he nor Bolt should be excused for their poor conduct. Their display just proved that we really have a long way to go in showing the rest of the world that not only can we run but that we are civilised.

For public interest, does the JAAA and/or the various officials and “minders” in charge of the team include behaviour for these occasions, or because the athletes are now stars (and rich), they are free to do what they want? Is it that everybody is so bloated with success that bad manners “ah nuh nutten”?

Mary Morris

Kingston 5