Author Topic: This Olympic torch thing (Read 26303 times)

rogerzilla · « **on:** 23 May, 2012, 05:46:43 pm »

It's all bollocks, isn't it? They drive it from town to town in a cavalcade of motor vehicles then get it out for a quick ponce around before it's back into the car for the next trip up the motorway.

What does this have to do with anything?

Valiant · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 May, 2012, 05:51:20 pm »

Agreed, spoiled it for me.

gordon taylor · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 May, 2012, 06:39:11 pm »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 23 May, 2012, 05:46:43 pm

It's all bollocks, isn't it? They drive it from town to town in a cavalcade of motor vehicles then get it out for a quick ponce around before it's back into the car for the next trip up the motorway.

What does this have to do with anything?

I think it's been very carefully planned so that it gives the British public a chance to do what it does best - moan and whinge.

Clare · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 May, 2012, 06:54:11 pm »

Well said Gordy.

AndyK · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 May, 2012, 06:56:59 pm »

Mark Steel got it right:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-they-cant-license-the-olympic-spirit-7778726.html

+paul · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 May, 2012, 06:02:05 am »

Quote from: AndyK on 23 May, 2012, 06:56:59 pm

Mark Steel got it right:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-they-cant-license-the-olympic-spirit-7778726.html

Thanks for that AndyK - Great article!

Domestique · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 May, 2012, 06:14:24 am »

Given the amount of nutters about who want to jump in a sabotage the torch, would it be possible to run with it the entire route?
It is all bollox though. Come and feel the Olympic spirit.........

Wombat · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 May, 2012, 08:01:54 am »

I heard an item on radio 4 on the way home yesterday, saying how ALL branding of any sort had to be removed from anything at all, in Olympic areas, including the names of the bogs and soap dispensers in the toilets! Absolutely effing pathetic, if remotely true. Apparently a rail bridge in Cardiff (evidently some olympic footy is taking place there) has a Brain's beer advert on it and they want to cover it up. It belongs to Railtrack, who have VERY strict access rules. I am watching with interest, as it usually takes about a year to get permission to access a Railtrack structure...

I am lukewarm about the actual Olympic games themselves (just a lack of interest, really), but very anti all this bollocks surrounding it, such as the torch relay in dozens of cars, and the stupid branding, and restrictions on bringing drinks in, and stopping bringing bikes on trains to cycling events. Its utterly ruined the Olympics. Its games, its about a contest of skill and strength of one person against another in the name of his/her country, it should not be a load of corporate branding bullshit.

Rhys W · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 May, 2012, 09:40:07 am »

Quote from: Wombat on 24 May, 2012, 08:01:54 am

Apparently a rail bridge in Cardiff (evidently some olympic footy is taking place there) has a Brain's beer advert on it and they want to cover it up.

Oh no, the famous landmark "It's Brains you want!" bridge!

I was cycling back along Newport Road last night and a couple of the pubs along the route are draped in large Coca Cola banners. The corporate wankfest aspect is having a negative affect on me - I'm less likely to pick up a can of Coke when I fancy a cold drink now, I'll pick up something else.

Morrisette · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 May, 2012, 09:46:09 am »

Surely the railway bridge is not an olympic site? They should tell them to sod off. What are they going to do - ban spectators from arriving by train in case they see it?

mmmmartin · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 May, 2012, 09:57:34 am »

Quote from: Wombat on 24 May, 2012, 08:01:54 am

Its games, its about a contest of skill and strength of one person against another in the name of his/her country, it should not be a load of corporate branding bullshit.

^^^^^

Just a load of drug-fuelled nationalistic claptrap IMO. And costing the taxpayer enough for several hospitals and a load of nurses. Just so a bunch of foreigners can do a bit of sport for two weeks.

Andrew · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 May, 2012, 10:01:13 am »

re the torches, I saw an item on the French news last night about some torch bearers flogging the torches on ebay. Is that true?

One, I didn't know there were quite so many torches and, two, I didn't know the torch bearers got to keep/sell them. As one bloke said, he wanted to buy a house the money he'd get for the torch would help out! Can't say I blame him!

clarion · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 May, 2012, 10:01:59 am »

It is very expensive P.E.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 May, 2012, 10:26:56 am »

Quote from: Andrew on 24 May, 2012, 10:01:13 am

re the torches, I saw an item on the French news last night about some torch bearers flogging the torches on ebay. Is that true?

One, I didn't know there were quite so many torches and, two, I didn't know the torch bearers got to keep/sell them. As one bloke said, he wanted to buy a house the money he'd get for the torch would help out! Can't say I blame him!

As extensively discussed on the other thread, the torch bearers can buy 'their' torch. It is then theirs to sell if they so wish.

Andrew · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 May, 2012, 10:41:25 am »

I'll go read the other thread then!

Rhys W · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 May, 2012, 10:47:51 am »

The one that sold on ebay for £153000 on Sunday was to be used in the relay the following Monday. I can't really criticise too much as that would solve most of my problems in one fell swoop, but apparently the money was given to charity.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 May, 2012, 10:51:49 am »

Since the IOC sell freethinking connected to the Olympics to the highest bidder I cant see a problem with the torch bearers making some money out of it. Its peanuts compared to what the IOC are raking in.

Rhys W · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 May, 2012, 11:02:51 am »

I've just a look on ebay - plenty of them on there now, going for thousands rather than hundreds of thousands. Also selling well are empty Coca Cola bottles, each one described as "rare".

Oh and some really good spoofs that are worth a look!

clarion · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 May, 2012, 11:05:23 am »

Rampant commercialism - The Olympic Spirit*

* This phrase is probably copyright.

Illegal Combat Ant · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 May, 2012, 11:07:43 am »

Found elsewhere on teh intertubez courtesy of a poster called 'Ren'

Quote

Wed May 23, 2012 11:14 pm
I'd just like to counter the whinging with this undeniable fact: the live stream of the torch is the greatest tv ever created, for the following reasons:

1. the weird 70s cult jumpsuits runners have to wear
2. the very low picture quality
3. the fact that 85% of those chosen to carry the torch appear to have never run before in their lives
4. the fact that an hour's live stream is 15 minutes of people jogging pathetically, to 40 minutes of transit van and road, to 5 minutes of 'live stream is temporarily unavailable'.
5. the 7 bodyguards who surround the runner;
6. the bit where the runner has to move backwards to light the torch is always accompanied by the smallish crowds shouting out amazingly British things like 'ack, he's going the wrong way.'
7. the fact, mustachioed man who pops up intermittently whenever the flame is being transported by van;
8. the number of people who approach the distant van, ask an inaudible question, are clearly told they are on camera, and then do that weird leaping-back dance to try and get off camera, before mouthing 'am I still on camera' .

1 & 2 are the reason why I spent five minutes convinced I was watching archive footage of the USSR in 1980.

citoyen · « **Reply #20 on:** 24 May, 2012, 11:12:47 am »

Quote from: AndyK on 23 May, 2012, 06:56:59 pm

Mark Steel got it right:

Excellent article.

Charlie Brooker said much the same thing more succinctly on that twitter:

Quote

@charltonbrooker: Don't want to sully the sanctity of your brand, you pricks. I mean, you're *choosy*, right?: http://bit.ly/KCaxIv (pic via @scottfish75)

Especially ironic since (as I presume has already been mentioned elsewhere) our very own Sam Valiant's Spacehijackers have had their twitter account suspended for using the 2012 logo, supposedly because it taints the brand. [Edit: just seen that they've got their twit back. Yay!]

d.

GrahamG · « **Reply #21 on:** 24 May, 2012, 11:38:12 am »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 23 May, 2012, 05:46:43 pm

It's all bollocks, isn't it? They drive it from town to town in a cavalcade of motor vehicles then get it out for a quick ponce around before it's back into the car for the next trip up the motorway.

What does this have to do with anything?

Are you serious? I naiively believed it was carried by relays of runners putting the miles in between destinations - what a crock of shit.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #22 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.

citoyen · « **Reply #23 on:** 24 May, 2012, 12:04:52 pm »

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

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.

To be fair, that in itself doesn't mean the Olympic torch relay is a bad thing any more than making the trains run on time is a bad thing.

d.

clarion · « **Reply #24 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.

Author Topic: This Olympic torch thing (Read 26303 times)

gordon taylor

AndyK

Andrew

Andrew