The Olympics

We are a few hours away from the start. Anyone else apart from me suffering from the overhype yet? Or haven't you noticed it is on?

did you know the torch relay is nazi propogander.

it was invented by them for the 1936 olympics.

the archery, but they wont show it.

The closing event...

Sorry - just not interested.

Martyn

I don't actually know a single person who is interested.

You'd think, from the BBC, that the whole world was obsessed,

What a miserable bunch of old sods!

Where is your sense of history and pride?

Amazing!

The cycle road race (come on, boys!) and the velodrome sprints are the only must for me but I'll probably look in if anything else takes my fancy, such as the beach volleyball, etc......

Pete

The invention of the torch relay was the work of Carl Diem, who headed the german Olympic committee. He was a sports mad athlete born in late 1800's and involved in the Olympics well before the Nazis came to power. After the 1936 Olympics, realising Hitler's approval of the games as propaganda, he really went to extraordinary lengths in an attempt to make Germany the permanent Olympic home. He didn't succeed. Leni Riefenstall said that she thought the idea was brilliant theatre and made the opening of the 1936 Olympiad of special significance. When I restored and re-edited the film with her for its showing by the BBC in the late 1960's, she also claimed that she had fought with Goebels to retain Jesse Owen's triumph and that it was Hitler who had overruled Goebels.

On a more fun note I loved the preview of the bouncing NHS patients in the opening ceremony. Anyone know what the message was?

With all the hype and London centric view, i'm bored of it already.

Just seems to me like a load of insulated stove piped events happening in London, that don't seem to be linked together properly.

Off the the field for a break from all the hype.

Don't even start me on the cost and use of soldiers to backfill the failed G4S plan. Most are from a Brigade in Germany who have just returned from Afghanistan and were expecting to spent some summer holiday time with their partners, children etc that they've not seen for 7 months; most were given less than a week's notice to cancel their summer and get to London. 

Edited By Christian Ackroyd on 27/07/2012 17:26:13

I'm with Martyn K. Can't wait for it all to be over. So much money just to massage a few elletist athlets egos and put a load of money into constuction companies. Not that I'm against them doing their stuff but not to such an OTT financial extent.

Can some one tell me of one example when the fact that somebody has been able to run/swim/jump etc a v/small bit better than others has done anything to improve human existance. Unlike the un sung heros of our society who develope new drugs, improved medical techniques or invent new technology to make our lives better/easier/more interesting. This forum, the internet, computers, fiber optic communications, mobile phones, GPS, jet passenger aircraft, transplant techniques, cancer fighting drugs etc etc the list is almost endless. But, we shower praise, fame, fortune and even adulation on those who seek only to be that little bit better than some one else at one or other of the olympic events.

I'm looking forwards to the Red Arrows at the opening ceremony, at 8:10pm tonight! Gotta love the Red Arrows!

I also like the sailing, because I sail, and cycling. Come on you Brits!

CS

Edited By ConcordeSpeedbird on 27/07/2012 17:24:15

the cycle race comes through our area.

my aunt cant move her car for 2 days because of the race.

great minds etc..

Same here. Just one massive ego trip for Coe and the like, at our expense, for little in return.

Might watch the archery - I've got this plane stuck about 30ft up a tree, can't get a ladder near it and was wondering.......

Carmudgeon, carmudgeon, bah humbug, gripe and tripe. Although I did get an invitation to the para olympics to act as some starting blocks.

Now of course if they decided to use the money to build a purpose built stadium for a proper sport like r/c flying they'd get my vote.

Otherwise it's just a tax-payer funded advertising opportunity for companies.....

If I see any part of the Olympics I will feel that I have failed.

I have had it rammed down my throat day after day, hour after hour until I am sick of it.

Our local TV programs had virtually nothing but the torch relay day after day. Now they hardly mention crime, accidents, death and disaster. Just the ********* Olympics.

I can foresee the main news reporting all the news from the Olympics and then, right at the end announcing that there has been a Nuclear strike on Birmingham. Well, got to get your priorities right.

I have just been informed by my local news that there are 24 new BBC Channels showing every single event. Words (well, printable ones) fail me

Edited By Peter Miller on 27/07/2012 18:51:46

Heading the shot & catching the javelin are my favourites................................

Gonzo...in answer to your question....No, i can't!!...agree with your sentiments completely.

Andrew

Peter M, you could not have summed it better for me..............