Author Topic: This Olympic torch thing (Read 26304 times)

Rhys W · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 May, 2012, 12:37:44 pm »

My early memories of the Olympic torch relay (1970s) are that it was almost an athletic event in itself. The people looked like runners, actually exerting themselves - it was a feat that had an actual route and a point to it. The entire two weeks of competition depended on these people running the whole way, if the flame doesn't get there they can't start! In comparison, today (with all due respect) they appear to be people who have been bestowed with some sort of local paper worthiness half-walking/half-jogging a few hundreds yards through prominent areas selected by the local council under pressure from the chamber of commerce.

It passes within 5 minutes walk from my house on Friday, I don't know if I'll go and see if it's as bad as I suspect it is, or just not bother.

citoyen · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 May, 2012, 01:21:37 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 24 May, 2012, 12:12:39 pm

No, but it does mean that an awful lot of people talk, print or believe an awful lot of complete bollocks.

That's kind of my point. Mussolini made the trains run on time. Mussolini was a bad man. Therefore making the trains run on time is a bad thing. Even if the first premise were true, the conclusion would be nonsense.

d.

AndyK · « **Reply #27 on:** 24 May, 2012, 01:45:12 pm »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 24 May, 2012, 11:59:55 am

It's a complete crock.

It's lit from the ancient Olympic flame in Greece

Ancient as in 1928 the first the flame was re introduced to the modern Olympics.

The torch relay is a traditional part of the Olympics

It was invented by Carl Diem the organiser of the Nazi Olympics of 1936, the same guy who addressed rally of the Hitler Youth in Olympic stadium in exhorting them to defend their city to the death. 2000 of the brainwashed kids promptly did so.

It's gone out twice, once at the lighting ceremony and once on the road. I strongly suspect it has been rekindled by the ancient goddess Bic.

clarion · « **Reply #28 on:** 24 May, 2012, 01:52:50 pm »

The lighting ceremony? Did you see any of that hokum? Good grief, it's like we were back in Festival of Britain times, with a pompous pageant, and Greek maidens dressed in bedsheets. Of course, this ancient ceremony dates all the way back to...oooh...a couple of months ago, when someone came up with it while sitting on the bog, and scribbled some notes on a spare scrap of newspaper.

Zipperhead · « **Reply #29 on:** 24 May, 2012, 03:15:30 pm »

You lot are all jealous because none of you have stroked an Olympic torch fresh from the hands of Lord Coe himself like wot I have.

(warning, it looks less like an Olympic torch and more like a monster pleasurator!)

(click to show/hide)

clarion · « **Reply #30 on:** 24 May, 2012, 03:22:57 pm »

Have you just beaten a child with it?

citoyen · « **Reply #31 on:** 24 May, 2012, 03:26:07 pm »

Your young friend looks suitably impressed.

*resists temptation to make wholly inappropriate comment* [edit: which would have been even more inappropriate than clarion's cross-posted comment]

d.

citoyen · « **Reply #32 on:** 24 May, 2012, 06:05:55 pm »

Corroboration of Wombat's earlier post...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-16703448

Sigh.

d.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #33 on:** 24 May, 2012, 08:14:05 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 24 May, 2012, 01:52:50 pm

The lighting ceremony? Did you see any of that hokum? Good grief, it's like we were back in Festival of Britain times, with a pompous pageant, and Greek maidens dressed in bedsheets. Of course, this ancient ceremony dates all the way back to...oooh...a couple of months ago, when someone came up with it while sitting on the bog, and scribbled some notes on a spare scrap of newspaper.

I was minded of "The Wicker Man" with the virgins (OK, they were probably slappers) jumping over the fire.

And GrahamG - yes, I really did think, and hope, they were going to run with it all the way. Surely they could get enough volunteers to do a couple of MILES each and carry it 2,000 miles or whatever?

tatanab · « **Reply #34 on:** 25 May, 2012, 09:50:15 am »

I went to take a look since it passed about 1/2 mile from my front door.
Police helicopter scanning the route for 1/2 an hour before anybody arrived, 6 or 7 police motor cyclists, television van, torch plus 6 police on foot, a couple of lorries and vans and more police motorcycles and cars. No police MTBs, it was a 1 in12 slope so may be a bit step for them. The torch carrier was going along at possibly a brisk walking pace. Spectators 2 or 3 deep both sides of the road and all schools out for a jolly.

Pretty farcical really. What do you mean "I am just a miserable old git"?

pcolbeck · « **Reply #35 on:** 25 May, 2012, 10:30:16 am »

No your not a miserable old git. I like the Olympics in general but hate the uber commercialisation.
The Olympic torch thing is just silly. If they actually really ran it in relay all the way from Greece handing it over every 10 miles to a new runner for example then I could see the symbolism but when it gets flown and driven most of the way its just daft and devoid of any worth.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #36 on:** 25 May, 2012, 11:00:46 am »

How long to the Olympics?

It's about 2000km.

A relay of cyclists. 200km per day + a day to sail across English Channel (assuming wait for weather, tides, etc).

The alternative protest to the Olympic idiocy - we make our own torch, light it in Olympia, then cycle/run/sail it all the way to London.

All this 'special technology to make sure it doesn't blow out'; I have a £15 butane blowtorch/soldering iron from Maplins that you can't blow out in a hurricane.

Charlotte · « **Reply #37 on:** 25 May, 2012, 11:05:30 am »

Quote from: Zipperhead on 24 May, 2012, 03:15:30 pm

You lot are all jealous because none of you have stroked an Olympic torch fresh from the hands of Lord Coe himself like wot I have.

(warning, it looks less like an Olympic torch and more like a monster pleasurator!)
(click to show/hide)

[COMMENT REDACTED ON THE GROUNDS OF ALL THAT IS PURE, HONEST AND DECENT]

tatanab · « **Reply #38 on:** 25 May, 2012, 11:06:31 am »

Cycling Olympic ride - something like this http://www.velomarathon.eu/about-evm2012/

citoyen · « **Reply #39 on:** 25 May, 2012, 11:06:44 am »

Lovely idea, mrcharly, but try carrying a naked flame not bearing the Official Coca-Cola Olympics logo within 20 miles of the Olympic stadium and you'll probably be shot as a terrorist.

d.

clarion · « **Reply #40 on:** 25 May, 2012, 11:09:34 am »

Sod them. Take it to Much Wenlock.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #41 on:** 29 May, 2012, 10:37:30 pm »

I've just added a piece to my blog about the Southend version of the Olympic torch.

http://gentlemancyclist.org.uk/2012/05/29/why-im-not-singing-for-the-olympics/

gordon taylor · « **Reply #42 on:** 31 May, 2012, 05:29:21 am »

Well, there were thousands and thousands of people out in Stafford last night to watch the torch go through. People were happy and excited - Facebook this morning is full of posts with photos and experiences. I must get myself a Union Flag bowler hat..

Denise Lewis was in our school for three hours yesterday - she's fab!
Ten thousand tickets have been sold for the torch event in Hanley Park today.

My son was in the crowd, chatting to a old guy who had come to the outskirts of Stafford to see the torch as he'd been in a town centre a few days ago and didn't even get a glimpse as the crowds were so huge.

Charlotte · « **Reply #43 on:** 31 May, 2012, 07:53:02 am »

Gordy, I know I'm an olympagrinch, but...

Quote from: Gordy on 31 May, 2012, 05:29:21 am

Ten thousand tickets have been sold for the torch event in Hanley Park today.

Doesn't this just prove that with the right marketing, you can get people to buy absolutely anything?

why1040 · « **Reply #44 on:** 31 May, 2012, 09:01:52 am »

A friend of mine who lives in Stafford was informed she had to move her car from her own driveway as it was on the route, or face a £120 fine?? That seemed rather odd to me! She managed to get some pictures, but said she'd rather that didn't happen again for a very long time!

gordon taylor · « **Reply #45 on:** 31 May, 2012, 09:19:56 am »

Cool sponsors' bus.

clarion · « **Reply #46 on:** 31 May, 2012, 09:32:00 am »

I saw a photo in <a certain national newspaper> of the torch being held by someone standing still.

Still moving under human power, though, as there were some chaps hauling the barge containing the torch-bearer over the Poncysyllte (sp?) aqueduct.

Struck me as odd, though.

Rhys W · « **Reply #47 on:** 31 May, 2012, 09:42:23 am »

You're missing a t - Pontcysyllte. Pont=bridge and cysyllte probably originates from "links/linked" or contacts. I don't know if there was some kind of linking bridge there before the aqueduct was built.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #48 on:** 31 May, 2012, 09:53:04 am »

I think you're all a bunch of miserable, pathetic, moaning whingers.

I love the Olympic spirit and all sorts of communal jollity. I think it's great that even in these not-the-greatest-economic-times we can splash out for Olympics and Jubilees. Gawd bless your laurel-wreathed brow, Mam! Though I do think it's a bit tough on Brenda that she has to be torched just because she's 60.

pumpkin · « **Reply #49 on:** 31 May, 2012, 10:03:30 am »

Quote from: Charlotte on 31 May, 2012, 07:53:02 am

Gordy, I know I'm an olympagrinch, but...

Quote from: Gordy on 31 May, 2012, 05:29:21 am
Ten thousand tickets have been sold for the torch event in Hanley Park today.

Doesn't this just prove that with the right marketing, you can get people to buy absolutely anything?

The old adage that no-one got rich underestimating the public still rings true

Author Topic: This Olympic torch thing (Read 26304 times)

AndyK

gordon taylor

gordon taylor