This was taken last October on my trip to London with my friend who was visiting from Canada. Nottingham is actually 2 hours by train and 122 miles north of London
I'm hearing some mixed reviews coming out of London by the natives as to how disruptive the Olympics will be without any real benefit to the city. What's the general feeling on the ground where you are about the Games?
Every Games has issues, for London it is the impending threatened industrial action and the bemoaning of people of the cost of the Games. My opinion is not the same as some but these Games is an event for my country to be proud of. The day of the announcement London was overjoyed to win the chance to host the event; many things have happened in the last 7 years that has changed the minds of some.
The industrial action is from very well paid train drivers who want extra money during the Games for overtime but the train drivers are always threatening industrial action over pay. It is just despicable that they threaten an event that is about coming together, friendship, sport and wellbeing. Holding the country to ransom because of a major cultural and sporting event is very wrong and I am not the only one who thinks so. Had this event been the World Cup then it would be very different matter because everyone would be all excited.
Ok so the economic climate is bad and we have our issues with government cuts and stuff but the people forget that the National Lottery has funded these Games and paid for the regeneration of the East Ham area as well as the stadia. This is money that was gambled away years ago. However the project was completed under budget and early to boot.
Regardless of that there are millions who have lined the streets and locations for the torch relay and joined in the events en-route with excitement and happiness.
Nottingham itself went ballistic in excitement. Even though we are only 120 miles from London a couple of hours travel our streets were heaving with people wanting a glance of the torch as it passed by.
Our market square which is the second largest in the country next to Trafalgar Square in London at 22000 sq metres that’s 236808 sq feet was packed solid with revellers to greet the arrival of the torch, but then again Nottingham has a few of its citizens actually competing in the games. (Canoe and swimming)
One of the British peoples favourite past time is to moan about something or other. We have fun doing it.
Glad to know the outside perception is different from those who live there! (Though I do think the bans on using any Games related terminology, such as 'Summer' and 'Gold' is a bit ridiculous. And McDonald's getting exclusive rights to sell french fries. I know without the corporate money, the Games wouldn't be possible, but I'm going to cringe the day I see something advertised as the "McDonald's 100 meter sprint" :-)
All that rubbish is ridiculous and way too over the top but its the IOC stuff about branding and wotnot and some stupid Euro rules regarding branding
NO matter what the terminology will still be used.
We are getting 24 new channels on my satillite company just for games coverage unfortunately I dont know if that includes coverage of the para-olympics also. When we have the Commonwealth Games both are combined together
yeah, unfortunately the events I am the most interesting in (eventing and dressage) usually only get a nanosecond of air time on the broadcast channels. If it weren't for the BF's cable and the ability to TiVo stuff, I'd miss it all. :-(
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2012-07-23 06:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 08:33 am (UTC)The industrial action is from very well paid train drivers who want extra money during the Games for overtime but the train drivers are always threatening industrial action over pay. It is just despicable that they threaten an event that is about coming together, friendship, sport and wellbeing. Holding the country to ransom because of a major cultural and sporting event is very wrong and I am not the only one who thinks so. Had this event been the World Cup then it would be very different matter because everyone would be all excited.
Ok so the economic climate is bad and we have our issues with government cuts and stuff but the people forget that the National Lottery has funded these Games and paid for the regeneration of the East Ham area as well as the stadia. This is money that was gambled away years ago. However the project was completed under budget and early to boot.
Regardless of that there are millions who have lined the streets and locations for the torch relay and joined in the events en-route with excitement and happiness.
Nottingham itself went ballistic in excitement. Even though we are only 120 miles from London a couple of hours travel our streets were heaving with people wanting a glance of the torch as it passed by.
Our market square which is the second largest in the country next to Trafalgar Square in London at 22000 sq metres that’s 236808 sq feet was packed solid with revellers to greet the arrival of the torch, but then again Nottingham has a few of its citizens actually competing in the games. (Canoe and swimming)
One of the British peoples favourite past time is to moan about something or other. We have fun doing it.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 12:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 01:37 pm (UTC)NO matter what the terminology will still be used.
We are getting 24 new channels on my satillite company just for games coverage unfortunately I dont know if that includes coverage of the para-olympics also. When we have the Commonwealth Games both are combined together
no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-23 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-23 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-23 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 08:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 03:04 pm (UTC)