Comments | juanfandango: Why I am underwhelmed at the Olympics

juanfandango

Why I am underwhelmed at the Olympics

Jul 06, 2005 13:15

London has "won" the Olympic games for 2012. Hip, hip...ugnnngh ( Read more... )

Comments 20

bexfiles July 6 2005, 12:44:27 UTC

To be honest my 'Go London' was a pretty half-hearted acknowledgement as I have no plans at all to be UK-living by 2012 and I agree about the waste and the ID card argument. But many Londoners I know so actually seem fairly in favour of it all. And there's so much waste going on, I'm not sure wasting it on this isn't just as valid as half the other things it gets wasted on. Plus, it may mean London transport is seriously overhauled as is needed.

Do as we do, plan to leave! (but not to the US which is even worse in terms of waste, uncaring governments, etc etc)!

yarnaddict July 6 2005, 16:51:18 UTC

Do as we do, plan to leave! (but not to the US which is even worse in terms of waste, uncaring governments, etc etc)!

Hear hear! says this United Statesian who is currenly working on immigration to Canada.

To be fair, I'm Californian, so public transit is a joke and local government even moreso. Though we do have some of the best Domestic Partnership laws in the country, and Californians generally tend to be fairly environmentally aware.

On the other hand, speaking of government corruption, waste and uncaring government, we're also home to the big "energy crisis" of a few years ago.

verdandiweaves July 6 2005, 12:54:48 UTC

I'm glad I'm more than likely to be living at Scotland during this. We're having our taste of fuss at present, and I can only imagine the Olympics (while less likely to attract protestors) will be heavily policed.

So, anyway, any idea how I apply to get on the Olympic voting team?

juanfandango July 6 2005, 13:18:45 UTC

I think you have to be either a famous past Olympian, European royalty, or both.

captain_boots July 6 2005, 16:39:43 UTC

I think most people are excited about it because you beat the French. ;) (I'm sure I'm not the first to say that)

I always have hopes that this kind of thing will be planned and result in better transportation and more parks and other such lovely things, but I know what I expect is far different from what I hope.

I love this quote from a person in New YOrk City: "Economically, we'd have a brand new stadium and a lot of people will come to visit."

"A" Stadium? I don't think they really have a clue whatsoever of the construction pains and just how many 'a lot' is. :)

juanfandango July 6 2005, 17:48:14 UTC

Heh. "A lot" in that context is "enough to make all the businessmen happy, but not enough to disturb my daily life". :-)

Well, I'm excited! copperbird July 6 2005, 16:50:13 UTC

I don't think it has to be doom and gloom. Sure, the bid process is huge and wasteful, no arguments there -- but that already happened ( ... )

Re: Well, I'm excited! juanfandango July 6 2005, 18:33:13 UTC

Just because it's a fait accompli doesn't mean that one shouldn't register one's protest ( ... )

Re: Well, I'm excited! copperbird July 7 2005, 04:43:28 UTC

I do think it's a huge opportunity. What they make of it ... we'll have to see. I'm hopeful, but maybe you are more realistic.

One of the images I will treasure from the last olympics though was the newspaper headlines when Amir Khan was boxing for the medals. I think he single-handedly did more for muslim/non-muslim relations in this country than any amount of well-meaning councils of elders and political shenanigans. Everyone was behind him.

Maybe we all could do with some more of that spirit. Anyway, I'm still excited :)

podling July 6 2005, 17:16:07 UTC

Personally, I'm very glad that London got it, because my life will be less inconvenienced. But then I'm mean. :p

d2leddy July 6 2005, 19:21:57 UTC

Good point. I hadn't thought of that one.

juanfandango July 6 2005, 20:09:00 UTC

She is a fiend, yes.