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Why are we so anti Olympics?

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d9f1c7 | 11:59 Wed 25th Apr 2012 | Society & Culture
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Are we unique among host nations for sla66ing the event off? I see nothing but negative b1tching on here. Did China, Australia, Spain, Greece etc all have a vast batch of naysayers or is Britain unique in this 0rgy of self loathing? It's like we must find something to sl4g off, even the perfectly reasonable logo gets its share of bile, I just can't fathom it!
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It sounds as if the rest of the country outside London is going into a big sulk and half of Londoners into a fug of resentment until the games are over. Ludwig is right - we'd win a GM for moaning.
I'm not particularly interested in them but for goodness sake stop with the moaning and at least try to enjoy and wish everyone who has worked so hard to bring them about success for this country's sake. Except for Seb C who I agree is smug and annoying.
I am a big fan of the Olympics.
I also dislike the logo but that's just my personal taste.
As noted elsewhere, all counties have people who moan but we probably just hear more about our moaning :-)
I can understand why people think too much taxpayers' money's being spent on them, but then again ask anyone if they think the amount of money being spent on X is too high and a fair percentage wil always say "yes" regardless.
I'm not interested in going to any of the events.
I don't think the ticket sales were a fiasco. But the system struggled to cope with the extraordinary demand, and the extraordinary demand tells us that there are millions of people who ARE caught up in the excitement and anticipation.
I think that when the games start that number will probably increase.
There are downsides to everything, but on balance I reckon there are more upsides to the London Olympics.
As for Seb Coe being "up himself", well although I'm not his number one fan I think he's actually got off his a**e and made a huge effort to promote London and the UK and to try to build a legacy for the future - hopefully one that's not just "shopping and getting ever fatter and more cynical".
So I think that choice of words to describe him is unfortunate to say the least.
I don't think the ticket sales were a fiasco.[i

Well generating [i]extraordinary demand] that you have no hope of satisfying and doing so in a way that leaves people not only disappointed but also unsure of who has got all the tickets is a great way to p*ss of millions of people[i who WERE [i]caught up in the excitement and anticipation]
You can't please everyone. Naturally a lot of people will be fed up not to have been successful, which is understandable.
I think it's better to have a system, for all its faults, which allows anyone to apply, rather than one where corporates and agencies buy up the majority. And I suspect the system was caught out by the demand, which may have been even higher than expected. So issues there certainly, and questions to be asked about the pricing (tho' we always say that and nothing ever seems to be done about it*). But a fiasco? I think not.

UEFA have done a survey for Euro 2012 asking people if the ticket prices were too high. A pity they couldn't have done that BEFORE they sold the tickets lol
lets face it... after china, it's going to be Sugar. we don't have billions to spend, nor have thousands of slaves to whip the opening ceremony into shape. the logo is crap - it looks like a gcse student came up with it and the games are only ever going to be for the rich to attend anyway. i can't afford tickets, i can't afford travel and am not even allowed to have time off from work (from the nhs). it's not going to be a 'lifelong investment' - most venues are temporary, works will be completed and thousands back on the dole. stadia will rot...as in australia and greece and when we do finish paying for it (at god knows how many times the price) it's how many times over 'budget'? boris jonson has been involved in decision making, for heaven's sake - and it shows. look at the logo and the disgusting pink uniforms of the volunteers. the whole thing makes me want to vomit.
I haven't read all the preceding posts, but for me it is very simple.

1 - I don't understand how the original budget 7 short years ago was £2.5bn, and then by 2007 had increased to £9bn and is now (I understand) £12bn.

Either we were lied to orignally about how much it would cost or there has been incompetence on a breathtaking scale.

2 - the money could be better spent elsewhere.

3 - I couldn't care less about the myriad of minority sports on offer.

4 - I couldn't care less which African wins the 10,000 metres.

5 - It is a massive vanity project for the likes of Seb Coe.

6 - I find it boring.
while i have no interest in sports - i am in fact not anti-olympics. it is a tournament of goodwill between the nations of the world
most venues are temporary, most sports are temporary, most sportsmen are temporary ---- unfortunately, the debt will be permanent! Olympics - no,no,no & never!!!
re flip flop's 6 points

1. what is the truth. what do the tv rights/sposorships/tourism/ticket sales add up to? what is the net cost
2. depends on 1. above
3. and 4. me neither but it might be fun watching it
5. true
6. let's see if we get caught up in it - which will be hard for the majority who won't have the opportunity to do anymore than they could for other olympics ie watch on tv

i think weather will be a big factor in deciding whether it's a 'feel good' or a 'feel bad' games.
Re: my points 1 and 2 - I agree Zeuhl, the cost benefit, once all the dust has settled, may exceed the cost of staging the games, but I would genuinely like to know how £2.5bn managed to increase to £12bn in 7 years.

As a rule I'm not a person who thinks we are routinely lied to, but in this instance I can't help thinking we were.
Good point flip

but here's a question ...

can you think of any government projects where the end cost didn't outrageously exceed initial estimates?

Not sure I can
-- answer removed --
It's so the Luvvies can join in with the Jocks
I love the Olympics..Can't wait :-)

Don't like our competitors being called "Team GB" though..That irritates me!
Davethedog - I think the jobs created far far outweighed the jobs/businesses that were relotaced (and compensated) and the area is a different planet to what it was. I don't kmno what Londoners were asked - certainly no-one I have asked. (and that is a large number, I live and work in London and have been asking all day with no-one replying in the affirmative). Indeed everyone I know and work with are looking forward to the whole spectacle. Now I know it's not everyones cup of tea and I respect that but I do think people need to acknowledge the vast amount of work that has been put in and realise this is a once in a lifetime event and there are and will be great benefits to the local community. That's not to mention the revenue the games will generate.

Hesseltine's folly of course, brains in a time warp!!!
//I'm not particularly interested in them but for goodness sake stop with the moaning and at least try to enjoy and wish everyone who has worked so hard to bring them about success for this country's sake.//

^^ I agree with Ladybirder 100%. It's happening - get over it. I wish the games well.
I would agree with you Naomi if it wasn't for th huge waste of public money....
I'm not anti Olympics I'm just not interested in them
We don't know that yet woofgang. Let's wait and see, although I'm sure there will be plenty of people happy if they are proved right.
Woofgang, even if it is a huge waste of public money, moaning isn’t going to change anything and it certaining isn't going to stop it happening.

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