The Olympics
Jul 17th 2012, 8:41 am
#76
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: The Olympics
It was sort of inevitable that a thread about the biggest sporting event in the world, something that should be an honour to host and an honour to be part of, somewhere that should be the platform and showcase for sporting prowess and the handwork that all sportspeople have slaved towards for the last 4 years and beyond but no, people are too interested in slagging the event off, slagging the sports off, in fact, slagging everything off. Is it ANY wonder we are called whiners? Is it ANY wonder that so many people see us as complainers and moaners?
I for one can't wait. Yeah there have been a few problems but the venues are finished (just), they look absolutely amazing (an industry site I am involved with have several landscapers on that were involved with the games) and now that the Army, and the Police, are involved with the security we have a security we can put our trust in. Enjoy it, if you don't like sport, don't enjoy it. If you would rather watch a bloke running in a straight line in 9 seconds then shower him with praise rather than a skilled rider controlling a ton of unpredictable animal then fill your boots but FFS, stop bitching, moaning and whining! You all need to listen to yourselves, sanctimonious, pompous, holier than thou attitudes from armchair sports fans!
I for one can't wait. Yeah there have been a few problems but the venues are finished (just), they look absolutely amazing (an industry site I am involved with have several landscapers on that were involved with the games) and now that the Army, and the Police, are involved with the security we have a security we can put our trust in. Enjoy it, if you don't like sport, don't enjoy it. If you would rather watch a bloke running in a straight line in 9 seconds then shower him with praise rather than a skilled rider controlling a ton of unpredictable animal then fill your boots but FFS, stop bitching, moaning and whining! You all need to listen to yourselves, sanctimonious, pompous, holier than thou attitudes from armchair sports fans!
I will have my own children and grandchildren attending quite a few events and they're still trying to get tickets for more.
And I want them to be as safe as possible in a city that I love. So I feel more than justified in moaning about the pathetic state of the security arrangements, as are being widely reported.
Jul 17th 2012, 8:46 am
#77
Straw Man.
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Posts: 46,302
Re: The Olympics
You misunderstand, Matt. Nobody is moaning about the quality of the sport itself and most of us are looking forward to seeing as much of it as we can. It's the chaos of the security situation that concerns us.
I will have my own children and grandchildren attending quite a few events and they're still trying to get tickets for more.
And I want them to be as safe as possible in a city that I love. So I feel more than justified in moaning about the pathetic state of the security arrangements, as are being widely reported.
I will have my own children and grandchildren attending quite a few events and they're still trying to get tickets for more.
And I want them to be as safe as possible in a city that I love. So I feel more than justified in moaning about the pathetic state of the security arrangements, as are being widely reported.
Jul 17th 2012, 8:53 am
#78
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Joined: May 2010
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Posts: 1,522
Re: The Olympics
I sat the exam to get my SIA badge and the hardest part was paying the £200.00
You are suppose to sit through a 3 hour lesson on security and then take the exam, but the exam is so easy. It is a multiple choice paper with 2 stupid answers and one correct answer. The only thing the SIA badge does is that you know the person has no criminal history because he is properly checked by the SIA.
The biggest problem is you can not organise 17,000 part time security staff if 10% fail to turn up it becomes a mess. What happens to all the other events that are running in the UK while the stewards are in London?
Months ago G4S will have trained and pre vetted people for the games, but now that the games have started when they call people to work, those people will have found alternative work, or changed their mind.
Newspaper article "Earlier, Manchester police had to deploy officers to provide security at a hotel in Salford where four Olympic football teams will stay - after only 17 of an expected 56 G4S staff turned up for work"
It is a shame that now we live in a world where we have to have so many guards and stewards for an event.
You are suppose to sit through a 3 hour lesson on security and then take the exam, but the exam is so easy. It is a multiple choice paper with 2 stupid answers and one correct answer. The only thing the SIA badge does is that you know the person has no criminal history because he is properly checked by the SIA.
The biggest problem is you can not organise 17,000 part time security staff if 10% fail to turn up it becomes a mess. What happens to all the other events that are running in the UK while the stewards are in London?
Months ago G4S will have trained and pre vetted people for the games, but now that the games have started when they call people to work, those people will have found alternative work, or changed their mind.
Newspaper article "Earlier, Manchester police had to deploy officers to provide security at a hotel in Salford where four Olympic football teams will stay - after only 17 of an expected 56 G4S staff turned up for work"
It is a shame that now we live in a world where we have to have so many guards and stewards for an event.
Jul 17th 2012, 9:48 am
#79
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Re: The Olympics
Yes, of course there have been some early problems. It's hardly surprising with an event of this size. I am sure they shall get sorted.
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
On another point, I am amazed how close the Park is to the city when you consider the overall size of London. Were previous Games parks similarly placed or miles outside town?
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
On another point, I am amazed how close the Park is to the city when you consider the overall size of London. Were previous Games parks similarly placed or miles outside town?
Jul 17th 2012, 9:58 am
#80
Grace and gratitude
Joined: Mar 2007
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Re: The Olympics
Yes, of course there have been some early problems. It's hardly surprising with an event of this size. I am sure they shall get sorted.
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
I'm sure the Sydney olympics had all the same issues, difference being the Australian press permanently paints a rosy picture of everything and anything and glosses over any negativity, whereas the English media are like a pack of wolves, hunting down anything that could shed the UK in a bad light and makes a complete media circus of any slight blight on the country.
Jul 17th 2012, 11:12 am
#81
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: The Olympics
Was just about to post the very same opinion myself.
I'm sure the Sydney olympics had all the same issues, difference being the Australian press permanently paints a rosy picture of everything and anything and glosses over any negativity, whereas the English media are like a pack of wolves, hunting down anything that could shed the UK in a bad light and makes a complete media circus of any slight blight on the country.
I'm sure the Sydney olympics had all the same issues, difference being the Australian press permanently paints a rosy picture of everything and anything and glosses over any negativity, whereas the English media are like a pack of wolves, hunting down anything that could shed the UK in a bad light and makes a complete media circus of any slight blight on the country.
It tells me that London is a very dangerous place to be. They can't even hold a sporting event without having to call in the army
I'd rather they have lighter security but take their chances. Sh*t happens, doesnt maean we should live in a police state
Oh - and the McDonalds and CocaCola sponsorship is terrible. There is a giant McDs in the Olympic village ffs. Any athlete caught eating at it should have any public funding removed, they are clearly not taking their sport seriously.
Luckily, I have avoided most of the Olympic hype by not being in the country! I'm not sure I'll watch anything, maybe the 100m final and the footy if Spain do well
Jul 17th 2012, 11:17 am
#83
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: The Olympics
lots more info here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics
Jul 17th 2012, 11:20 am
#84
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: The Olympics
Yes, of course there have been some early problems. It's hardly surprising with an event of this size. I am sure they shall get sorted.
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
On another point, I am amazed how close the Park is to the city when you consider the overall size of London. Were previous Games parks similarly placed or miles outside town?
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
On another point, I am amazed how close the Park is to the city when you consider the overall size of London. Were previous Games parks similarly placed or miles outside town?
Jul 17th 2012, 11:25 am
#85
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: The Olympics
Smith ? ?
What winds me up is that this ex-pat and a couple of others have experience of organising people, facilities etc etc and all we are seeing is a bloody great fiasco
such as
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ane-opens.html
and
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-cleaners.html
Meanwhile
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-lose-job.html
with a £21million payoff for incompetence ? ?
What winds me up is that this ex-pat and a couple of others have experience of organising people, facilities etc etc and all we are seeing is a bloody great fiasco
such as
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ane-opens.html
and
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-cleaners.html
Meanwhile
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-lose-job.html
with a £21million payoff for incompetence ? ?
Jul 17th 2012, 11:27 am
#86
On the road again.
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Re: The Olympics
In the past, tiddlywinks, picking up stones, and a huge number of other childish and stupid 'sports' were part of the olympics, host countries were allowed to put on what sports they liked, in 1908, when London first hosted them, tug of war was included, as was rugby. it was due to a dispute in that year that the marathon, previously 25 miles, became the length it is today, the start line was in Windsor under the windows of the Royal nursery so Queen Mary could see the start, the finish line was moved after the US flag bearer refused to dip his flag in salute to the royal party at the opening, so they moved the finish line so it would be in front fo the King, so it became the 26 miles 385 yards it is today.
lots more info here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics
lots more info here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics
So disputes and moving the goalposts have been part of the show for at least a century or maybe more.
Jul 17th 2012, 12:31 pm
#87
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: The Olympics
Yes, of course there have been some early problems. It's hardly surprising with an event of this size. I am sure they shall get sorted.
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
I don't believe this is any different to any other games it's just that perhaps we have a freer press so these problems are brought in to the open.
I think there were a few problems in the USA once. In Athens virtually nothing was ready. A few members on here will be combing the UK papers for anything and everything that goes wrong. Latest is the equestrian area is waterlogged, I blame Coe
Almost everyone on here say that they aren't interested in the games, only the bits that go wrong.
Jul 17th 2012, 12:52 pm
#88
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Jul 17th 2012, 12:55 pm
#89
Straw Man.
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Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Re: The Olympics
In the past, tiddlywinks, picking up stones, and a huge number of other childish and stupid 'sports' were part of the olympics, host countries were allowed to put on what sports they liked, in 1908, when London first hosted them, tug of war was included, as was rugby. it was due to a dispute in that year that the marathon, previously 25 miles, became the length it is today, the start line was in Windsor under the windows of the Royal nursery so Queen Mary could see the start, the finish line was moved after the US flag bearer refused to dip his flag in salute to the royal party at the opening, so they moved the finish line so it would be in front fo the King, so it became the 26 miles 385 yards it is today.
lots more info here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics
lots more info here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics
Jul 17th 2012, 12:57 pm
#90
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Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: London (mainly)/Oliva
Posts: 2,137
Re: The Olympics
I think having 20,000 troops roaming London is a disgrace
It tells me that London is a very dangerous place to be. They can't even hold a sporting event without having to call in the army
I'd rather they have lighter security but take their chances. Sh*t happens, doesnt maean we should live in a police state
Oh - and the McDonalds and CocaCola sponsorship is terrible. There is a giant McDs in the Olympic village ffs. Any athlete caught eating at it should have any public funding removed, they are clearly not taking their sport seriously.
Luckily, I have avoided most of the Olympic hype by not being in the country! I'm not sure I'll watch anything, maybe the 100m final and the footy if Spain do well
It tells me that London is a very dangerous place to be. They can't even hold a sporting event without having to call in the army
I'd rather they have lighter security but take their chances. Sh*t happens, doesnt maean we should live in a police state
Oh - and the McDonalds and CocaCola sponsorship is terrible. There is a giant McDs in the Olympic village ffs. Any athlete caught eating at it should have any public funding removed, they are clearly not taking their sport seriously.
Luckily, I have avoided most of the Olympic hype by not being in the country! I'm not sure I'll watch anything, maybe the 100m final and the footy if Spain do well
Did you post this to get a reaction or do you actually believe it?