Bitesize varieties of sports are all the rage and this time the revolution is in the pool
In the thoroughly bingeable Succession there is a memorable moment when Roman Roy – lazy scion of a Murdoch-esque family empire – tries to win over the chief executive of a new media company. The CEO asks him what his vision for the future of the industry is. “It’s all about the morsels, man,” says Roman, possibly the show’s ultimate bullshit artist. “That’s where we’re headed. Tasty morsels from groovy hubs …”
It was a phrase that came back to me last week as the UK welcomed the International Swimming League, the latest sporting grab for the shrinking attention of Generation Z. It has been dubbed, naturally, the T20 of swimming, because for all we like to talk cricket down, it is still the current holder of the title for Most Surprisingly Successful Reimagining of a Thought-to-be Moribund Product. The ISL’s pre-game hype promised that it would “change the world of swimming” and it has already found an enthusiastic audience, playing to full houses over two days at the London Aquatics Centre.
Related: Olympic stars headline London debut of swimming’s answer to T20 cricket
Related: Backstroke and beats: The International Swimming League hits town - a photo essay
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