olympics deprecation thread

Posted by: winkyincanada on 26 July 2012

Because it feels good to skewer the twin evils of corporate thuggery and repulsive nationalism (borderline racism and bigotry) that pretty much is the olympics, I offer this thread...

 

To kick off (get it?), here is a photo of the crowd at one of the women's soccer matches. Apart from the empty seats, it looks like some one had to quickly do the signwriting with some masking tape. I believe that they actually paid someone to come up with that font! And the Lisa BJ logo; and the mascots! Honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up.

 

 

At the same match, the wrong flag was shown, causing fervently nationalistic competitors and officials to take so much "offense" that they delayed the match for an hour. Luckily, as it was women's soccer, no spectators were inconvenienced.

 

In other news, the organisers have had to refund some money to people who bought tickets to seats at the aquatic centre that didn't allow them to see anything.

 

In other news the net bill to you UK taxpayers is now estimated at $16Bn. No small change, eh?

Posted on: 10 August 2012 by Noogle
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Not elite (by a long shot), but an active member of a local cycling club. Mainly for the social aspects. We're fully self-funded, but admittedly do use public roads.

Winky - does your bike or cycle clothing carry any branding?  I presume that, if so, you tape over any offending logos?
Posted on: 10 August 2012 by Don Atkinson
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by totemphile:

 

Top PL football players wouldn't even get out of bed, if that type of reward was offered to them.

 

 

In lieu of anything else, sure they would. Top football players are paid far more than is required to compensate them for the job they do.

Oh, Winky, looks like you are occupying the role of Stalin, or some other communist dictator.

 

Who, do you think you are to lay down what is and what what isn't adequate compensation ?

 

I presume you ment to sat "IMHO" and simply forgot to mention that?

 

Cheers

 

Don

Posted on: 10 August 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Don Atkinson:
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by totemphile:

 

Top PL football players wouldn't even get out of bed, if that type of reward was offered to them.

 

 

In lieu of anything else, sure they would. Top football players are paid far more than is required to compensate them for the job they do.

Oh, Winky, looks like you are occupying the role of Stalin, or some other communist dictator.

 

Who, do you think you are to lay down what is and what what isn't adequate compensation ?

 

I presume you ment to sat "IMHO" and simply forgot to mention that?

 

Cheers

 

Don

OK, IMO, there are a lot people who would play PL football for much less than the likes of Rooney et. al. are paid. I even think Rooney would play for a lot less money if that was all that was offer. That is all I mean. You don't agree?

Posted on: 10 August 2012 by George Fredrik

George Best played for a lot less [even considering inflation] than Wayne Rooney, and he was FAR better!

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 10 August 2012 by Gale 401
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:
Originally Posted by Gale 401:
Originally Posted by Sniper:

According to one of my Russian students a Russian gold medallist will receive a BMW X5, a new apartment and $125K from the Government!

How things have changed.

Not that long ago if they didn't win a meddle it was Gulag Archipelago for 10 years.

Stu.

 

Stu, the Gulag threat is used in the UK these days, that's why we're winning lots of medals ; )

Debs,

No way in any shape or form.

I was in one in October 76 just for a week to have a look round.

The German death camps were a better option imo.

Stu

Posted on: 10 August 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Noogle:
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Not elite (by a long shot), but an active member of a local cycling club. Mainly for the social aspects. We're fully self-funded, but admittedly do use public roads.

Winky - does your bike or cycle clothing carry any branding?  I presume that, if so, you tape over any offending logos?

OK, yes a small logo from our local bike shop that gives us a small discount, and the clothing brand itself.

 

But hey, I've never claimed to be so righteous as to be above sticking my snout in the trough from time to time. We ALL take part in systems we know to be imperfect.

Posted on: 10 August 2012 by Chris Dolan
Originally Posted by George Fredrik:

George Best played for a lot less [even considering inflation] than Wayne Rooney, and he was FAR better!

 

ATB from George

I love them both -  but Georgie was a class apart - and yes of course the remuneration was significantly lower then.

 

Would Rooney play for less money as "all he wants to do is play football" - well not if someone else would pay him more to do it. Why should he?

 

Joey Barton is the classic example here of what footballers can do but still be in demand - but with all the money and kudos involved who is going to stand against it?

Posted on: 11 August 2012 by Guido Fawkes

Last night I saw two totally committed teams contest the Football bronze at Cardiff's Millennium stadium ... great game, great atmosphere ... no Europeans in the last 4 ... the shape of things to come. 

 

Korea were quite superb and played exactly like the Team GB football team didn't (surely, in retrospect,  the Team GB football side managed by Pearce and captained by Giggs were our poorest representation in anything ever). I'm glad Korea reached the third place play off match and really went for it. Japan also gave it everything.

 

> George Best played for a lot less [even considering inflation] than Wayne Rooney, and he was FAR better!


Stanley Mathews was better than both of them put together and played for a pittance. Though George Best was certainly a great player. Sorry George Fredrik, but I don't rate Rooney at all and think he is vastly overpaid. If we picked the greatest world side of all time then only Sir Stan would feature from these shores with a worthy mention for Jimmy Greaves. I didn't ever see Tom Finney play. Kevin Beattie was the best player I ever saw in an Ipswich shirt. However, that is the past. 


I think watching Olympic football was a revelation as I think teams like Korea will be a major threat in future world cups ... very impressed. 


OK, Cardiff was not as slick in its organisation as London and Eton, but it was another great London 2012 event. 


All the best, Guy


PS ... As Korea seem to be better than us at football, so we seem to better than them at Taekwondo 

Posted on: 11 August 2012 by Guido Fawkes

 Ed Mckeever, the Usain Bolt of canoeing, has won the Gold for Team GB ... absolutely superb. 


Posted on: 11 August 2012 by tonym

'way to go Mo! Fan-bloody tastic!!!!

Posted on: 11 August 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

Lets start the campaign for Real Cycling at the Olympics.

 

The event should be held on a Sunday morning, the competitors should have to weave in and out of the traffic (and potholes), repair their own compulsory punctures, and will occasionally forget to bring a waterproof. After 40 miles they will stop for a bacon sarnie, a wee in the hedge and to gossip about the new flash bike somebody has brought. They will then hammer the last 20 until the old gimmer at the back gets cramp and one bloke has to go home early because he is supposed to be taking the kids out for lunch..

 

Bruce. MAMIL

One of the funniest posts on this thread. You have obviously done a club ride with Bristol South, my old club when I was in the UK!

Posted on: 11 August 2012 by Kevin-W
Mo. The utterly magnificent. What a brilliantly run race!
Posted on: 11 August 2012 by winkyincanada

Why do so many people use flashes on their cameras at olympic venues? I've just seen a Brit get a do-over at the diving, because the stupid, pointless camera flashes distracted him. Fair enough, too.

Posted on: 11 August 2012 by Guido Fawkes

Mo - a hero - absolutely stunning .... best athletics performance ever in the best venue ever - nor 'arf. 

Posted on: 12 August 2012 by JamieWednesday
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:

Why do so many people use flashes on their cameras at olympic venues? I've just seen a Brit get a do-over at the diving, because the stupid, pointless camera flashes distracted him. Fair enough, too.

One of my all time bug bears. At any stadium event, the countless numbers of flashes going off around the arena as thousands of people get well lit pictures of the back of someone's head! Surely even the most basic point and shoots have a 'sports' setting and a button to turn the flash (with it's 2m range) off.

Posted on: 12 August 2012 by winkyincanada

I just don't get race walking. It so is obviously absurd that I wonder how or why anyone chooses to take it up in the first place. It seems that the winner is the person who can cheat the most effectively. That is, the runner who can fool the judges into thinking they are walking wins.