Thank God that's finished for another four years

[caddyman]

Ah, that's that then. The Olympic tedium is over for another four years. Back to merely dreadful TV programming instead of wall-to-wall coverage of sports no-one usually cares about and fewer play or understand. Now it's time for us to watch the costs for London 2012 spiral inexorably out of control and our council tax along with it.

There may still be those who think it's a great thing for London to host the next games, but I'm not one of them. The city has done it twice in the modern era and being the first to do it for a third time is transitory fame that will soon be of interest only to pub quizzers. Far better if the French had won, I think. Cheaper and much less hassle. Those who think the country enthused by Britain's Olympic haul of 19 golds and sundry other medals are countered by the ever-surly Scots who want to enter their own team in 2012, rather than be part of Team GB.

It's done that much for national unity. How long before they insist on using the name Alba for the country, just to get it alphabetically higher than England?

In the meantime, it seems that promotion of the 2012 games has got off to a slightly sour start as a row has erupted over the promotional video shown in Peking, which includes a portrait of infamous moors murderess, Myra Hindley. Good to know that our ability to shoot ourselves in the foot is still worthy of a gold medal in its own right.

The Chinese will, of course, not care in the slightest. The world now thinks of them very positively and they can continue to grind Tibet under their collective heel and threaten Taiwan.

Comments

[phil99.livejournal.com]

The talk of a "scottish olympic team" proving themselves in these games are total rot - they're using "team gb's" (ugh) resources for training, travel, equipment, expertise and technology. Where exactly is this going to come from when it has to be paid for by "Team Alba"?

[phil99.livejournal.com]

And I'm a scot :-\

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

Scotland: Not going to happen, unless they get total devolution, recognition as an independent country by the UN, and their own olympic committee...

I'm looking forward to London, but I suspect I should just take 2 weeks off, rather than try to go to work.

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Normally I'd probably have been with you about Olympic fortnight, but much to my surprise this time 'round I've actually rather enjoyed it.

Regardless of the hoo-har about what was real and what was fake I have been impressed by both the opening and closing ceremonies. Although I was amused by the BBC commentators talking about the man behind the 'shows' and how it wouldn't be possible to create something like that in the West as: they will only work 4.5 day weeks, insist on 2 coffee breaks a day, won't do anything that's uncomfortable, you can't criticise them if they do it wrong and they have unions. Yup. I reckon his right. Also I guess they don't have someone threatening to burn their villages if they stuff up either! ;o)

The jury's still out on 2012 for me. If Boris 'the loveable buffoon' Johnson* gets his way and it comes in under budget (yeah, right) then it could be interesting. I still hate the logo though.

*In comparing Boris with all the other important 'suited' men at the hand over you can't help but notice that even though his suit probably cost more than all my clothes put together he just can't help but look a mess.

[drjohnsilence.livejournal.com]

He'd have looked far better dressed like the Mayor of Trumpton, that's for sure.

[ladkyis.livejournal.com]

Do not underestimate Alexander Boris de Pfeffell Johnson - the stance and the bumbling are very good and inside there is one h**l of a brain

[drjohnsilence.livejournal.com]

I stopped him from playing ping-pong once, you know...

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

The Chinese will, of course, not care in the slightest. The world now thinks of them very positively
Maybe, then again the fiasco with the licences to protest and the extra press attention about Xinjiang, does mean that news has trickled out.
As for how things will go, well that's going to be fun to watch - the interaction may work, maybe not. Let's wait and see.