I am in the States at the moment and the coverage of the Olympics is constant.
There is much talk about Romneys comments and a lot of embarrasment about what he said.
A local news commentator has just said ' who would you want to look after you ? Someone who has had a few weeks of basic security training or a 22 year old British serviceman who has spent his young adult life digging in the sand for IEDs,constantly alert to the threat of suicide bombers and fights terrorism.

Guys I know its a S$^t deal but rest assured you are appreciated.
It may not be by our government but every one else talks about you.

Enjoy your leave when it eventually comes.

Another 1,000 troops to be drafted in to fill the empty seats?

Re the empty seats.

Obviously seats are handed out to Sponsors / VIP's et al well in advance
and I'm not sure if certain people get a certain number. It has also been
mentioned that they can't be returned to the pool to be sold as it is too costly
and time consuming.

So why not work it the other way round. Considering the lead up to the Olympics is so long, couldn't it be done the other way with Sponsors / VIP's and send them a tick and flick sheet which they have to return for the tickets they want and only these are sent out ?

The rest are then sold ?

Re soldiers, good to see some are enjoying it.
.

You seem to be implying that Ordinary People would then be sitting among the VIPs.

Well that can't be allowed to happen, because of ..... um ..... quick, think of a reason ..... ah yes, can't be allowed for Security Reasons :)

Glad to see we are doing well in the sports that involve a lot of sitting down. Much more dignified that is.

Or standing still?

Chap even has the right idea about celebrating!

I hope he celebrates in style with some Dom Perignon or Krug, he's certainly earned the right to.

Probably hasn't touched a drop for a few months so it could be a short celebration.... :zzz:

Dunno..................think it likely will go on for a year or two

Well, it's all over and I have to say it was bloody good. And the closing ceremony, in the main, was spectacular. Loved that the Who (well, two of them) closed the show.

I was especially proud of it all when Lord Coe took just two seconds of his life to say thank you to the men and women of the Armed Forces that stepped in to save the security of his games. Well played, your lordship :ok:

Everything else he said about the volunteers and the athletes and the people that managed to get tickets and the people that organized it, BZ.

So I shall say it for him. Thank you all of you for your good humoured professionalism. And I'm sorry your summer leave was buggered up and I'm even more sorry that you weren't publicly recognized at the end of the whole show.

With you all the way,

Courtney

Thank god, two weeks of hell over, where the only news on the BBC, including BBC News 24, was the Olympics. Did we win anything ;)

Bertie, did you go in the end and how was it?

Winning or losing isn't important...

...as long as we beat the French.

First of all my own opinion, it was an amazing couple of weeks that lifted the spirits of most people in the country and got such things as 0% annual growth predictions from the Bank Of England, Eurozone crises and whinging politicians off the headlines for a short while and made the nation feel good about itself again.

For those who wish to debate whether or not it was "worth it" in monetary terms, there are presumably several questions to answer:

1) What were the actual costs, apparent and hidden?

2) Where did that money actually come from (i.e. direct government money vs lottery funding, sponsorship input, sports funding, etc). So how much did the taxpayer actually contribute?

3) What are the financial immediate and long term benefits, and costs, to the country?


For those who consider it a waste of money, fine you're entitled to your opinion. Kindly lobby your MP as vociferously about the vast amounts of money the government wastes each year on the EU gravy train, various aspects of the welfare budget, etc to name but two. I would suggest that if you are sincere about saving taxpayers money there are far worst examples that happen year upon year, as opposed to once every 50+ years.

From my point of view I consider most of the money (G4S aside) was well spent.

...and the Germans. ;) ...and the Australians. :E

Ahh, but MG, france will always be, and has ever been, our natural foe.

Yes, but at least the Aussies can't hide behind the language barrier when we gloat!

Not that we'd do that, after all we're British! :E

Yes, but at least the Aussies can't hide behind the language barrier when we gloat!

Not that we'd do that, after all we're British!



Yep, not that you would do that.

After commenting on how well the Olympics were run
and how well Team GB did, the next biggest sport
over the last 3 weeks was reminding Australia about it !!! LOL:O

I was talking to a Welsh mate about the closing ceremony, and he said:

"If I wanted to see five inappropriately dressed middle-aged women, climbing on top of taxis and screeching, I could have gone to Cardiff on any Saturday night!" ;)

Hear Hear. Its just a pity that in the BBC's highlights program covering the final athletes' victory parade, they showed the flypast by Brit Airways and the Reds but left out the aircraft that had been doing all the work by keeping London safe for many weeks. Typical BBC really.....

On the subject of beating the Aussies, I heard that they are changing their national sport colours to "Green and Silver"!:E