The Olympics.

[Graham]

I don't remember saying that Oldboy.

Here's what they looked like when the eventually turned up, and the rain held up for a few minutes!



It was all over in a flash, and then, (you musn't laugh), a support car went straight through the puddle and soaked me from head to foot! Still, you must suffer for your art!

It gave the onlookers something to laugh about.

You know the bit where you said we must'nt laugh?...I laughed so much I now have "laundry issues"!

                                 

Graham, may I point you in the direction of

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tena+pants&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=7211212213&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=379419368724624215&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_9c2u2azc0u_e

Thank you. Bookmarked for future refference. 

[ABERS]

Just a bit of fun from Wednesday.

[Hinfrance]

You're enjoying it really aren't you?

[Beaux Reflets]

Just a bit of fun from Wednesday.

Those tinted specs obviously worked for the gent, while the ladies seem to have missed all the colour, can't be bothered, or have lost some of their agility... 

[ABERS]

You're enjoying it really aren't you?

Considering it was only a 30 yard stroll and it was free, yes! 

It's all changed though from back in 1948, the last time I went. 

[Hinfrance]

Now that the Olympics include a number of games and pastimes, rather than 'real' sports (football, golf, that sort of thing) along with multi millionaire professionals, I have been thinking, perhaps like Re, that it is time some more traditional and minority games should be included:

Racing:
Egg and spoon
Three legged
Downhill go-carts
Greyhound racing (why exclude our canine friends?)
Horse racing in general, flat and hunt
Pie/Sausage/Elver (anything you want) eating
Formula 1

Skill:
Pin the tail on the donkey
Precision spitting
Elastic band flicking (distance and accuracy). With and without ruler assistance
Apple bobbing
Welly whanging
Tiddlywinks

Games:
Cricket
Dominoes
Swing Ball
Baseball
Rounders
Quoits
Croquet
Paintball
Monkey Tennis*

I'm sure there are many many more pointless things that people could do well that could extend the duration of the next Olympics by at least a week, thus simultaneously increasing both the unnecessary expense and inconvenience of the whole enterprise. And just think of all the extra jobs created by having governing bodies and complicated rules (Omnium anyone?) for each of these extra activities.

*©Steve Coogan

[Reinardina]

H I'm with you all the way!

Somewhere I have already mentioned ballet, which could fit in the gymnastics bit.

Angling/fishing has to have its different classes of course: Fly fishing, sea angling, and the more restful fishing lake angling, and whatever else there is to have in this sport.

Conkers, tag, hopscotch and marbles could also be added, to create real inclusive games.

What about wood chopping? For the men there already is beach volleyball, so this would be nice for the girls to watch: muscle men swinging axes. I nominate Highlandscenics for this one.

And the endlessly televised sports like darts, and snooker must be popular, so we may already have gold medal talents here.

More suggestions welcome!

[ABERS]

Being somewhat apprehensive and a little negative about the whole Olympic undertaking at the beginning, I'm coming round to the view that it, up to now, has been a well worth exercise.

We can spend trillions supporting banks and bankers and seeing nothing for that backing, but spending a few billion on the Olympics and seeing British competitors reel in creditable results day after day and putting a smile on the faces of millions of Brits makes me think it may lighten the mood of the populace for a few weeks.

Went to an Olympic's party yesterday and with the results flooding in the whole place was rocking with laughter and joy, even 'Miserable Mike' couldn't help cracking a smile! He's one of those that is hopeless at anything without a competitive bone in his body. I think he's a teacher.

Now all we need is a few world class gold standard politicians to step up and do the business, but I'm afraid they want the glory without the hard work and dedication that is involved.

[jinky]

Yes I`ve been converted too to the whole Olympics thing and been seen even with a tear in my eye when seeing the joy of winning (and losing) British athletes. Went to see Brazil play Honduras yesterday at St James` Park in Newcastle. http://photographybypauldishman.blogspot.co.uk/

Terrible refereeing gave it to Brazil when the Hondurans looked quite good but the best bit was that Mike Ashley`s Sports Direct hoardings and renaming of St James` Park had to be lost and forgotten as part of the stringent Olympic corporate branding steps. 

[Graham]

Being somewhat apprehensive and a little negative about the whole Olympic undertaking at the beginning, I'm coming round to the view that it, up to now, has been a well worth exercise.

We can spend trillions supporting banks and bankers and seeing nothing for that backing, but spending a few billion on the Olympics and seeing British competitors reel in creditable results day after day and putting a smile on the faces of millions of Brits makes me think it may lighten the mood of the populace for a few weeks.

Went to an Olympic's party yesterday and with the results flooding in the whole place was rocking with laughter and joy, even 'Miserable Mike' couldn't help cracking a smile! He's one of those that is hopeless at anything without a competitive bone in his body. I think he's a teacher.

Now all we need is a few world class gold standard politicians to step up and do the business, but I'm afraid they want the glory without the hard work and dedication that is involved.

   

[Hinfrance]

Can we agree to differ?

There's no doubt that watching someone representing your chosen nation who, after decades of doing nothing productive, manages to run/ride around in circles/swim backwards and forwards a little bit more quickly than everyone else does give some people a lift. I just wonder what they could have achieved if they had dedicated their efforts towards something rather more productive, as they are clearly very determined people.

Pointless is simply too inadequate a word to describe it.

Given that the politicians have embroiled the country in an ill advised foreign war, I would rather have seen some of the billions (£24bn in direct costs so far, heaven knows how much in collateral financial damage) spent on the Olympics used to buy better equipment for the troops being shot at every day. The UK annual defence budget is around £33bn by the way. So two weeks of vicarious joy, or several hundred brave lives saved?  And as an added bonus Alan could still have made it to the shops.

Keeping the banking system going was a bargain in comparison, because no banks = no economy, although the UK politicos are doing everything in their power to prevent the system from properly recovering, unlike the Americans who got all of their taxpayers' money back inside 18 months. All that is needed is Glass-Steagall type of legislation and the investment banks can gamble away with less risk of damaging the whole system. That doesn't mean that accountants and credit ratings agencies shouldn't all be lined up and made to say they are very very sorry and they promise never to overrate debt or start a capital adequacy death spiral ever again. Because from now on they are going to grow strawberries and keep goats instead.

[ABERS]

Let's!

So the Olympics have cost £24 Billion over 7 years, £3.4 billion a year from an annual budget of £680 million, 0.5%.

Whilst sporting endeavour doesn't rate highly in the scheme of things for you Howard, sport is a lift from the everyday humdrum existence that is the lot of most people.

C'mon you GB'ers.

[Hinfrance]

I know, I know I'm a grumpy old beggar.

Glad everyone's (mostly) enjoying it, honest

[anglefire]

I must admit that I was not intending to watch anything other than the opening ceremony - but have enjoyed what I've seen so far.

As for the money. Well, it is a massive amount, and I'm sure could have been done for a lot less. But probably not enough to make the head shakers feel it enough.

Whilst I also think that there will be a financial benefit from the event, I am also not that naive  to think the benefit will come close to the money spent. On top of that the commercialism of the event has gone too far.

I also think that it won't change now.

[Oldboy]

The benefits can't be totaled as hard cash only. The lift it has, and will have given to the people is worth every penny.