"Presumably your view would be the same in respect the ascent of Everest in Coronation Year and Felix Baumgartner's record breaking parachute descent from the edge of space in 2012."
TBF they didn't revolutionise anything did they? Not saying people shouldn't do it and I'd even say the taxpayer could afford to kick in a few bob occasionaly certainly better than wasting money on hosting the Commonwealth or Olympic Games