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sadietoo

I hesitate to raise the subject...but the olympics

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As neither OH nor I can leave the country whilst the Olympics are going on due to work commitments we are feeling very :(:( Does anyone else feel similarly depressed at the prospect of the games (and I hasten to add it is not the Games themselves but the Corporate Feeding Frenzy which I find very offputting) and if so...what will you be stockpiling in your bunker to get through this period?

 

to start you off, we are planning,

 

Extra fuel for patio heating to sit outside with girls until later in the evening...(also extra chilled white for same :D )

 

Box sets of The Killing , Spiral and reruns of Green Wing for those times that we have to be inside due to bad weather

 

Kindles charged and at the ready for those times that we don't want watch telly on damp evenings...

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I'm going to have great difficulty getting into work while they are on.

Luckily, I can work from home - but I will have more chicken/gardening time! :D haven't really thought about it, but I reckon I will just stockpile lots of books from the charity shop, and lots of garden/garage projects! Might get in some upholstery supplies so I can get on with some of the UFOs lurking in the garage.

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I feel very bad for saying this but I'll be glad when its over. I'm full of admiration for the years of hard work and achievement of the sportspeople but I'm dreading these games. They were heralded with an horrific act of terrorism and we can only guess at what the madmen are planning.

If they fail to disrupt the games they'll still be there but frustrated.

I got annoyed that British people had to go through a lottery system whereas German people for example could just buy the tivkets so I haven't bothered. Then there's Bob Crow demanding more and threatening tube strikes.

I don't like the opening/closing ceremonies but I will avidly watch the sport and cheer on Britain. Except synchronized swimming, any football or beach volleyball. YS who is police will have it quite rough.

I live close to Northolt RAF base which is being used for the games. We often see some amazing aircraft, the millennium fly past went right past our house. We've had typhoons practicing and what I think were Apaches practising already, loads of chinooks have gone over so that's a bonus.

The cost of the games is too big at the moment, quite wrong when the country can't afford it.

My niece and nephew have spent years of their childhood working at their athletics with the aim.of competing at big events so I am uncomfortable being so downbeat about the Olympics.

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you've summed up my feelings exactly, Patsy. I can't feel good about these Games when the initial announcement was overshadowed by such an terrible act, and I worry about the cost, much of which is falling on Londoners - but I know it's a cause of great excitement for a lot of people.

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I too will be doing my best to ignore the entire event.

I don't like sport,none of us do,& can only see it as a huge drain on the country.

Actually,that said,I am not even sure when they are on?

 

As mentioned above,I cannot help but feel that there will also be threats to the peace in this country too.

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They may as well be on another planet as far as I'm concerned. What will the northern half of the country benifit from them? very little if anything. I read the other day thousand of tickets are been offered to schools for free but only in London . Im sure there are many youngsters all over GB who would love to attend but do not qualify for free tickets.

I wish well to everyone taking part but not at all looking forward to 2 weeks of having it none stop on the TV, news and in the papers. I tried booking a holiday to be away be unfortunatly due to the prices we are due back 2 days before it starts. :doh::doh:

Sage

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I'm never excited about the Olympics, no matter where it is held - it means the sitting room will be dominated by games watching!

 

I perfectly understand the business case for holding the Olympics here and the promotion of UK plc and as it also coincides with the Diamond Jubilee year, it should pull in other visitors too; all very positive for our economy at a time when we really do need it. Yes, we've had to speculate with the initial outlay, but that should be recouped.

 

Don't get me started on the ticket lottery! :notalk: or the terrorist aspect :silenced:

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When I look at the expenditure I could cry; I think that money could be better used elsewhere. Yes, they talk about people coming to spend their money. However, 'normal' tourists are staying away this year so one cancels out the other.

I also won't be watching the opening/closing ceremonies; goodness knows who they've dragged up for those! :roll:

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I seem to be the only person looking forward to watching!

 

I do like (most) sport.

 

However, I think the money issue is ridiculous.

I think that all countries should pay (according to some formula) to build, maintain & run ONE Olympic venue where the Olympics began and hold it there every 4 years (rather than building new facilities every time).

 

H

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I can't say I've given it an awful lot of thought, although I am a little fed up of hearing about it. Luckily we're not in the habit of watching the telly so we pretty much avoid it all.

 

Having said that we have got tickets for a few football games in the Millennium Stadium. We're seeing 2 women's matches on the same day, one after the other, that's on hubby's birthday. We're also going to the men's bronze medal match. Obviously don't know what the teams will be yet.

 

We're also hoping to take the children into town to see the Olympic torch parade. I've made a note of the dates when it's passing through Cardiff. I think it'll be a good, fun event for them to be part of, especially as we don't know when it might be held in Britain again.

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I agree Hazel and despite my misgivings I know I will enjoy the actual sport. I love the rowing, kayaking, sailing and swimming events particularly. I remember someone saying the British are very good at sitting down sports which reminds me I love the cycling too. The BMX cross I think its called us particularly terrifying to watch. I will watch all the heats and thoroughly enjoy the sport for what it is. I plan to watch it in the back room so I can have the door to the garden open and pop in and out and pretend I haven't watched sport all day.

However bad I feel about the Olympics I couldn't not watch the efforts of the sportsmen.

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I think London will be a place to avoid unless you're involved in the games. I've had to take a number of London taxi's over the last two weeks and the majority of black cab drivers tell me that they are going on holiday. They don't like the VIP lane which they say is going to stop the ordinary person getting around. One last night said they were planning to demonstrate during the games if they weren't allowed access to the lanes!

 

Watch this space I think

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I would have been more excited had we have got any tickets - so not being in London and not going to any events means I do not feel 'included'. The Olympic torch will be overnight 2 miles away from our house, but again, probably impossible to get involved!

 

However - I am looking forward to the paralympics - we have tickets for the athletics, swimming & cycling - so we get to see all the venues and have 2 nights accommodation in a youth hostel - we didn't get opening ceremoney tickets, but hope to fit in The Globe that night instead.

 

Roll on Paralympics!

 

Tracy

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Well, I have my tickets, and can't wait! I also intend to go to as many of the free events as I can, and see the torch relay.

 

I love watching these big athletic events - Olympics, Commonwealths etc. What some of these people can achive is amazing! I also went to see the Commonwealth games in Manchester, and the atmosphere was electric. I would also love to go to Glasgow when the Commonwealth games are there in the near future.

 

I think many parts of the country have benefited from different athletics or sports events (Manchester, Glasgow, plus Cardiff have the amazing Millenium stadium) and no one complains about these, so why does London (our capital city) get SOOO much grief over this? I know it's a bigger event, but even then! And it is not just London - the sailing and canooing amongst other things are away from the capital.

 

As for terrorism... I kind of feel if we stop doing anything because of a terrorism threat, then haven't they won?

 

Why do we as a nation insist on seeing the negative in most things! Britain is fantastic! I am British and Proud, and know that we can pull this off and look forward to Britain being in the global limelight for the weeks of the Olympics and Para-Olympic games!!

 

And off soap box....

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.... As for terrorism... I kind of feel if we stop doing anything because of a terrorism threat, then haven't they won ....

Ok, I wasn't going to say anything on this but you've drawn me in (naughty C&T :shameonu: )

I am not one of the eek-terriorism brigade. Why? Because much of my youth was spent under the cloud of the IRA bombings and terrorism threats. I was brought up by a woman who lived through WWII and taught me all the life skills that I still employ today! If it is going to happen, it will and there is nowt we can do about it simply because: everything which *can* be done about it and potentially heading it off IS BEING DONE! Yes, it is the events which catch everyone unawares which cause the most anxiety, but, if you consider how many are foiled/detected then the ratio is a very positive one in our favour.

.... Britain is fantastic! I am British and Proud ....

Ditto!! :clap::clap:

 

I think the only thing you and I disagree on is ... love of sport :lol::wink:

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