[Trotters]

In general terms are the contributors to Shoreham’s Chatter typical of today’s “Brit”. We are hours away from a significant milestone in modern British History and if you looked at chatter topics you would think that the Olympics were an event held on another planet. Apart from the cross border disputes when the torch passed through Lancing and sniping about security, cost’s and Britain’s ability to prepare and host such an event, I struggle to find any positive comment and encouragement.
I would have thought that the day after some two bit American Political wannabe ridiculed our organisation somebody would have raised an eyebrow and defended our position. No such luck, we are after all, British. The general threads appear to be that those up the top could not run a P.U. in a Brewery while at same time those critics firmly believe they could do it better (trouble is they can never be found when volunteers are sought).
I would like to take this opportunity on the Chatter forum to wish our sportsman, organisers and those employed throughout the Olympics well and hope their dreams are fulfilled. I would also like to extend my best wishes to the Paralympics, athletes et al.
Who knows perhaps by the end of the day some others from Shoreham may post their support.

[heavysoul]

Trotters, on 27 July 2012 - 09:53 AM, said:

In general terms are the contributors to Shoreham’s Chatter typical of today’s “Brit”. We are hours away from a significant milestone in modern British History and if you looked at chatter topics you would think that the Olympics were an event held on another planet. Apart from the cross border disputes when the torch passed through Lancing and sniping about security, cost’s and Britain’s ability to prepare and host such an event, I struggle to find any positive comment and encouragement.
I would have thought that the day after some two bit American Political wannabe ridiculed our organisation somebody would have raised an eyebrow and defended our position. No such luck, we are after all, British. The general threads appear to be that those up the top could not run a P.U. in a Brewery while at same time those critics firmly believe they could do it better (trouble is they can never be found when volunteers are sought).
I would like to take this opportunity on the Chatter forum to wish our sportsman, organisers and those employed throughout the Olympics well and hope their dreams are fulfilled. I would also like to extend my best wishes to the Paralympics, athletes et al.
Who knows perhaps by the end of the day some others from Shoreham may post their support.

I totally agree. I may not have said so much here but I have been quite vocal when speaking to people about all the negativity - particularly in the media (no surprise there)!! Have really been disappointed with the BBC recently who are just turning into a red top newspaper the way they are reporting and trying to be the first with news without actually having all the facts!!

So yes, good luck to all involved - I will certainly be watching as much as I can - and hope it's a massive success, if for no other reason than to shut the doubters up!!!!

[Fangio]

I couldn't agree more with you concerning Mr Romney and the very thought that this man may become the president of the U.S.
Perhaps, just perhaps, everything has happened to soon, too over blown, too much publicity, too much faffing, that some of us are feeling bashed into submission.

[PaulOckenden]

Is it over yet?

P.

[Doug Attrell]

PaulOckenden, on 27 July 2012 - 10:29 AM, said:

Is it over yet?

P.

[johnjohn]

I would not say 'negativity' but apathy from some of us that have little interest in most sports or the 'one upmanship' of national opening ceremonies.
And for some of us its not once in a lifetime but the third ( can't remember much about the 1936 one though!)
All the nationistic hooha seems to have started in 1936 when Hitler was trying to prove the superiority of the Aryran race what has happened to the true Olympic spirit of 'let the best man win' it seems now to be all about what nation has the most gold medals......it should not be nation versus nation but man/woman versus man/woman.

[PaulOckenden]

I'd have a lot more respect for the Olympics is wasn't for:
- The professional athletes taking part in so many of the events.
- The commercial sponsorship and the ludicrously OTT rules surrounding it.
- The fact that the IOC demands the Olympic Park to be a tax free zone.
- And yes, the fact that so much of the modern Olympics (especially the Torch Relay) was invented by Nazi Germany.

Don't get me wrong, I'll watch the thing tonight, and some of the events, but I do so with a slightly sad heart.

P.

[sonictomb]

I haven't said much about it in here, but I'm really looking forward to it and I hope it is a great success. I'm staying in tonight to watch the opening ceremony and, believe me, staying in on a Friday night is almost unheard of for me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching the flame relay, despite the inclement weather the atmosphere was fantastic.

I also have no problem with nationalism (with a small n). In every other country in the world, nationlism is encouraged. I know that your nationality is an accident of birth, but why is regarded as wrong to be proud to be English? There isn't even the option of putting English as your nationality on most forms, it's just British/Irish or nothing. That, to me, is wrong.

I should point out that I am NOT actually English before I get accused of xenophobia

[Spinalman]

I thoroughly enjoyed "Twenty Twelve" on BBC2 - does that count?

and of course the billions of pounds Nike has spent on being "Official" sponsor has meant I went out and bought some Marks and Spencer training shoes... with my Mastercard. Plus I never realised there was an alternative to Pepsi... wow.

Plus I am curious to see how the ground to air missiles being fired at a hijacked 747 over London will reduce casualties.

Let's not forget the legacy: I am very pleased for all the East London school children that will benefit from having their sports days in an international grade stadium in the future. I expect there will be superb opportunities from marketing consultants on the impending rebranding of G4S. and the lawyers who will be prosecuting individuals in 2013 for mentioning on their websites that they worked at "London 2012", "Olympics", "sporting event in London" etc.

Did I mention sport? I doubt many have been to an athletics meet before, nor able to name a Team GB 400m mens runner... so why the fervour now?

[itsme]

I am very much looking foward to the Games, not only because we were lucky enough to get tickets to the Athletics in the Olympic Stadium. I am also especially looking forward to watching the rowing and cycling events on the tv.

I am pretty fed up with what appears to be our latest sport of 'Olympics bashing' mainly fed by the media. Ok so the ticket sales was a fiasco, and don't get me started on G4S, but lets move on and enjoy it! We have little to celebrate in this country so lets get behind Team GB!

[Trotters]

Spinalman, on 27 July 2012 - 11:30 AM, said:

Did I mention sport? I doubt many have been to an athletics meet before, nor able to name a Team GB 400m mens runner... so why the fervour now?

Not forgetting of course the swimmers, cyclists, horseriders, archers, tennis and table tennis players, sailors, rowers and the rest or that these game will be followed by the Paralympics.
It’s about so much more than just athletics and what’s more you don’t need to go to an Athletics meeting to appreciate the endeavour, the world wide web and global media give us all the opportunity to see, hear, or watch those things we enjoy without having to travel to four corners of the Globe
Sad response really Spinalman, I don’t think I would like to live in your world.

[Spinalman]

Trotters, on 27 July 2012 - 13:25 PM, said:

Not forgetting of course the swimmers, cyclists, horseriders, archers, tennis and table tennis players, sailors, rowers and the rest or that these game will be followed by the Paralympics.
It's about so much more than just athletics and what's more you don't need to go to an Athletics meeting to appreciate the endeavour, the world wide web and global media give us all the opportunity to see, hear, or watch those things we enjoy without having to travel to four corners of the Globe
Sad response really Spinalman, I don't think I would like to live in your world.

I hadn't forgotten the myriad of disciplines... but that is my point. If I was that interested in Ice Hockey, or Archery I'd go to one of the many regional meets that run throughout the year (without being told what liquids/shoes/mobile phone I can bring) . For spectators the Olympics is about the event, not neccesarily the individual sports - especially as many spectators don't get a choice of the sport they see. Say I'm a fan of Archery, I'd be doubly disappointed if the ticketing system squirted out a compromise event of Weightlifting and swimming for me.... the official approach seems to be pay, queue and be thankful for what you get. BBC HD coverage seems a much better option... and I drink pepsi at the same time.

I'll get me coat... with 3 stripes down the arms.

[thermo]

Trotters, on 27 July 2012 - 09:53 AM, said:

In general terms are the contributors to Shoreham’s Chatter typical of today’s “Brit”. We are hours away from a significant milestone in modern British History and if you looked at chatter topics you would think that the Olympics were an event held on another planet. Apart from the cross border disputes when the torch passed through Lancing and sniping about security, cost’s and Britain’s ability to prepare and host such an event, I struggle to find any positive comment and encouragement.
I would have thought that the day after some two bit American Political wannabe ridiculed our organisation somebody would have raised an eyebrow and defended our position. No such luck, we are after all, British. The general threads appear to be that those up the top could not run a P.U. in a Brewery while at same time those critics firmly believe they could do it better (trouble is they can never be found when volunteers are sought).
I would like to take this opportunity on the Chatter forum to wish our sportsman, organisers and those employed throughout the Olympics well and hope their dreams are fulfilled. I would also like to extend my best wishes to the Paralympics, athletes et al.
Who knows perhaps by the end of the day some others from Shoreham may post their support.

well at least you tried!

i cant wait. im really looking forward to it. Despite the sense of doom and gloom in the media and on here there does feel a real lift from a lot of people you talk to. I dont care what discipline i watch i want to watch as much as possible because wether the atheletes are professional or not (and the days of the amatuer eating kippers the night before on the kitchen table are long gone) they all put a hell of a lot of devotion and effort into doing what they do and believe in and are proud to represent this country. I wish i could go and watch but we werent lucky enough with the tickets.
I think we should be proud as a nation weve delivered what we said we would and built a bloody excellent facility that will be used in years to come, as opposed to the many other olympic facilities such as in montreal and barcelona which stand idle. We always moan about what we cant do, well actually we can and we have, unlike the greeks 8 years ago who were taking the scaffolding down the night before. Yes its cost a lot of money but its probably helped in a lot of companies get through teh worst of the recession with the money it has pumped into teh economy

If we had an olympic sport of unintrested moany gits we may even have a few hopefuls on here to cheer on....except we wouldnt cheer them on because they wouldnt be able to do it because....


BRING ON THE GAMES

[heavysoul]

Spinalman, on 27 July 2012 - 11:30 AM, said:

Did I mention sport? I doubt many have been to an athletics meet before, nor able to name a Team GB 400m mens runner... so why the fervour now?

Why does that matter?! That's the whole idea - getting more people, especially the young, interested in something that doesn't involve spending most of their day on an x-box or other leading gaming machine!!

[Billium]

Trotters, on 27 July 2012 - 13:25 PM, said:

Not forgetting of course the swimmers, cyclists, horseriders, archers, tennis and table tennis players, sailors, rowers and the rest or that these game will be followed by the Paralympics.
It’s about so much more than just athletics and what’s more you don’t need to go to an Athletics meeting to appreciate the endeavour, the world wide web and global media give us all the opportunity to see, hear, or watch those things we enjoy without having to travel to four corners of the Globe
Sad response really Spinalman, I don’t think I would like to live in your world.

Many years ago I had an apprentice who took up Race Walking.
He trained hard for years, His training was done after a days work and weekends, a normal Sunday training session was to walk the South Downs Way. (most people need a week)
He became quite successful ( he holds the record for the London to Brighton Walking race ). He was featured on a BBC 2 programme, the whole programme was about his training, his work, and loss of Social life.
He was rewarded by being selected to walk for England in the Olympics in Moscow.
Then Maggy and her boys decided to score political points and make it nigh on impossible for the average athlete to attend as they would get no support from them. I would be spitting feathers if it was me. how would anyone else feel ?

[Doug Attrell]

johnjohn, on 27 July 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

I would not say 'negativity' but apathy from some of us that have little interest in most sports or the 'one upmanship' of national opening ceremonies.
And for some of us its not once in a lifetime but the third ( can't remember much about the 1936 one though!)
All the nationistic hooha seems to have started in 1936 when Hitler was trying to prove the superiority of the Aryran race what has happened to the true Olympic spirit of 'let the best man win' it seems now to be all about what nation has the most gold medals......it should not be nation versus nation but man/woman versus man/woman.

I couldn't have put it better myself. I suppose that makes me another moaning old git. Oh, well. I've been called worse.

I watched a documentary on the history of the Olympics last week. The original ancient version was similar to the later Roman gladiatorial games. Participants competed naked & the winner was feted. The losers faced scorn & were sometimes put to death. Now that would be some inspiration to win.

[Suzanne]

Doug Attrell, on 27 July 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

[heavysoul]

Honestly, what hope does this country have!!!

Think I'm going to join Richard and steer clear of reading these messageboards in case all the negativity starts to rub off on me!!!

I'm off to enjoy The Games!!!

[sonictomb]

heavysoul, on 27 July 2012 - 16:21 PM, said:

Honestly, what hope does this country have!!!

Think I'm going to join Richard and steer clear of reading these messageboards in case all the negativity starts to rub off on me!!!

I'm off to enjoy The Games!!!

Don't worry, it doesn't rub off at all. My husband is one of those moany old gits who complains about everything but I'm still excited about the Games. I can't wait!!

ps - I changed my avatar

[Spinalman]

heavysoul, on 27 July 2012 - 16:03 PM, said:

Why does that matter?! That's the whole idea - getting more people, especially the young, interested in something that doesn't involve spending most of their day on an x-box or other leading gaming machine!!

The sport does matter. I will be watching the sports that interests me... but I am discerning of what I watch. Just like Wimbledon where the centre Court is full of people that never watch tennis from one year to the next except for their corporate outing to Wimbledon. The Olympics needs to inclusive -to encourage youngsters, yes. Yet there seems to be more and more barriers in the way making it exclusive. I am trying to get tickets for the paralympics yet it is not a simple and reliable process to see a specific sport - I am a sports fan and want to see the sport I am interested in - rather than - "make do with these tickets" approach. It appears that the modern commercial Olympics is more an event and "out doing" previous events, rather than the sport. The sport is the reason it is there after all. The hype and the gloss is why people are apathetic.... and let's not tar us as being negative.... I would rather it were better.

I think encouraging sport for the future is important... but there is no evidence that previous Olympics has any legacy for encouraging sport in youth.
One campaign I will invest in (and have done in a professional capacity) is to encourage cricket. Keep Cricket free on TV was a worthy campaign. most children under 16 have probably not seen a full cricket match on TV once the free to air coverage was lost. That has a knock on effect on the numbers of children signing up for cricket clubs. So putting cricket back on terrestrial may have a bigger impact on sporting youth than the olympics. (that's why I would have supported the BBC spending £200m on cricket rather than blowing it on F1 (I am also a big F1 fan).