Entertainment For Lively Minds
Apparently...
Posted by Doug B on 27 July 2011 - 2:04pm.
Exitement is growing all around the country as in a years time something is happening.
Luckily people where I live are managing to go about their lives normally.
Anyone practicing diving into their bath tubs?
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I know
It is a year away and one of my work colleagues is euphoric because she got tickets for one of the first round qualifying football games which will most likely be Guinea-bissau against against Liberia or something like that. Would be more excited about watching Colchester away at Scunthorpe on a rainy night in January.
Can't wait
I always stay up/get up early for the Olympics/Commonwealth Games. I particularly enjoy the 'minority' sports that get their chance to shine in the Games - GB's hockey gold in 1988, Redgrave's record-breaking rowing triumph in 2000 and Nicole Cooke's road race win at the last Olympics.
There's something wonderful about the competitors, many of whom are amateurs, who've been training for years without any reward, financial or otherwise.
However, I understand that the hype of a London Games may be too much for some. I don't dislike football, but every time England are in a major tournament the expectation and coverage of every cough and spit is excessive.
Still the Olympics won't be here again for another 64 years.
(Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in three years though - woo-hoo!)
London
People are only griping because it's in That London.
If it was in Manchester we'd not hear the end of it. London is the only place in Britain these games could be held, logistically.
Go on, tell me I'm wrong.
Can you clarify please, F-C?
Are you saying that people are griping because:
a) They are Londoners and they don't want to pay for it or deal with the disruption, or
b) They are not Londoners and are jealous because it's in That London and not elsewhere, or
c) Something else entirely?
Your other two points are spot on. I was lucky enough to spend two years working on the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and it was a blast - both as part of the Games themselves and working in the host city while the Games were on. The CG were plenty big enough for Manchester - anything bigger would have completely swamped the region, not just the City.
Despite the current cynicism, I suspect that once the Games have actually started, anyone lucky enough to have tickets or just to be in the vicinity will have the time of their lives.
I'm saying
A lot of people don't want to hear about because it's in London and to some people Britain is too London-centric and to them this just confirms that.
If Qatar can host the Word Cup
Then I reckon we can probably get the Olympics up and running in, say, Northampton.
Not true:
Northampton Saints had to play the Rugby European Cup quarter and semi-finals in Milton Keynes because their stadium wasn't big enough. Mind you, they were 2 cracking days out and stadium:MK is really, really good.
I live in Manchester
I'd have no interest in it regardless of if it was in London, Manchester or Qatar! I'm glad it's not in Manchester actually, it would take ages to get to work that week.
Bored of hearing about it already I'm afraid.
London olympics
Agree with you 5C, I am old enough to clearly remember Manchester & Birmingham getting custard pies from the IOC.
No, you're right
and I am genuinely happy that the country won the right to hold the games.
What I am not interested in is the faux enthusiasm for sports by people who ordinarily don't have any interest in sports.The opening and closing events aside can you explain for instance why someone would wet their pants to get tickets for a boxing match when they have never previously watched one in their life and had no intention of ever watching one?
Maybe its me being a grumpy git but like everything else hyped through the roof there are an awful lot of bandwagon jumpers. My wife was a keen gymnast in her young years and performed to a pretty high level. She would have loved to get tickets for any of the gymastic events. Unfortunately it wasn't possible but of course that's okay because all of the gymastic event tickets have been sold to people with a real interest in gymnastics.
Having got the gripes out the way it is very pleasing that many of the venues have been completed ahead of schedule and the swimming pool looks fantastic.
Box-ticking
A lot of people want to go to the olympics just to say they've been to the olympics. Not everyone of course, but certainly those people wetting their pants to get tickets for sports they'd otherwise not be interested in.
No harm in it I suppose. I'll probably enjoy quite a few events on the goggle box.
Yes
nice of everyone to notice.
In one year today my brother is getting married. Glad we're all so excited about it.
leaving the country
seems a credible option..