I head Lord Sebastian Coe on the radio earlier this week say that all British history has been leading up to this moment. Is he mad? I am all for a bit of good old patriotism but a statement like this goes a little way towards insanity surely.
OK, I am in the minority, I get it, I have no personal interest in the olympics (controversial, I know, I'm publicly outing myself) and am just glad that I am away from the madness of London at the moment. Of course, that doesn't really make me unpatriotic, or ignorant, it just means that sporting events such as this leave me fairly cold, whatever country they take place in. Apologies to all those who love it, we all have out differences. I find it hard to get over the money spent - is it going to go over the estimated 11 bn? Probably, will we make it back in other ways? probably not.
I am in awe of the sports men and women who train for hours and achieve success, this is what it is really about, people who strive for something and achieve it and on the positive note, maybe we can get kids more interested in sport, my neice is interested in joining a sports club all of a sudden, nothing wrong with that – if it lasts.
Isn’t this what it is about, achievement?
But if I hear one more advert on TV about some shite product or other that is the 'official nappy of the olympics', I will scream. All this really means is that they paid more sponsor money than someone else and am I really going to buy your shampoo just because it was the official shampoo? Is there an official cigarette of the Olympics?
No, I don’t think that all of British history has been leading up to this moment, I think it is a serious amount of hype and an awful lot of businesses trying to make money off of the back of it, like mud on a hem. But for those who enjoy huge amounts of sport, it will be fantastic, if you can ignore the financial aspect.
Sorry, if I offend people, I am not anti-competitive sport, just anti-hype.
Yes Lord coe was a bit OTT. its nice we have the games, the opening ceremony blah de blah. its an international evet etc etc but all of British History .. I think not! if it gets few more kids outside and active even for a while, sparks their interest in a sport of some sort fencing, judo, tabl tennis whatever then great -better than x box and sitting on backsides. The hype is ridiculous especially the bisiness hype - ha ha at the official nappy of the olympics.
ReplyDeleteWell said, I feel the exactly the same! I admire the sportsmen and women but think that a lot has been lost in the commercialism of it all, but then isn't that what is happening with society in general and why we have pulled back from it all x
ReplyDeletePhew Dan, hope you feel better after that! I do agree about the commercialism and the sponsors empty seats are a disgrace. We are being very selective in what we are watching as don't want to spend all day glued to the tv. Have enjoyed the swimming so far and some gymnastics, tennis and rowing but only watching when GBR are on otherwise we would be glued! Your kitchen/dining area looks good, glad you are putting your stamp on things.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. What a waste of money, when our essential services are being cut and the country is in a recession. I think youngsters should be encouraged to work and pay into the system, where is sport going to get them?
ReplyDeletebah humbug!
ReplyDeleteactually I only watch the opening and closing ceremonies!
I don't like any kind of sport,we don't have TV so,luckily, we are not bombarded by all the claptrap.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I agree completely Dan! I'm in no way excited by the olympics, just glad that it's not affecting me down here!
ReplyDeleteI lived in London for a year as part of my degree and I was just thinking to myself the other day that I'm soooooo glad I'm not there now. The tube's bad at the best of times and I'd never have made it to work on time, let alone manage to leave Ealing for other adventures!
The only people who are really profiting are the businesses in London that will have hugely increased sales from all the additional tourists. Yes it will probably have a good impact on our economy but we could've done that ourselves with the £11 billion as you said!
Those ads with olympians selling out for a lifetime of free shampoo annoy the Hell out of me too! I avoid TV most of the time, I'm avoiding it a lot more now!
I have to agree too, I have watched very little of the coverage since it started, I must admit to being pleased that Zara Phillips did at last get a medal, she has worked gard for it. The last two Olympics she lost out because her horse was not fit.
ReplyDeleteI might watch the diving, but that will be it, I am not even going to watch the tennis, especially if that swiss guy gets through to the final.......
Well said Dan! I watched the opening, which I loved, although mainly because it was so wacky and quite the opposite of the Chinese games (no offence to any Chinese). I watched the womens' cycling around Box Hill which was pure nostalgia for us as we once lived nearby when OH worked in Dorking. But quite honestly, if I see another bloomin' ad for shampoo etc I shall scream and boycott the companies involved! It has almost made me watch French TV which is mainly American, quiz shows or soft porn, so I must be getting desperate...
ReplyDeleteI am with you. I have avoided watching any of it. I admire the athletes but really have no interest in watching it. I recently met a Policeman here in Canada who was living in Whistler for the last winter Olypics and it only created kaos for him and his family, plus a much higher cost of living with no increased pay. I am sure that is happening to many London Policemen too.
ReplyDeleteSo you won't want to see the picture of Tony Blackburn watching the Olympics in his Union flag onesie then? It is absolutely hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the shite adverts clinging onto the Olympic bandwagon. But I hate most adverts anyway, this just makes it worse.
ReplyDeleteAlways loved the Olympics though, enjoy a lot of sport and am getting my tv licence's worth at the moment. Thank God it's on BBC actually, not just because of the tv licence but because of the lack of shite adverts! Completely appreciate we all like different things but get irked when sport haters complain about youngsters getting into sport. In an age of growing obesity and lack of responsibilities, discipline and respect for others, sport most definitely has a useful part to play. And some people actually LIKE playing sport. Imagine that!
;-)
Totally agree. Can do without all this hype. The money spent could have been so much more usefully distributed to other causes. Can`t see the sense of it at all. Don`t even watch TV much, let alone any of these sports events. What a total bollox their distribution/sale of tickets was as well. Now they have`nt got enough people watching the events. Not enough bums on seats in the stadium. What an utter waste of money. These tickets had been sold to corporates and the ordinary folk who would have enjoyed supporting some of the more obscure events have now been left furious. This olympics hype and bollox has gone totally pear shaped. Shame on them all! They f***ed up big time!!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I was preparing for a battering! Seems I am not alone after all. Thanks as always for your comments.
ReplyDelete"All of British history has been leading up to this moment" sounds jolly ridiculous! So the Olympics is a grand event but hardly the best thing that happened to us.
ReplyDeleteGo-Electrical
Some of us think that money grows on trees - advertising is a means of revenue to make all this possible - would we rather more o f it would be paid for by the taxpayers. I just mute the sound and go and make a cup of tea - advertising is part of life - deal with it.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm visiting for the first time, and was enjoying reading through your posts and the wonderful work you are doing on your new home.
ReplyDeleteWhat made me want to comment was the fact that you used what I thought was a Bajan cuss word "shite"...had no idea it was used elsewhere.
You talk about kids being inspired by the olympics, but I found a recent survey that sort of says the latter.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Galt toys (http://blog.galttoys.com/2012/08/21/summer-screen-time/) kids are now spending 12 whole days sat staring at a screen (143 hrs 36 minutes), whilst 70% of parents think the days of group outdoor play are gone.
Kind of flys in the face of olympic legacy doesn't it...