The thread where we celebrate London getting the Olympics.

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If it happens!!

Cue links to other olympic threads and angry posters requesting a mod closes this one. :-)

― Mac and Cheese, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:31 (twenty years ago)

do people care about this?

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:36 (twenty years ago)

It seems so. All over the papers, all over the TV, all over ILE.

― dmun drive-in (dmun), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

Paid advertisements by the LondON committee.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:40 (twenty years ago)

well, obv it was gonna be all over papers and tv. NASHNAL PRIIIIDE and all that.

but seriously... whoopyfucking doo. so what?
fast people will be running in the SAME COUNTRY AS ME?? omgwtfbbq! how special.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

You're right, those fast people probably couldn't give a shit about that.

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:43 (twenty years ago)

The fat ladies are singing. Must mean its over.

― dmun drive-in (dmun), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

whatever.
if we got the winter olympics, that might be kinda impressive.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

i wish london will get to host the asian olympics. kabaddi!!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:48 (twenty years ago)

It's London.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

I think its time for this thread to come alive

― dmun drive-in (dmun), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

Bother'd.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

Hah, http://news.bbc.co.uk seems to be down.

― Tech Support Droid (ForestPines), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

Bah, everyone in my office just started shouting so I guess it happened. :-(

That's it, I'm moving to Mars...

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

Woo!

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

wow, people DO care.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

I'm delighted that my five minutes of support have paid off!

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

IN YOUR FACE YOUR MAJESTY!

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

YAY!

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

I think without Tom's passionate support it wouldn't have happened.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

I'm delighted that my five minutes of support have paid off!

Ha ha! Exactly.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

HACKNEY MARSHES EQUESTRIAN

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:52 (twenty years ago)

GRECO-TURK WRESTLING DOWN GREEN LANES

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

Surely Hackney Marshes BEAR BAITING! The bears love it really.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

Well, I now have my deadline for moving to Paris, don't I?

Rubbish. Absolute rubbish.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

At least the Dome will get used for something.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

Total nightmare for the bookies' I'd have thought, the ES were reporting a flood of patriotic bets at 4-1 yesterday.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

I don't know where that apostrophe came from. I blame my uncontrollable excitement.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

At least the Dome will get used for something.

What are they going to do with it? Turn it upside down and use it as a velodrome?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

I will be nearly 40 in 2012, which is the depressing part of this announcement, and indeed any news involving 2012. Less focus on 2012, please.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:57 (twenty years ago)

: (

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

am i paying for this?

― dahlin (dahlin), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

Actually one reason I *am* excited is that (fingers crossed) I'll have a small kid by 2012 who will be just old enough to be really really excited by it all.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

I'll be 32. Sweet baby cheeses.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

Look on the bright side Alba, by 40 you'll be old and sad enough to appreciate every single event as it happens in your backyard. Even the really crap ones.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

maybe i'll care by 2012. hmmmm.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

wow. there's a thought

― dahlin (dahlin), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

goodbye lea valley. i liked you a lot.

― grosvenor lucrece, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

will there be events in scotland?

― dahlin (dahlin), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

am i paying for this?
-- dahlin (dahling00...), July 6th, 2005 11:59 AM. (dahlin) (later)

yay you're buying tickets for all of us??

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

Heather Small has started singing that fucking song already.

GET USED TO IT, IT'S ALL WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FOR THE NEXT 7 YEARS.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:02 (twenty years ago)

if by 2012 london had expanded all the way to scotland, yes!!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:02 (twenty years ago)

I'll move to paris or anywhere else, when scotland becomes part of london.

crosspost

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:03 (twenty years ago)

woah, jet planes with red, blue and white smoke just flew right overhead!

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:03 (twenty years ago)

go USA!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:03 (twenty years ago)

well, there were events in thessaloniki during the athens olympics, smart ass. it's a valid question!
we've got rachel stevens. no wonder we won the bid!

― dahlin (dahlin), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:03 (twenty years ago)

Yeah we just got them too!

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:04 (twenty years ago)

I'll move to london, when scotland becomes part of england.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:05 (twenty years ago)

Was that what that sonic boom was? Ugh. I'm even more depressed.

My beautiful River Lee or Lea Valley. Destroyed. Sigh.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:05 (twenty years ago)

This could just be opportune marketing stunt from Aquafresh.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:05 (twenty years ago)

Sales boost of 12,154% for Huey Lewis' Sports reported.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

destroying a river valley is hardly going to promote "aquafresh"

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

Look on the bright side. I suppose this means Hackney will get a tube now. And Crossrail might have a snowball's chance in hell.

But that feels a bit like saying "Yeah, but war boosts the economy..."

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:07 (twenty years ago)

You misunderstand, Ken.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:09 (twenty years ago)

imagine: SNOW PATROL's RUN FOREVER ON A LOOP.

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:11 (twenty years ago)

I wish we'd bought our flat BEFORE this announcement. It's surely going to cost loads more now.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:12 (twenty years ago)

maybe i'll have to move to Walthamstow after all now.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:15 (twenty years ago)

is the Olympics that sporting event that lasts 2 weeks and is actually boring and crap?

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:15 (twenty years ago)

i *HATE* sebastian coe.

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:16 (twenty years ago)

i think i heard that we (scotland) might get a training ground, and maybe a slightly extended cycle track or something.

i'm going to let myself be carried along by the national (scottish) mood. i know little about the olympics (although they are one of the few sporting events i actually quite enjoy watching), and i really don't feel qualified to pronounce upon whether this is a good thing for the country at large or not. i'll take my line from tomorrow's daily record leader :)

still: anything that gives cause to a few moments of optimistic fervour has to be half-decent, no?

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:16 (twenty years ago)

I have to go into work now to prepare a br0adc4st summary of today's telly coverage for the Gr3ater L0nd0n Auth0rity and it's going to be fucking horrendously busy.

At least now we have seven years of the sunday papers uncovering the dodgy deals and bartering that went on behind the scenes to secure the bid. Lord Coe probably gave Philippe Baudillon a wedgie, or something.

― logged out etc, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:16 (twenty years ago)

at age 32 is it too old to be chatting up the cute 16 yr old gymnasts?

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

Optimistic fervour?

I actually feel quite desolate and miserable right now.

(And strange women wandering into the office going "I am actually quite EXCITED!!! This is going to be SOOO COOL!!!!" is not helping.)

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

maybe gina gogean will become a coach by then and will be in london...

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

it's a stinking, corrupt stitch-up which will do zero good for this country. hopefully some of these "anarchists" might do us all a favour and blow it all up when it happens.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:19 (twenty years ago)

I really don't get why people are getting such negative vibes about it. So the Council Tax will go up a bit. Pshh. So the congestion charge will go up - well, like I care about London drivers. At least there will FINALLY be a catalyst for building CrossRail, the trams, the Chelsea-Hackney Tube, etc with a bit more haste than otherwise, ie, more than none.

― darren (darren), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

BBC site still down it seems.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:21 (twenty years ago)

I've always been a huge fan of the Olympics. This is like my dream come true. Sorry, moaners.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:22 (twenty years ago)

i couldn't care less about the olympics one way or the other. if people want them here, more power to them. i'm just sad that the lea valley will be fucked.

― grosvenor lucrece, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:23 (twenty years ago)

It's MY fucking council tax which I pay out of my HARD-EARNED SALARY and for which I don't even get the services I'm supposed to get at the moment. Livingstone must be having multiple orgasms about this - another step in his horrible dream to reduce London to the level of a pedestrian-only Butlins where NO ONE is actually ALLOWED TO WORK.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:23 (twenty years ago)

still: anything that gives cause to a few moments of ~~optimistic~~ nationalist fervour has to be half-decent, no?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:24 (twenty years ago)

It will certainly speed up transport projects. How long have we been waiting for the East London Line?

The Council Tax issue is certainly a consideration.

Personally, I'm still rather enjoying the drama of the decision process

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:24 (twenty years ago)

From the BBC's impartial and in-no-way-gloating website:

The dramatic news delighted flag-waving supporters who had gathered in London's Trafalgar Square.

But raindrops began falling on disapointed (sic) Parisians outside the Hotel de Ville in the French capital shortly after the result.

― frankiemachine, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:25 (twenty years ago)

Was terry Wogan commentating onthe TV coverage?

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:25 (twenty years ago)

another step in his horrible dream to reduce London to the level of a pedestrian-only Butlins where NO ONE is actually ALLOWED TO WORK.

"reduce"?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:26 (twenty years ago)

i want to live in a pedestrian only butlins where nobody is allowed to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:28 (twenty years ago)

Also: when will the Daily Mail realise that foreign countries only voted to hold it here because they can then send all their criminals over disguised as athletes to claim asylum and fill up NHS waiting lists because Britain still is a soft touch?

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

well kate, i feel the same way. god knows what appalling architecture will be visited upon Stratford.

crossrail + more tubes + CTRL already going ahead, means that darling can just fuck up major projects for other cities that need transprot development.

why on earth does regenration and development always mean knocking everythign down and building shittily built apartment and office blocks, instead of well doing things that actually regenerate areas? like, improving local schools with increased cash flow, maintaining existing infrastructure, etc etc?

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

Turning London into a giant Butlins sounds fun. I've always wanted that yellow coat.

― Peggeh (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:31 (twenty years ago)

I know I'm the only person in the world who belives this and all, but aside from all the expense/council tax/destruction of the Lee or Lea Valley, I thoroughly morally disapprove of competative sport and the accompanying nationalism and jingoism, and I just find the whole display of the Olympics sickening.

But that is only MY PERSONAL VIEWPOINT and I'm not going to start up that argument again.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:31 (twenty years ago)

are they really going to host the olympics in apartments and office blocks?

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:32 (twenty years ago)

I wager ten quagloos on the newcomer...

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:32 (twenty years ago)

My solution: brutalist futurism. Abolish all traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Minimum speed limit of 100 mph. Knocking down of pedestrians and cyclists to be reclassified as justifiable homicide. Any "tourist" trying to get into London with assets of less than £50,000 on them, i.e. hang around, walk 20 abreast on the pavement and actually spend no money at all but just block OTHER MORE IMPORTANT PEOPLE up, should get the same treatment that James Woods gets at the border crossing in Salvador in order to teach them not to try it again.

Any fluffy-wuffy family-wamilies wanting a cutesy-wutesy little city-witty for ickle-wickle chloe-whloe should be forcibly evacuated to Stow on the Wold, or Guildford.

Do you think I'd win the mayoral election on that mandate?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

come on mark grout, we need you to say the words!!!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Office Olympics?

I am a potential champions of Memo-Ignoring.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

Kate, you need to get together with Tuomas.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

hehe marcello's login name is "nostadium"

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

My views may be weird, but they're my own and I just want to be able to express them.

I feel like the reaction of a member of the Temperence Crusade reacting to a beer festival being held in their town hall.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Abolish all traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Minimum speed limit of 100 mph.

At lunch, you place your order and some money in a capsule, and stick it in the vacuum tube. Your sandwich arrives via the tube in a matter of seconds.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

I feel like the reaction of a member of the Temperence Crusade reacting to a beer festival being held in their town hall.

i.e. unjustified?

you don't say no to a BEER FESTIVAL!!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

Kate, are you insisting that you're the only olympics-hater in the village? You seem annoyed that Tuomas holds the same view.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:38 (twenty years ago)

At lunch, you place your order and some money in a capsule, and stick it in the vacuum tube. Your sandwich arrives via the tube in a matter of seconds.
-- Andrew Farrell (afarrel...), July 6th, 2005 12:36 PM. (afarrell) (later)

not via the london tube it bloody won't

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

i haven't read this thread yet but FUCK THEM ALL THE FUCKING FUCKERS THEY WILL DESTROY THE CITY I LOVE :(

― emsk, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

I thought this was the thread where people CELEBRATED the decision. STOP GETTING THIS THREAD WRONG etc.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

> My views may be weird

not to me.

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

(ken xpost)

I do. Fuck beer.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

Huh? I'm not annoyed at Tuomas - I'd be happy if I found someone who shared the same view!

I'm annoyed at the jingoistic hysteria in my office.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

i thought this was the thread where we cerebrate london "getting" the Olympics.

xpost eew drink it don't fuck it

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

oi mannion/chu there is NOTHING TO CELEBRATE ABOUT THIS DISASTER

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

Or a vegetarian who's found a bloody SAUSAGE in their lunch. :-(

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

Still, let's look on the bright side. There will have been at least one more election before 2012, and with any luck Labour will be out and replaced by a realistic government who will say no to this ghastly, caterwauling calumny.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:42 (twenty years ago)

Crossrail was not included as part of the bid, so don't hold your breath on that one. The NLL improvements and DLR extensions will def be happening tho, and the ELL extension might just happen that little bit quicker as well.

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

Is there a thread in one of the other places about what this will mean for GRIME?

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

the HELL extension

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:44 (twenty years ago)

oh blimey YES! with no further east end urban wasteland to romanticise, grime will DIE like a LOUSE in a RUSSIAN'S BEARD!

*checks kano album first week sales figures*

uh oh, looks like it's already happened.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

IN EAST LONDON WE SHOT PUT!
IN SOUTH LONDON WE LONG JUMP!
etc etc

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

with any luck Labour will be out and replaced by a realistic government who will say no to this ghastly, caterwauling calumny.

A manifesto pledge to reject the Olympics? It can't fail, can it?

(All the people who couldn't contain their joy in our office were non-Brits...)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

BLINKIN' 'ECK, IT'S NOT COMING NEAR SOUTH LONDON, IS IT?!?!?

I thought we were safe. Still, Streatham won't get a tube no matter what. And I'm moving to Paris before then anyway.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

If I were whoever the Leader of the Opposition will be at the time of the next election, I'd say sod the asylum seeker issue, fight the election on the grounds of: "WE WIN - NO OLYMPICS." They'd walk it.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:47 (twenty years ago)

One thing to be happy about, yer big miseries - less focus on football football football all the bloody time.

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:49 (twenty years ago)

We don't know where Euro 2012 will be yet? I'm hoping Scotland and Ireland will make another bid.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:50 (twenty years ago)

You big bunch of fun haters.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

football, is, part of, the olympic, games

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

There has been talk that London hosting the Olympics may hasten the end of the separate football teams for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

From Tony Blair's statement:

I've been trying to work on the G8 stuff but my mind has been in two places today. I went for a walk and got a call from the switchboard. It's not often in this job that you punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the person next to you.

So if you see George W. smiling a bit today, he probably copped a feel.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:53 (twenty years ago)

I've just had a Brazilian friend on the phone saying 'Why aren't you lot all out on the streets, dancing saying and playing music [as we Brazilians would be]'?

Over here we do things differently, my dear, I felt like saying.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:53 (twenty years ago)

come on guys, if you hate it think of it as a great time to travel to.. say Paris for a couple of weeks.

if paris had got it you'd have had two weeks of grumpy parisians visiting london to be miserable about their city being trashed

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:53 (twenty years ago)

This is so fucking fantastic!!

My kids this morning, anticipating the decision :

Daughter (will be 17 in 2012) : "I'll be in the England women's football team by then - yay!" (She probably will btw)

Son (will be 19) : "Rugby will be in the games by then, so I'll be in that. And I'm gonna go in the rowing as well. And maybe the 100m"

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

So East London's number 1 "grime" "crew" Roll Deep have a single out which utilises The Maisonettes' "Heartache Avenue" and the bloke out of the Maisonettes used to be in the band City Boy and their "hit" was 5-7-0-5 and 5-7-05 is TODAY'S DATE!

Coincidence? I think not. No wonder there was a late surge of bets that London would win.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

T/S: Jingoism vs patriotism

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:55 (twenty years ago)

i think grime will still be very popular, in 2012.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:56 (twenty years ago)

Tim you deserve a gold star.

If it hadn't been given to London today it surely would've at some point in the next 50 years so inevitable really.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

Hahah, trust the English to fall into a vortex of emo right after winning the Olympics!

― The Jaguar Who Sleeps At The Centre Of The World. (Mikey Bidness), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

multiple x-gasms: Yeah, sure football's part of the Olympics, but it's about the diversity of sports, not the monopoly of one. Nice to think that kids will be getting genuinely excited about running, cycling, gymnastics, swimming etc.

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

Tim, I make it 6-7-05. Sorry

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

Tim's on West Country time.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 11:59 (twenty years ago)

You big bunch of fun haters.

Fun was introduced as an exhibition sport at the Munich Olympics but it never got any further than that.

I've just had a Brazilian friend on the phone saying 'Why aren't you lot all out on the streets, dancing saying and playing music [as we Brazilians would be]'?

Who is your friend, Senhor Stereotype Da Silva?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:00 (twenty years ago)

Crossrail won't be done in time and the scheme proposed is a fucking mess anyway.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

THOSE FUCKING ENGLAND FLAGS!

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

I also agree with Kate. This is because of:

a) being crap at sport when I was at school
b) finding almost all sports bloody boring to watch.

*Especially* track and field events.

If you ask me, the whole thing is a huge waste of cash. And I bet Crossrail *still* won't get built. Never mind about the Chelsea-Hackney line.

― Tech Support Droid (ForestPines), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

WOOO! CELEBRATE!

YEAH!

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:02 (twenty years ago)

I will now step aside from further comment on this issue out of respect for Dr C's kids who may well be participating in the 2012 Olympics.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:02 (twenty years ago)

Can we have Euro 2012 in London too? Preferably with comical double-bookings, so there are football matches going on while Olympians run around the track?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:04 (twenty years ago)

Nearly all of the Olympic Games in the last 20 years have actually made a profit apparently, but one wonders if London will be able to do so considering the massive outlay for transport improvements and derelict land renovation (both profitable projects ultimately, you would think - although looking at Eurotunnel, perhaps not).

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

making a profit = does not include infrastructure costs that aren't directly sports related

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:09 (twenty years ago)

Eurotunnel's problem was that it was given the expensive bit of its business - pouring money into a hole in the ground, and servicing the bank loans needed to dig said hole - without being allowed to do the profitable bit: running trains through it. Eurostar keep managing to be profitable, and I assume that the freight operators find their tunnel paths to be money-makers too.

― Tech Support Droid (ForestPines), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:11 (twenty years ago)

"well kate, i feel the same way. god knows what appalling architecture will be visited upon Stratford."

indeed.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:13 (twenty years ago)

Whatever it is it surely won't be worse than the existing shopping centre or tower blocks that have stood there for decades already.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

I do like the idea of someone scoring a goal, picking up a javelin/shotput and setting a new world record.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

Hahah, trust the English to fall into a VORTEX OF EMO right after winning the Olympics!

Fantastic band name alert!

― Si_Carter, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

I quite like the Jubilee Line station at Stratford. Am I just wrong?

― Tech Support Droid (ForestPines), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

No, it's grebt.

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:18 (twenty years ago)

I don't think Stratford station is much to shout about aesthetically.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:19 (twenty years ago)

The new Eurostar interchange sounds intriguing though.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

exactly stevem. i haven't really gotten into 'the romantic side of east london' though.

xps

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:21 (twenty years ago)

I find East London quite romantic.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

Eurostar keep managing to be profitable, and I assume that the freight operators find their tunnel paths to be money-makers too

Both Eurostar and the frieght operators have been paying protected and over inflated access charges. Eurotunnel was fucked by being a private enterprise, and neither gvernment was allowed to fund what is important national infrastructure.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

Oh an they ade some chronically stupid assuptions about the ferry operators rolling over and shutting up shop as soon as cars could be carried under the channel.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

Wahay! 2nd biggest football tournaments coming to Britain (Mens and Women's) football games. 32 teams, playing in 2 weeks. I am really excited about all of this.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:29 (twenty years ago)

I was always impressed by the way the Central Line trains pop up out of their tunnels.

(there are a couple of other stations with cross-platform interchange between the main line and the Underground, but they're not as impressive)

― Tech Support Droid (ForestPines), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

Looking at assorted livejournals it seems there's a distinct correlation between liking obscurist indiepop and being a moaner about the Olympics.

xpost

Dave B an honourable exception.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

Both Eurostar and the frieght operators have been paying protected and over inflated access charges.

Hasn't every train company in the country?

Eurotunnel was fucked by being a private enterprise, and neither gvernment was allowed to fund what is important national infrastructure.

Fucked over by Mrs T in other words! I'm sure the Mitterand government would have happily paid for it as another Grand Project if Thatch would have been willing to put up her share of the money too.

― Tech Support Droid (ForestPines), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:33 (twenty years ago)

I think anyone who's seriously complaining about this is probably a whinging NIMBY.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:33 (twenty years ago)

I don't have a livejournal! (I don't think...)

((Or if I did, it was for posting slash pr0n, not for obscurantist indiepop))

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:34 (twenty years ago)

X-post, oh, OK. Just a whinging NIMBY. Not that any of us have any actual grounds for concern following such resounding successes as, say, the Millenium Dome, or anything.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:36 (twenty years ago)

The Dome was a completely pointless exercise right from that start. The Olympics is a slightly different kettle of fish, kate, being, as it is, a rather established and important global event.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

Both Eurostar and the frieght operators have been paying protected and over inflated access charges.

Hasn't every train company in the country?

These are extra specially high and don't reflect use of the infrastructure. which has made it very difficult to stimulate freight demand and rather obtusely restricted revenue at Eurotunnel (Train companies being fined for every train jumping would be immigrant and the attendant security reuirements haven't helped either, neither has the French governments refusal, until recently, to allow UK railfrieght operators to operate beyond the tunnel in France)

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

being, as it is, a rather established and important global event.

Established, yes. "Important" is in the eye of the beholder and therein lies the problem.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:39 (twenty years ago)

oh no londons fucked! there is no way they will get everything ready in time because rain will stop construction. that means all the developments will be rushed to completion so the workmanship will be shoddy. my sister will be homeless because the house prices will go up her landlord will sell the house and rent elsewhere will be too high, thanks a fuckin bundle seb! oh and said shoddy workmanship will cause something to fuck up and london will burn!

― stevie shaw (stevieshaw), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

I just realized that my child will be about 7/8 in 2012. I'll be 39. Hopefully I'll have two kids by then. That's how much I care.

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Established, yes. "Important" is in the eye of the beholder and therein lies the problem.

I don't think it IS in the eye of the beholder here, Kate, to be honest. How much media attention is focused on it? How much money spent? You may not like the Olympics (I'm not an athletics fan by any means, let alone curling or sailing or happy-slapping), but to claim it's unimportant is daft. Unimportant to you, maybe, but to the millions and millions of people watching, to the thousands of people competeing and looking after the competitors, it's massively important.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:46 (twenty years ago)

How much media attention is focused on it? How much money spent?

OK, maybe not "Importance". Moral justificaion of?

Without trying to demean or diminish anything by the comparison, lots of money and media attention was focused on the Iraq War, for example. That doesn't make it justified, or wanted, and that didn't make us a bunch of whinging NIMBYs for not wanting it or protesting against it.

Sure, Competative Sport and its associated "Patriotism"/Nationalism/Jingoism is not on the same scale of moral repugnance as War.

But it's still fairly repugnant to me, and not something I feel like celebrating.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

Well don't then. You've made your point.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:52 (twenty years ago)

Does liking this lots mean I r a southerner?

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

Competetive sports and war are not analoguous in any way, no matter how much you try.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

Tell that to the Ancient Greeks who invented the Olympics.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:57 (twenty years ago)

stoked, not to mention, psyched.

I am *really* looking forward to this, I love the olympics - Think of all the cycling to watch for one! and the footy! and the bowls!!! /swoon

― ceebee, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

Will there be bowls? GET IN!

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

Cor, do you reckon we cd have DARTS as an exhibition sport?

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

From the BBC site:

"As the newest recognised sport, darts, under the guidance of the British Darts Organisation pledges its wholehearted support for the Olympic Games in London and would be proud to be considered as the host nation's 'invitation sport' in 2012.
British Darts Organisation chief Olly Croft"

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

We're not in ancient Greece, Kate.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:04 (twenty years ago)

I'm impressed at the number of people who objected to it based on the fact that for 10 days in seven years time their journey to work might be a few minutes longer than normal.

Go us. Well done, London.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

shoddy workmanship will cause something to fuck up and london will burn!

It's 2012! We are ALL going to burn, apparently.

seriously though, yay for this!

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

Nick, you're not going to change my mind, and I'm not going to change yours, and I don't have the time to get bogged down in this argument again. I refer you to the thread that I previously linked.

Until there is a separate thread for people who think that the London Olympics is a supremely bad idea, I think we have every right to express our disappointment here.

― MIS Information (kate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Competetive sports and war are not analoguous in any way, no matter how much you try.

They are analogous in a number of ways.

1. There are winners and LOSERS
2. An international group of middle-aged men sit around arguing about it all
3. Russia and America always used to win but these days it's a bit more complicated
4. Before that, Britain was quite good
5. Before that, the Greeks bossed it all
6. Winning sometimes involves launching things into the air
7. Other times it involves hand to hand combat
8. It makes people cry
9. It divides ILE
10. It's on the telly

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:08 (twenty years ago)

Olympic Haters Moaning Thread

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:12 (twenty years ago)

i misquoted the 'ancient mayan prophecy', actually the world is supposed to end on December 22, 2012, several months after the Olympics. right before x-mas. the Olympics might hasten the end though.

― latebloomer: the Clonus Horror (latebloomer), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

the serpent people will come to reclaim the earth and build a new restaurant franchise where PEOPLE ARE THE MAIN DISH.

― latebloomer: the Clonus Horror (latebloomer), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

Hurrah for this news. It's going to be GREAT, like hosting a gigantic house party for the rest of the world but not having to cook or clean up afterwards personally. I love the Olympics.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

11. Manoevres
http://www.nato.int/pictures/review/9801/b0400002.jpg http://www.srcf.ucam.org/cuces/images/synchronised-swimming.jpg

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

I love Alba.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

12. Both cheap sources of national pride.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

(expensive)

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

will there be events in scotland?
-- dahlin

'One or more' of the Olympic football matches will be at Hampden Park. I don't expect it to be Brazil vs Italy.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

i am V excited. hurrah!

i'm going to volunteer to steward, definitely.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:25 (twenty years ago)

Mountain biking event to be held in Essex. For real. FUCK THAT SHIT.

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:27 (twenty years ago)

they will have to build mountains.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

If they build them I will come.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

Filth.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

I want to steward too! Where do I sign up? Imagine stewarding at the DARTS!

BRILLIANT!

― Lucretia My Reflection (Lucretia My Reflection), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Better you than us!

Love,
Gotham

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

ARCHERY IN BOW!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

ELEPHANTS IN THE CASTLE!

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

RACIALLY SEGREGATED CATERING FACILITIES IN BLACKFRIARS!

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

INEXPLICABLE EVENTS IN HORSEFERRY ROAD

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

Great news. I think the last time I came on here, there was some idiot moaning about competitive sport and how it was really really really bad. Ha ha, still fucking here. That was over a year ago.

Great news. No point romantisising about the lower Lea valley. The olympics isn't planned for the leafy Hertfordshire bits. I was walking down Carpenters Road recently. The Olypmic Village and stadium will be right there, either side of the road. There is nothing romantic about breakers yards and fridge graveyards.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

I was gonna say Darts in Dartford and Mile (End) Long Run but they are not very good.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

Carpenters Road is one big long stretch of hell. Bring on the bulldozers.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

So much concrete. So little time.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

lucretia, i imagine we will be bombarded with opportunities to volunteer over the next few months :)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

Can you volunteer to fire the starting pistol? That sounds like fun and quite easy too.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

"Idiot ruins game"

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

I would also be prepared to bring the torch over from Athens or wherever it is. I've very good at keeping things on fire (are you allowed it as hand luggage on a plane post 9/11?)

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

I've very good at keeping things on fire

haha is this what you would say in your 'interview'?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

sports war analogue #13: MEDALS

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

THERE'S NO SILVER MEDAL IN WARTIME, BOY!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

maybe i'll have to move to Walthamstow after all now.
-- Sociah T Azzahole, July 6th, 2005 1:15 PM. (blueski)

Too late. House prices have shot up 1314% this afternoon alone. Dave Gilmour (owns the veg stall opposite Lidl) has promised to donate all future profits from his pitch to the local Greco-Roman wrestling team, and advises all other profiteers to do the same.

MaDoner (that kebab shop next to "SOS", the chemists) has already refused. Annie Lennox can't comment. Macca's thumb's up, so looks likely.

― Huey (Huey), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

sports war analogue #14: military:olympics :: paramilitary:paralympics

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

This is why competetive sport, like video games, is good. All the great things about war, without people dying or useful things being blown up.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

SOMETHING AMUSING IN COCKFOSTERS

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

DRINK IT WARM?

― P. Hogan (Huey), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

I've started training

― eat my replacement (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

Look at central London now. It's a glorified holiday camp for idiots with backpackers and hairy shorts who walk eight abreast on the pavement and fuck up my journey home from work by walking right in front of the bus WHAT BIT OF THE PHRASE "PEDESTRIAN CROSSING" DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND FUCKWITS? If Livingstone is allowed to continue having his way all of London will be like this.
My solution: brutalist futurism. Abolish all traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Minimum speed limit of 100 mph. Knocking down of pedestrians and cyclists to be reclassified as justifiable homicide. Any "tourist" trying to get into London with assets of less than £50,000 on them, i.e. hang around, walk 20 abreast on the pavement and actually spend no money at all but just block OTHER MORE IMPORTANT PEOPLE up, should get the same treatment that James Woods gets at the border crossing in Salvador in order to teach them not to try it again.

I'm definitely coming to London now. With hairy shorts.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

Just in case no other New Yorkers have said it...Congrats, London! And thanks for taking the hit. Now maybe some of our idiot civic boosters can go back to worrying about, like, housing and jobs and stuff.

Also, watch eBay for special offers on NYC2012 stationery, pens and other exciting merchandise.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:23 (twenty years ago)

"I've just had a Brazilian friend on the phone saying 'Why aren't you lot all out on the streets, dancing saying and playing music [as we Brazilians would be]'?

Who is your friend, Senhor Stereotype Da Silva?

-- Alba (albab...), July 6th, 2005."

Alba, in Brazil large numbers of people actually do party at every opportunity, particularly at times of (perceived or otherwise) national celebration.

My Brazilian friend is a real person, not a stereotype, and is genuinely flummoxed as to why this Olympic announcement hasn't triggered wild(er) celebrations.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

"I've just had a Brazilian friend on the phone saying 'Why aren't you lot all out on the streets, dancing saying and playing music [as we Brazilians would be]'?

Who is your friend, Senhor Stereotype Da Silva?

-- Alba (albab...), July 6th, 2005."

Alba, in Brazil large numbers of people actually do party at every opportunity, particularly at times of (perceived or otherwise) national celebration.

My Brazilian friend is a real person, not a stereotype, and is genuinely flummoxed as to why this Olympic announcement hasn't triggered wild(er) celebrations.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

We've already had the forwarded email with the picture of reduced Paris 2012 merchandising come round our office... (x-post)

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

I think my comment came out wrong, re: your Brazilian friend. I've seen the pictures of this crazy samba party spirit and the ladies with the boobies so I know it's for real.

I was just amused at how literally your friend's words illustrated the point.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

and the way it was underlined with "[As we Brazilians would be]"

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Now I feel sad and embarassed for not being more like the Brazilians.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

maybe i'll have to move to Walthamstow after all now.
-- Sociah T Azzahole, July 6th, 2005 1:15 PM. (blueski)
Too late. House prices have shot up 1314% this afternoon alone.
-- Huey (hue...), July 6th, 2005 4:14 PM. (later)

Hehehehe. I exchanged contracts on Monday for a flat in Walthamstow. I'm going to be rich beyond my wildest dreams! Concrete the Lea Valley now!!!

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but the Brazilians probably do that every night, so the novelty will have worn off...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:50 (twenty years ago)

Next time Brazil win something I'm going to get on the phone and say: "Why aren't you all sitting around making sarcastic comments and complaining about how the more important issues that are getting overlooked [As we British would be]?".

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

As a New Yorker, I congratulate you, London. (I think only the rich and deluded wanted it here.)

― Tigerstyle Shamanic Vision Quester (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

Since the property price boom, all Londoners are rich and deluded, so it was bound to go their way.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

To Become An Olympic Sport, Either Fully Or By Demo For 2012

All results are taken on the day of the opening ceremony, 2012.

Golf 7/1
Snooker 8/1
Darts 10/1
Polo 14/1
Chess 20/1
Poker 50/1

Seb Coe at 33/1 to be London Mayor in 2012 might be worth a flutter.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

I might have to visit London around that time. Expensive and crazed though it will be, I really enjoy the idea of seeing an Olympics but not on TV.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Dancing saying and playing music 1000/1

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

Since the property price boom, all Londoners are rich and deluded, so it was bound to go their way.

you jest, surely. well okay, i'll give you deluded.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

I'm just happy London got it because it burns Chirac's biscuit.

― Leon C. (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

At least it didn't butter his buns.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

He pays a girl to do that for him.

― Leon C. (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

I don't want to know where the cream comes from.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

"I don't care how fucking runny your Camembert is..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

I am quite glad that London will host the Olympics - though, goodness, it is a ways off; we Londoners might all be living in other continents by then. Or perhaps London will be under water.

But I think that the selection process, the vast expense and jamboree aspect, is appalling (same for World Cup, etc). And I am afraid that occasions like this are apt to be another excuse for the Francophobia - no, let us say: the hatred of and contempt for France and French people and culture - that is apparently acceptable in any outlet and forum in this country. I am disgusted, bewildered, bemused and perhaps even, as an English person, ashamed by this endlessly legitimated feature of our national life, in an era when to foster such festering feelings about black people, Jewish people, the Irish, gays and lesbians, the disabled, and so on is happily deemed unacceptable.

― reynard dupin, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

did anyone actually think it would go to new york?

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

But PF, did you hear the joy in Barry Davies' voice? He even got his word-order wrong! And then got out of it quite well! He said "Absolutely brilliant!"!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

Less money is spent on the World Cup selection because there's only 24 people to bribe.

As to the Francophobia, Chirac started it by having a go at our ~~women~~food.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

what was it our australians said?

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

Rack off ya nong?

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:13 (twenty years ago)

you first

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

I'm not Australian really.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

they said something nasty about the french, I think

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

No, Mike, I didn't hear that all. Where was it - on TV? All I saw was a bit of 'Dermot' "Murnaghan" interviewing Daley Thom('p'?)son. BD, clearly, would have enhanced matters. I say that because it looks like the kind of sentence he might spontaneously say during a match.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

('all' = 'at all')

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

Also, I don't like East London very much, especially that bit of it, so I'm not especially bothered about seeing a big bit of it knocked down. Especially if the community get access to those world-class sporting facilities after the games.

Kate - its all very well saying it'll destroy the Lea Valley, but there was a contingency plan in place for if London didn't get the Olympics. Which I think involved knocking it all down and building a bloody great shopping centre there, as these things usually do.

I kind of sympathise with this statement (although the newer big regeneration projects often come bundled with a new school and/or other community facility these days so they can get planning permission). Difference being regeneration is usually private-sector led these days, its an easy way out (regeneration = moving all the poor people elsewhere). Still, is there anything actually on this site other than derelict land, though? The way things are going, that area would've been fully gentrified by 2012 Olympics or no Olympics.

Weird how people romanticise East London in a way you just don't see with other areas of London... if they were flattening a big bit of Deptford or Peckham or Kilburn you wouldn't hear anywhere near as many non-residents complaining.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

hairy shorts?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

I think one ilxor might complain if they flattened Peckham. Or at least ask for his money back.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

I love how this is just a couple of years after a Manchester Commonwealth Games generally regarded as a big success and two years before Liverpool will be European Capital of Culture with all the associated economic benefits and still some people are whingeing about pro-London bias...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

i haf spent most of the afternoon spluttering under my breath at the large number of people, both on t'internet and in my office, who think this isn't the best thing ever, to the point where, certainly on the internet, i have regressed to just shouting BUMS at people, which is no way to win an argument, i understand, but GAH, what is WRONG with these people, they have SEVEN YEARS of no doubt high quality (and possibly, at times, justified) moaning to come, can't we just have today?

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:00 (twenty years ago)

STOP HARSHING STEVE'S BUZZ!

― Porkpie (porkpie), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

exactly.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

How's this?

Yahoo! This is your celebration
Yahoo! This is your celebration

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

Celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure

Everyone around the world
Come on!

Yahoo! It's a celebration
Yahoo!

Celebrate good times, come on!
It's a celebration
Celebrate good times, come on!
Let's celebrate

We're gonna have a good time tonight
Let's celebrate, it's all right
We're gonna have a good time tonight
Let's celebrate, it's all right

Baby...

We're gonna have a good time tonight (Ce-le-bra-tion)
Let's celebrate, it's all right
We're gonna have a good time tonight (Ce-le-bra-tion)
Let's celebrate, it's all right

Yahoo!
Yahoo!

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on!
It's a celebration!
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

Come on and celebrate, good times, tonight (Celebrate good times, come on!)
'Cause everything's gonna be all right
Let's celebrate (Celebrate good times, come on)
(Let's celebrate)

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

i dont really mind the olympics as an event, in terms of me being in london when its on. i just think that on a cost benefit analysis, the costs outweigh the benefits, and many of the benefits wont go to the people that need them most.

i am lightly mystified as to the utter euphoria. its easy to mock people moaning about it, NIMBYS etc, but what on earth is everyone so excited about? an international sporting event is being held in this country, in 7 years time? are "congratualtions" really in order?

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

an international sporting event is being held in this country, in 7 years time

Woo-hoo!

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

it's a bloody good thing, yes.

This thread is in danger of turning into some sort of teen film with the jocks up against the geeks.

Mr Fake - Walthamstow pint? when are you moving in?

― Porkpie (porkpie), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

Mr Fake - Walthamstow pint? when are you moving in?

Hopefully getting the keys next week, but not moving in for another
couple of weeks after that. That pint sounds good, though.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

ambrose, yes, yes they they are. this is THE international sporting event, something that happens on one's doorstep pretty much once in a lifetime if at all (sorry to any parisians out there). Obviously i'd prefer it if this didn't involve having to think about seb coe at all and i'm sure that there will be fuck ups along the way, but, in theory at least, this could provide massive amounts of GOOD THINGS for a deprived area of the city i live in and love.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Carsmile Steve, my BUMS join yours. DOUBLE BUMS!

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

Ouch.

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 23 December 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

huh, i thought madrid was out of the running earlier...

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 23 December 2005 18:15 (twenty years ago)

I don't see what they're trying to achieve by revealing this now.

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 23 December 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

BBC article about this.

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 23 December 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11471541

― former moderator, please give generously (DG), Tuesday, 5 October 2010 14:08 (fifteen years ago)

two months pass...

The London Olympics will be officially conducted in French with English as its second language, according to previously secret contracts seen by The Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8190503/London-2012-Olympics-to-be-held-in-French.html

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 9 December 2010 09:34 (fifteen years ago)

London is required to prevent spectators from "wearing clothes or accessories with commercial messages other than the manufacturer's brand name."

― specifically, the word talking (Ned Trifle II), Thursday, 9 December 2010 09:59 (fifteen years ago)

"Billboards and pageantry" in French as well as English must be displayed throughout the capital.

looking forward to some grade a vandalism

― Jefferson Mansplain (DG), Thursday, 9 December 2010 14:15 (fifteen years ago)

French has always been one of the official languages, big surprise.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 9 December 2010 15:58 (fifteen years ago)

The city authorities must also "obtain control of all billboard advertising, city transport advertising, airport advertising etc for the duration of the games and the month preceding." Olympic "brand protection teams" must "confront violators" and "conduct surveillance" across London. Police and customs officers must enforce sponsorship rules.

glad taxpayer's money is being put to good use

― Jefferson Mansplain (DG), Thursday, 9 December 2010 16:04 (fifteen years ago)

glad daily mail style hysteria is being put to good use

― e.g. delete via naivete (ledge), Thursday, 9 December 2010 16:25 (fifteen years ago)

LOL DAILY MAIL

― Jefferson Mansplain (DG), Thursday, 9 December 2010 16:31 (fifteen years ago)

seven months pass...

Lord Coe, Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson and former Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson have made plaster casts of their feet at London's St Pancras Eurostar terminal to mark the "first steps" toward the 2012 Games

Truly a tourist attraction to rival Platform 9¾.

― James Mitchell, Wednesday, 27 July 2011 22:30 (fourteen years ago)

The medals are too big, I predict sore necks.

― kip winger; radio ventriloquist (jel --), Wednesday, 27 July 2011 23:27 (fourteen years ago)

v classy of Boris to refer to the Olympic clock being "attacked by a horde of hooded crusties, protesting at something or other" in his thing earlier.

― Sir Chips Keswick (Merdeyeux), Wednesday, 27 July 2011 23:42 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.london2012.com/images/editorial/olympic-medals-unveiling.jpg

So the representation of the River Thames on the back of the medals (behind the Lisa Simpson giving head nonsense) doesn't even include the East End on it, the area where the games is taking place.

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 28 July 2011 11:24 (fourteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqhvmwjFXMg

― Once Were Moderators (DG), Thursday, 28 July 2011 11:31 (fourteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

LOL OMFG!!!! BORIS BURIED SOME SHITTY NEWS!!!! ROFL!!!!!!! THE MAN IS A LEGERND I TELL YOU LOL!!!!! I CARNT WAIT 2 SEE THE DEVELOPERS FUNNEL BILLIONS IN PROFITS TO THE QATAR INVESTMENT AUTHORITY!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

London's Olympic Village has been sold to property developer Delancey and Qatar's sovereign wealth fund for £557m. The joint venture will see the 27-hectare site become a "new neighbourhood" for London following the games.
It will have a mix of affordable housing, luxury new homes, schools, healthcare facilities and open space, according to Delancey.
Olympic heads say the sale delivers a "significant return to the public purse" from the development, which cost around £1bn.
A further £268m has already been recouped from the sale of 1,379 affordable housing units on the site to Triathlon Homes.
The Olympic Village had to be funded by taxpayers after private investors shunned the massive construction project when it began during the recession.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson described the sale as a "great deal for London" that showed the confidence big private investors had in the future of east London.
"It is another big step towards securing a fantastic future for the new neighbourhoods and communities we have always said would be created as a major legacy for the capital after the 2012 Games," he said.
Delancey and Shard Tower developer Qatari Diar, the property arm of the Qatari sovereign wealth fund, topped a rival bid from Hutchison Whampoa, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's.
They also beat a £1bn proposal from the Wellcome Trust to take over all the Olympic park.
Mohammed bin Ali Al Hedfa, chief executive of Qatari Diar, promised that the village would become a "fitting legacy" to the 2012 Games.

http://news.sky.com/home/article/16049004

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 14 August 2011 08:20 (fourteen years ago)

one month passes...

The deal to award West Ham the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games has collapsed, the BBC has learned.
The board of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has ended negotiations amid concerns over delays caused by the ongoing legal dispute with Tottenham.
The OPLC, government and Mayor of London have instead agreed the stadium will remain in public ownership.
A new tender process will be opened for an anchor tenant who will now lease the stadium for an an annual rent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15251893

― James Mitchell, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 05:49 (fourteen years ago)

Very depressing and hugely predictable.

I wouldn't be surprised if the OPLC has found out the true extent of West Ham's financial difficulties and panicked, as well.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 09:01 (fourteen years ago)

"On one or two of the days (London Bridge) will be very, very crowded and the best thing to do if you happen to be here on the day of the equestrian event in Greenwich is to have a beer before you go home because you won't be able to get into the station before then," Mr Hendy told the committee in a Q&A session at London's City Hall.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15260534

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 13 October 2011 08:28 (fourteen years ago)

Jarvis Cocker rmde

― Dios mio! This kid is FUN to hit! (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 13 October 2011 08:51 (fourteen years ago)

four months pass...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2112352/Tiffany-Porter-lead-Team-GB-World-Indoor-Championships.html

*facepalms*

― fuck deathcore and metalcore (Algerian Goalkeeper), Saturday, 10 March 2012 03:27 (thirteen years ago)

Like a DOORMAT!

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 22 March 2012 13:26 (thirteen years ago)

http://static.bbc.co.uk/wwhomepage-3.5/ic/news/432-259/59236000/jpg/_59236141_59236140.jpg

http://images.all-free-download.com/images/graphiclarge/bell_atlantic_0_61548.jpg

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 22 March 2012 13:28 (thirteen years ago)

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