Olympinonsense

[Flosshilde]

Team Gloriously Beautiful?

[Lateralthinking1]

Team Gordon Bennett.*

* Born in the British county of Banffshire in 1795 - http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/gordon-bennett.html

[Old Grumpy]

Team Gloriously Beautiful?

Yes that sounds better! On the whole I think this thread is far more polite than the opposition, don't you think?

[Stillhomewardbound]

I think there's a quite urgent and genuine need for our glorious Mayor Boris to plead with Londoners to get back to the Capitol as soon as they possibly can.

What was intended as a reasonable coping strategy may have badly misfired.

Not only have Londoners been scared out of the city, but vast quantities of tourists have clearly stayed away.

Possibly, massively publicised Rapier missile-capped tower blocks and no-fly zones have not helped in that regard, either.

We're already in a double dip recession and what was largely anticipated as a defining moment in London's history may now gain notoriety for all the wrong reasons. Empty streets, empty bars and empty tills.

Talk of honours for the likes of Coe, Boyle and Johnson may well be justified but if the apparently illusory Olympics effect fails to materialise then their decorations will have to be fashioned out of milk bottle tops.

Boris! Quick, to the megaphone!!

[Petrushka]

I think there's a quite urgent and genuine need for our glorious Mayor Boris to plead with Londoners to get back to the Capitol as soon as they possibly can.

What was intended as a reasonable coping strategy may have badly misfired.

Not only have Londoners been scared out of the city, but vast quantities of tourists have clearly stayed away.

Possibly, massively publicised Rapier missile-capped tower blocks and no-fly zones have not helped in that regard, either.

We're already in a double dip recession and what was largely anticipated as a defining moment in London's history may now gain notoriety for all the wrong reasons. Empty streets, empty bars and empty tills.

Talk of honours for the likes of Coe, Boyle and Johnson may well be justified but if the apparently illusory Olympics effect fails to materialise then their decorations will have to be fashioned out of milk bottle tops.

Boris! Quick, to the megaphone!!

Nail hit on head here I think. I mentioned elsewhere on here that my usual Bloomsbury hotel was practically empty last week whereas at this time of year it would normally be packed to the rafters. The 'apparently illusory Olympics effect' was never going to materialise and never will.

[Northender]

If it's REAL nonsense you're looking for...the crowd booed, and the referee had to chastise South Korean and Chinese badminton players tonight, threatening both pairs with disqualification, as all four apparently tried to play as badly as possible in order to obtain some sort of advantage in the next stage of the Ladies' Doubles. Must have been particularly galling for spectators who'd paid good money for tickets.

[Nick Armstrong]

If it's REAL nonsense you're looking for...the crowd booed, and the referee had to chastise South Korean and Chinese badminton players tonight, threatening both pairs with disqualification, as all four apparently tried to play as badly as possible in order to obtain some sort of advantage in the next stage of the Ladies' Doubles. Must have been particularly galling for spectators who'd paid good money for tickets.

Unbeliveable!!!

In other news: God bless Olga Korbut! Cutting through the nonsense.... Anyone see her on the highlights prog this evening? Gabby Thingummyjig gushing on to her: "Olga, do you think it's a golden age in gymnasics now?"

Answer: "No, this is era of gymnastics going down [cue: horrified look to camera from Gabby that someone has dared utter an opinion not packed with superlatives].... we need to change to grace, more beautiful gymnastics, more passion, more smile, more joy".

Good on you, girl. Awesome in 1972, awesome still Someone who really loves her sport.

[kernelbogey]

Boris! Quick, to the megaphone!!

It will be interesting to see whether, and how, he responds to this challenge. This looks like being a fiscal disaster - vast cost, promised return illusory....

[mangerton]

It will be interesting to see whether, and how, he responds to this challenge. This looks like being a fiscal disaster - vast cost, promised return illusory....

Yes. I expect there will be a vast book-cooking exercise after the games, to indicate it was a financial success.

Just a thought, but it might help if they made it easier for people to spend money. Cash dispensers that accept only visa cards and a limited choice of junk food and drink are rather limiting. They could also consider dropping the ticket prices and getting a few more bums on seats.

[Anna]

Anyone remember the electric cars in Twenty-Twelve and the recharging problems ..... ? Well it seems the three hydrogen propelled taxis commissioned to ferry VIPs around are having to be taken to Swindon each night on a car transporter to be refuelled. What price sustainability now?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19049209

[Globaltruth]

Anyone remember the electric cars in Twenty-Twelve and the recharging problems ..... ? Well it seems the three hydrogen propelled taxis commissioned to ferry VIPs around are having to be taken to Swindon each night on a car transporter to be refuelled. What price sustainability now?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19049209

In the immortal words of Perfect Curve's Siobhan:
'Way. To. Go.'

[Flosshilde]

Yes. I expect there will be a vast book-cooking exercise after the games, to indicate it was a financial success.

Has any olympic games in the past 20 - 30 years been anything but a financial disaster?

[Beef Oven]

Unbeliveable!!!

In other news: God bless Olga Korbut! Cutting through the nonsense.... Anyone see her on the highlights prog this evening? Gabby Thingummyjig gushing on to her: "Olga, do you think it's a golden age in gymnasics now?"

Answer: "No, this is era of gymnastics going down [cue: horrified look to camera from Gabby that someone has dared utter an opinion not packed with superlatives].... we need to change to grace, more beautiful gymnastics, more passion, more smile, more joy".

Good on you, girl. Awesome in 1972, awesome still Someone who really loves her sport.

Egg wetter gree.

[Northender]

Has any olympic games in the past 20 - 30 years been anything but a financial disaster?

I believe the last time an Olympics made money was in 1984. The Los Angeles games made a profit of $225 million, and this is being used to this day to fund or support local sports activities, often for disadvantaged communities.
At the other end of the spectrum, it took Montreal 30 years to clear its debt.
But fear ye not ... the process of massaging the figures and polishing M. Rogge's panegyric is well in hand.

[Nick Armstrong]

polishing M. Rogges's panegyric

There's a job I'm glad I don't have to do

(Bit like putting toothpaste on the Prince of Wales's brush)