Apologies for my disillusionment with London hosting the mainstay of the Olympics. Talk of bonuses for the national economy is propaganda at this stage and something few will ever really know even ten years hence. Will it pull us out of recession - or deepen it? However, at local levels the impact on residents, businesses, public organisations and the essential transport infrastructure is likely to be devastating - and for eight to ten weeks, not two. Our company conservatively estimates a 50% downturn over that period - and that's 'just' money. It doesn't take account of the staff time involved in dealing with hordes of frustrated drivers and passengers needing to get places that are inaccessible and with increased gridlock caused by reducing many major roads by a lane. Many of those daytime journeys are essential. The take it or leave it recreational stuff tends to be evening and night when there is less Olympic activity going on. Of course there are no plans to compensate even those suffering tangible losses to the extent of liquidation / bankruptcy. So the notion of Olympic boomtown is a wee bit shortsighted from our standpoint. How far have the planners gone towards placating those whose lives / livelihoods are being adversely affected? As Ninj says above, the best you get out of the authorities is the cold shoulder. As I've said before, if London had to host the Games, they could have picked a more accessible suburban venue than tight and congested inner-city Newham. Remember, London evolved organically and beyond a few wider arterial roads, even most thoroughfares are inadequate for this kind of purpose. Will the outcrop highlight the personal cost to vast numbers of people? Doubt it very much. Forgive my negativity on this one. Whether it turns out to be the disaster many forecast or not, the efforts needed to come up with contingency and recovery plans alone leave little room for joy.
Just read that Israel thinks Iran is going to do a terror attack, however its more likely to be Israel that does it to drum up support for an Iran war. That coupled with the other things ive read makes me really glad Im not in London.
Quite the conspiracy theorist, Swords. I'd say there are far better ways to build support against Iran than bombing the UK.
Thats always the best way, the public never want a war unless they are attacked. They planned to do it in the past to wage war on cuba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods I think youd have to be a nutter not to consider that they would do it considering the CIA wanting to kill their own public in the past but JFK rejected it.
I understand those who are 'against' the Olympics, but like Beth and QPRNuts I cant wait for them. They are a great event bringing together the 'lesser' sports into one global event. It is shame the very top people are money grabbing and tbh thats all they worry about, but for those benefitting at the bottom it can only be a good thing. For instance, my Judo club have seen a decent rise in numbers over the past couple of months - we had had so many new starters I has been difficult to cope! That not only helps to grow our club, but get more kids into sport - Leaving a legacy - exactly what London 2012 said they would do. Legacy also comes in the form that they have developed what was a hazardous, unsafe, and barren plot of land in east London into a thriving sports community, with a massive environmental impact positivley in the formation of new habitats for wildlife. After the games the athletes village will transform into more housing (we are in great need of that at the moment). Thats not to mention the imapct on local businesses with increased people flows for increased profits, leading to re-investment in the area. Although saying that, I have been on the other side. I work at a supermarket on a sunday as a part time job and for some reason they think it wise to increase our opening hours from 10-4 to 9-6 during the games. Imo there is no need to seeing as we are miles from London! And it inconveniences me with a longer working sunday. So I do understand both sides, but for me, it can only have a positive impact in the end.
Lord Coe has done very nicely out of it,and his cronies. I will not be watching any of it and I will reserve my opinion of the whole thing until we see what legacy has been left if any.When you here of GB athletes having to get private sponsors so they can train and then represent us,i find that a little hard to stomach when it has cost us so much.
I see people's point about cost, but surely there are a hundred things the government spunks money on more deserving of scorn before this: trident, foreign aid, the monarchy, welfare payments for non-EU citizens, EU contributions, aircraft carriers, HS2, nuclear power, renewable energy. Just a few to get our left wing and right wing posters frothing!
Don't care about the politics, don't care about the cronyism, don't care about the sleaze, don't care about the restrictive advertising rules. Love the fact that individual athletes, who have trained their whole lives, have a chance to participate in something this big in their own country, and that I, as a Brit, have the opportunity to support them and cheer them on.
Looking forward to the event as ... after all take it away then what have we got to look forward to. I am pleased on a few things that Barry Davies won't be trying to commentate using that awful way of his of getting as close as he could to the local dialect ... I always imagined him cross dressing into national costumes while he was performed with his take on drama and language. I choose to eat very well at times in France ( the home of food ) but i also eat at Macdonalds on occasion . People this is 2012 catch up and if you think that something like the games can be run on fresh air think again and wise up. You will be telling me next that you believe in recycling and you need to do you bit! Green theories I agree with in principle of course .. yet they are designed to make money under the pre tense of saving money or saving something. Drive around in a Prius when its true carbon footprint is disgraceful . How can I state anything green I fly to France every month so no hypocrite am I. I love sport, I hate sports drinks and trainers. I want to see all sports people on drugs and the first 7s for 100m
I've been reading your comments, people. Thanks for those. I haven't read all of them because I didn't expect so many and I don't have loads of time! But I have noticed a few people who label anyone who has a problem with the Olympics as a moaner, which is unfair. I've also noticed a few people who, in as many words, suggest ignoring serious problems and just enjoying it all blindly. I understand that there are many genuine athletes who are honest and want to perform and realise their dreams. I have no gripe with those people but I do think they're being used. There are a lot of things that have come from the Olympics that I feel are a slap in the face to common people. The picture painted by the Olympics organisers is a nice one and I wish it were real; a celebration of life and humanity. Sadly, the Olympics, in my view, is something quite opposite. I cannot ignore that other people in this World suffer so much and then something like this goes on (and some of that suffering is caused by Olympic sponsers). Extreme materialism is having very adverse effects on our lives, community and environment. The evidence is all around, if you choose to take a look. If you don't, then fair enough. I am not suggesting that everyone be some kind of militant activist. I've only been to about 6 or 7 protests in my life. But I am suggesting that we don't bury our heads in the sand and that we see things for what they actually are, otherwise we allow people to take the mick! I also wanted to share a couple of things that greatly annoyed me: I saw on the tube, about a month or two ago, an advertisement poster asking for people to volunteer to clean the streets of London up before the games. It made me wonder... we pay our taxes for clean streets and we also paid through taxes for the Olympic Games!! Apparently, it's not enough. Another thing to annoy me was Londoners being given the suggestion that they should go on holiday whilst the Olympics are on! Piss take.
It was reported that shops in Leyton were given a makeover with buildings being painted in different bright colours (like you see at the seaside) to give a 'village' feel to the area as it will be part of the marathon route. It's all smoke & mirrors stuff. They can't find money to run our services properly but drop everything for a corrupt organisation and it's corporate moneymaking 'partners'...
Lads the world is corrupt so who are you gonna call? Lads come to France they The French haven't forgotten that the government works for them. This country is all about I'm alright Jack If something isn't fair then its accepted that we can blow up the TGV tracks, burn a few dead sheep and drop a couple hundred tons of **** on a politician car ... tis then done and things get changed or people get hung
awjm, suffering in whatever the 'third world' is these days, won't stop by allowing more than one brown carbonated beverage at the games, or even by not holding the games. The Olympics gives the opportunity for everyone to rise above circumstance and achieve great things, and the opportunity to highlight the economic imbalance. When I say I don't care about the corporate side, it's true. Because the games are about the athletes and the achievements, their hopes and dreams. The political and economic side is just a fact of life that sadly enables big events to happen. If we allow our distaste for the corporate to prevent the actual event, or prevent athletes from competing, then we all lose.
Bang on Willy like it sad but true and I add that the moaners must give us all the alternative plan in order to change my views. Burgers are no good for you,Coke is no good for you, Banks are no good for you. Energy companies are no good for you. There again running is no good for you buggers up your knees Think about sport without the games or football without the cups or the leagues. Maybe egg and spoon races where everyone gets a prize? Grow your own yogurt ... sustain yourselves ... its a life choice get on and just do it
