This Olympic torch thing

[pcolbeck]

The Torch is coming to York. The local paper has a 12 page guide to this. OK I expect them to report on it but a 12 page guide FFS !

[Rhys W]

It wasn't even eight o'clock.

The torch left the town were my parents live (population: 2,040) at around 7:30am. Look at the crowds!

[mattc]

I finally caught some torch footage on the news last night. Worst job in the world - being one of the escort runners!

Hopefully they don't know how absurd they look switching between speed-walking and runs to match the pace of the torch-bearer. (Hopefully SOME bearers will be able to run at a sensible pace.)

[Cyclops]

There does appear to be an continuous, unofficial relay with people running all 8000 miles round the UK averaging about 10 miles each.

The Real Relay

As it's unsupported some of the rural night sections must seem a bit lonely ( or just like an audax)

[Cudzoziemiec]

That's cool and heartening. Should be publicised, it's the kind of thing Overseas Media would embrace as "hardy British eccentricity".

[mattc]

And anyone can take part, just volunteer for a convenient leg. Well, as long as you're upto it:

In order to arrive in London in time for the Olympic Games opening ceremony, Real Relay runners will need to travel at an average pace of 6mph (10 minutes per mile).  Please do not sign up to take part in the Real Relay if you will be unable to sustain this pace for an entire stage.

... and self-sufficiency is required, you need to choose your route, and liaise with the previous/next runner, etc ...

[Shame I can't run 10 miles at the moment  ]

[Jasmine]

And anyone can take part, just volunteer for a convenient leg. Well, as long as you're upto it:

In order to arrive in London in time for the Olympic Games opening ceremony, Real Relay runners will need to travel at an average pace of 6mph (10 minutes per mile).  Please do not sign up to take part in the Real Relay if you will be unable to sustain this pace for an entire stage.

... and self-sufficiency is required, you need to choose your route, and liaise with the previous/next runner, etc ...

[Shame I can't run 10 miles at the moment  ]

One of my friends was involved in this.  He says it is possible to do it in a team if you can't do 10 miles.  So if 3 of you could do about 3 miles each at that pace, then you can do it as a team.

[Arch]

I left for work a few minutes early this morning, and rode round to the Minster, where I managed to see it over the heads of the assembled (small) crowd. It was long and golden and on fire.

As it set off, and I turned to ride into work, I realised that the Minster Carillion was playing the theme from Chariots of Fire. Vangelis, on bells.  I think that was the best thing!

[Kim]

As it set off, and I turned to ride into work, I realised that the Minster Carillion was playing the theme from Chariots of Fire. Vangelis, on bells.  I think that was the best thing!

That is, as the yoof might say, epic win 

[LindaG]

We went to see it in Barnard Castle today. The biggest cheer went to the bus that made the u-turn in one go instead of a 3 point turn. Hilarious. Nice to see a crowd having some innocent fun but the coca cola circus may bode ill for the opening ceremony.

[Wowbagger]

Not really a torch thing, but I took the dog for a walk near the mountain biking arena this morning. Lots of closed footpaths and fencing keeping people out of normally public areas.



This seat



is now isolated by fencing and has what I think is a camera podium next to it.

I'll be bloody glad when the whole mallarky is over and we can have our countryside back.

[citoyen]

I've noticed the Goodyear blimp hanging around in London airspace the last few days - it looked like it was right over the Olympic site this morning. Is Goodyear an Official Partner^TM then?

[Zipperhead]

It's been over west London for a couple of weeks (when not too windy)

[Cudzoziemiec]

Is it supposed to be leaning like that?

[Wowbagger]

Is it supposed to be leaning like that?

That's probably my photography. I had the camera well above my head to avoid the 6' high fence. The ground slopes away from that seat quite rapidly. It is, after all, a mountain. It must be since it's being used for a mountain bike event.

[AndyK]

Deadly child terrorist on BMX dealt with.

[nicknack]

Deadly child terrorist on BMX dealt with.

Fuckin' bonkers.

[rogerzilla]

All this finding "terrorists" under the bed is like the burning of the Reichstag, isn't it?  Ah bugger, Godwin's.

[andrewc]

I was just about to post that.  Totally OTT, and the security guy put the kid & himself in front of a moving vehicle for no reason.

[Sergeant Pluck]

Deadly child terrorist on BMX dealt with.

Fuckin' bonkers.

Absolutely agree. Steroid-fuelled idiot out of control. All the kid needed was a nudge a bit further to the side that he was already on.

The Met's torch security team prevented him from gaining access to the torchbearer

I can’t see any attempt to gain access to the torchbearer.

[clarion]

OFFS!

[Arch]

Deadly child terrorist on BMX dealt with.

Fuckin' bonkers.

Absolutely agree. Steroid-fuelled idiot out of control. All the kid needed was a nudge a bit further to the side that he was already on.

The Met's torch security team prevented him from gaining access to the torchbearer

I can’t see any attempt to gain access to the torchbearer.

Me neither. I despair, even more than I did before.

In fact, it was hard to see, but I could hardly tell he was within the 'bubble'. Looked like the cop actually pulled him into it.

While I was there I looked at the 'two boys in Coventry snatch the torch'. They didn't snatch anything, they went and stood by the runner and it looked like they asked to touch it, and she let them.

[Gaston Lagaffe]

Off to St Albans soon to see Mlle Lagaffe's friend run with the torch, hope the rain holds off.  Back to their place for some photo opportunities

[AndyK]

Better video of Met assault on child cyclist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOADzgjO8GI

[clarion]

In fact, it was hard to see, but I could hardly tell he was within the 'bubble'. Looked like the cop actually pulled him into it.

Having seen both videos, I'd say that was true.  Idiot.