2012 Olympics

[eFestivals]

^ All truthful. But don't forget there are a lot of much more corrupt countries than us that haven't progress anywhere near as much as we have.

and don't forget that we're getting ever-more corrupt, and haven't progressed even half as much as we like to tell ourselves.

When you realise that the average Turk is thinking that they don't wish to join the EU because it's socially regressive and the UK is at the forefront of keeping it that way, then you start to get some sort of perspective on how things really are.

[The Nal]

and don't forget that we're getting ever-more corrupt, and haven't progressed even half as much as we like to tell ourselves.

When you realise that the average Turk is thinking that they don't wish to join the EU because it's socially regressive and the UK is at the forefront of keeping it that way, then you start to get some sort of perspective on how things really are.

[eFestivals]

Back to my original point though - reason the Olympics should be celebrated. All nationals anthems respected and its a colour blind event.

while it's better that national anthems are respected than not, why have them there at all?

It's not the country that is doing the sport, and in most events is there nothing about any team (national or otherwise).

[The Nal]

while it's better that national anthems are respected than not, why have them there at all?

It's not the country that is doing the sport, and in most events is there nothing about any team (national or otherwise).

[AcademicPistol]

and don't forget that we're getting ever-more corrupt, and haven't progressed even half as much as we like to tell ourselves.

[The Nal]

Anyway, re: actual sport. Bolt is going to walk to 200m on Thursday.

And on national anthems, respect etc.......

Edited August 7, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

So we are telling ourselves that we have progressed more than twice as much as we actually have? I'm not convience entirely. Most people with their eyes open are aware of the corruption we have. Of course it's there but it's nothing compared to most countries.

As (I think it was) a Zimbabwean reporter write of the opening ceremony, if it was a celebration of all things British, why no inclusion of invasions, enslavement, land and resource theft, etc?

(and we can also include drug pushing, and going to war to be 'free' to push drugs).

If we were as progressive as we like to believe, we'd be at ease (+ also ashamed in appropriate places) with all of our history, rather that going with the post-WW2 myth.

We like to call ourselves the world's oldest democracy when we're yet to start to get near to democratic.

As for the corruption of other countries, yes, it can be endemic. But at the same time it's also a far more democratic version of corruption, where the opportunity to corrupt is open to all. In the UK we don't even manage that.

[eFestivals]

Anyway, re: actual sport. Bolt is going to walk to 200m on Thursday.

If he does he won't win a medal.

[AcademicPistol]

If he does he won't win a medal.

[eFestivals]

GB chance of gold in horse dancing...

and they've won the gold in horse dancing.

Sport of the people, that one is.

[eFestivals]

I know! We were just glorifying ourselves, I was waiting for an inappropriate display of past mistakes Great Britian have made. You know like all the other countries that hosted the games have done in their opening ceremonies.

I wasn't particularly suggesting it should have been included within the ceremony, just that those things are just as much a part of why Britain is Britain, but it's a part that most Brits prefer to pretend doesn't exist, instead pretending that we're more progressive than we really are.

[fred quimby]

As (I think it was) a Zimbabwean reporter write of the opening ceremony, if it was a celebration of all things British, why no inclusion of invasions, enslavement, land and resource theft, etc?

(and we can also include drug pushing, and going to war to be 'free' to push drugs).

[jump]

As (I think it was) a Zimbabwean reporter write of the opening ceremony, if it was a celebration of all things British, why no inclusion of invasions, enslavement, land and resource theft, etc?

(and we can also include drug pushing, and going to war to be 'free' to push drugs).

If we were as progressive as we like to believe, we'd be at ease (+ also ashamed in appropriate places) with all of our history, rather that going with the post-WW2 myth.

We like to call ourselves the world's oldest democracy when we're yet to start to get near to democratic.

As for the corruption of other countries, yes, it can be endemic. But at the same time it's also a far more democratic version of corruption, where the opportunity to corrupt is open to all. In the UK we don't even manage that.

[fred quimby]

I wasn't particularly suggesting it should have been included within the ceremony, just that those things are just as much a part of why Britain is Britain, but it's a part that most Brits prefer to pretend doesn't exist, instead pretending that we're more progressive than we really are.

[eFestivals]

A friend on mine worked on the Olympics sets and props and she says what's happening is the opening is a display of the good stuff of Britain and the closing is about the bad. I did ask her to explain it a bit more but she refused.

There's a rumour going round that Jessie J is to perform in the closing ceremony, so perhaps it's that?

[philipsteak]

Anyway following on from the usual misery from Neil...

http://www.google.co.uk/

Brings back memories of Daily Thompson Decathlon on the Spectrum

13.1 seconds... beat that

[The Nal]

Heres some national pride for you

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Pretty obvious but still worth a read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19144983

Regarding nationalism/pride, I can't really see why someone would have feelings of proudness because someone who came out of their mum in the same mass of land can ride a bike quicker than anyone else, but everyone's different. I think it was tony who spoke about individual cases where I can understand how someone could be proud. The story of Farah is pretty awe inspiring in general.

[eFestivals]

here's the latest slimy c**t member of 'team GB'

[lost]

on the beeb after Meares win, Australia now level on golds with Yorkshire

[AcademicPistol]

on the beeb after Meares win, Australia now level on golds with Yorkshire

[Paul ™]

Sir Chris Hoy, fantastic.

[pink_triangle]

The media have their meat now...

Idowu failed to qualify and it seems he did have an injury (no one really knows but he should of easily go through on normal form)...

Everyone laying into him now...

[pink_triangle]

Im a sports lover and to me the olympics is great escapism. There is no rational explanation to why I support a British or Welsh sportsman because of where they were born, but I find it makes the experience more enjoyable to me, so I dont care about rationalism.

While I support the team GB I have regularly found myself enjoying different countries participating in sports I would normally never watch. I am going to the athletics on Saturday and expect the atmosphere to be be fantastic which ever countries are winning the medals.

[LondonTom]

Went to the olympic park on monday, it was good if a little to infused with people who speak with golf balls in their mouths. Really enjoyed Water Polo (where they was a great reception for Kazakhstan even though Croatia thrashed them!)....Not a lot there to do in between events if you don't want to queue to get in the sponsors bits ...and the screen was a bit and the only around that we could find to watch some actual sport (why we are all there right?!). But in general they've done a great job of reshaping that bit of land!

I think it's great, really glad team gb have done so well, hopefully by seeing a load of athletes they can relate to give it their all, a few more kids will be inspired to get into the limited facilities most state school kids have! (Was talking to a mate and what really brought it home is that my "athletics" consisted of running around a badly drawn out track in the local park, where the bigger kids/kids with asthma/kids who just couldn't run were humiliated...where she seemed to enjoy all the other bits like discus/javelin/high jump that required actual equipment!)