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Whilst I'm not remotely interested in the Olympic Games, and can't wait for it to be over, I can understand that the majority of Londoners don't share my view and will be watching some of the sporting events. But I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to stand in the street to watch someone running past carrying an Olympic torch.

Growlybear Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Whilst I'm not remotely interested in the Olympic

> Games, and can't wait for it to be over, I can

> understand that the majority of Londoners don't

> share my view and will be watching some of the

> sporting events. But I can't for the life of me

> understand why anyone would want to stand in the

> street to watch someone running past carrying an

> Olympic torch.


Of course you don't understand because you are not remotely interested in the Olympics. Most of the people carrying the torch are people who have served their community in some way (mostly in a voluntary capacity). These are exactly the kind of people we should be lining the streets to cheer on, as opposed to the Z list celebrities that fill our tabloids and reality shows.

ah yes - they 'olympic torch' relay. a carefully orchestrated moveable feast for slavish proles in the provinces to ooh and aah over thereby creating the illusion that good ol' common folks actually give a rats ass about this vulgar excuse for corporate facism. no suprise the tradition originated at the 1936 Berlin games.

There are some celebrities but 8000 of the torch bearers were nominated for inspirational work they've done for their local communities. And apart from the 8k selcted another 24k were shortlisted.


I personally think that it is inspiring that so many people share their skills and enthusiasm for no financial reward, driven only by wanting to give something positive to their local community. A lot of people also depend on the work of volunteers. What kind of world would it be if we were all 'self serving'?


So for those reasons I will be cheering on those community heroes. It's their day, their moment, and they deserve to have it.

If only we had done a Denver - they won the Winter Olympics bid for 1976 but once the true costs were revealed they said naa - we'll pass on it - Tessa could have passed them over to France once we done the full reckoning and we could have spent the money saved on essential stuff like hospitals,schools care for the elderly. Having seen the infrastructure unveloping at Greenwich,Wembley,Horse Guards,Straford and Wimbeldon I am staggered by the huge scale of it all - every marquee,tent,toilet,fence,lighting rig , outdoor screen in the country and most probably beyond is there. We'll be paying for this for years and years to come - enjoy it while it lasts. I've got Olympic Park tickets at a tenner for the Tuesday following the opening so will get a chance to marvel at the extravagance up close and personal.


http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/millennium/1012stone.shtml

There are other events going on in and around London which have nothing to do with the Olympics and if you are unlucky enough to be involved in them and have no choice but to negotiate roads around the torch relay, cycle races etc then it is an utter nightmare and is adding a lot of time to the journeys. The torch bearers may have contributed to their communities but is there anything else more self-serving than sport? The Olympics should be permanently sited in Greece and everyone else should contribute to them- it may just keep Greece from going under.

uncle glen said " The Olympics should be permanently sited in Greece and everyone else should contribute to them- it may just keep Greece from going under".


I think there is much in this argument and that it should be properly considered. Of course, if would cut right through the corrupt and self serving oligarchy that is the International Olympic Committee - which would be a fantastic added value element.

uncleglen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There are other events going on in and around

> London which have nothing to do with the Olympics

> and if you are unlucky enough to be involved in

> them and have no choice but to negotiate roads

> around the torch relay, cycle races etc then it is

> an utter nightmare and is adding a lot of time to

> the journeys. The torch bearers may have

> contributed to their communities but is there

> anything else more self-serving than sport? The

> Olympics should be permanently sited in Greece and

> everyone else should contribute to them- it may

> just keep Greece from going under.


It is ONLY for a few weeks....and you seem to forget that sport is something that is far more common place than those making a living professionally from it. So self serving it certainly isn't. Sport is beneficial for good health and is something that permeates every age, gender, culture.....so it's a positive thing. There are ways to beat the traffic restrictions - public transport, cycling, walking.......owning a car doesn't come with a divine right to drive at your own convenience....that really would be self serving.

DJKillaQueen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> uncleglen Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > There are other events going on in and around

> > London which have nothing to do with the

> Olympics

> > and if you are unlucky enough to be involved

> in

> > them and have no choice but to negotiate roads

> > around the torch relay, cycle races etc then it

> is

> > an utter nightmare and is adding a lot of time

> to

> > the journeys. The torch bearers may have

> > contributed to their communities but is there

> > anything else more self-serving than sport? The

> > Olympics should be permanently sited in Greece

> and

> > everyone else should contribute to them- it may

> > just keep Greece from going under.

>

> It is ONLY for a few weeks....and you seem to

> forget that sport is something that is far more

> common place than those making a living

> professionally from it. So self serving it

> certainly isn't. Sport is beneficial for good

> health and is something that permeates every age,

> gender, culture.....so it's a positive thing.

> There are ways to beat the traffic restrictions -

> public transport, cycling, walking.......owning a

> car doesn't come with a divine right to drive at

> your own convenience....that really would be self

> serving.


Where does 'uncleglen' mention owning a car?

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