Would you press the ‘cancel the Olympics’ button?

MothballsWallet

It's too late now to cancel it.

If it doesn't meet the expectations on visitor numbers and income, then I think Lord Coe should dig into his pockets (along with his mates in LOCOG) and pay every household outside London £250k tax free as an apology, and then go and enjoy his retirement away from the media.

fatbelly

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I've been a life long track and field fan. So am always excited about the Olympics, but getting to go is a dream. So I'm a true C in the poll.

Me too. It's partly a number thing isn't it? Plus I think you grew up in a great era for UK athletics.

coshboy

I'm looking forward to it! And the opening ceremony, from what people have been saying about the rehearsal it sounds like it's going to be something to remember!

irishjohn

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I've been a life long track and field fan. So am always excited about the Olympics, but getting to go is a dream. So I'm a true C in the poll.

We're planning to run this again in the week after the Olympics, to see if the result changes

Me too - another true C - I can remember watching Mary Peters get her gold medal in 1972 and feeling very proud she was from my part of the world.

A month before those Olympics on one day in Belfast 20 bombs exploded with little warning and many were killed or injured. At the Munich Olympics in 1972 many athletes were murdered in a terrorist attack. The modern Olympics aim to bring the world together in a spirit of competition, and hopefully will mean more to us than the divisions. I for one will be a proud Team GB supporter, even though I may moan about lots of dull stuff being televised. And I could moan about the name for our team seeming to exclude Northern Ireland as we are not part of GB - but what good would moaning do us - lets be proud of something for a change!!

d-b_2

The thing is any country hosting the Olympics will have financial losses and disruption, so if the Olympics are to continue at all it's right that we share these. And they've got to be good for international relations, especially so that people from non-democratic nations get a feel of another way of doing things. Just so long as we Brits are fair to all sportspersons like the Aussies were, not just out to win for ourselves. And with the army involved more in security we'll do OK. OK

stevemcol

I'm with d-b. The Olympics are very important internationally so we should play our part. The press will always search for the negative angles and I try and filter through all that. Lets hope it's a brialliant games, with no hitches and we do ourselves proud.

Ingress

I am sick of all the negative press about the Olympics. What about the fact that all the venues are up and running in time, the park looks wonderful. I am a volunteer and will be working at Greenwich and am proud to be doing so. I saw the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony on Monday night and it was amazing. Even if you are not a sports fan watch your TV on Friday night - makes you proud to be British!

winchpuller

I would have voted for Paris to get the Olympics, as it was perfectly clear from the start that Prudence Brown had got his sums wrong (again). The total cost is going to be horrendous, but then the Olympics has, for many years, been about money, not sport. Letting professional athletes compete confirms this. Official corrupt selling of complimentary tickets confirms this. Rip-off prices in London confirms this. Highly questionable sponsorship deals and advertising contracts confirm this.

I take great pleasure from participating in a number of sporting activities, but have absolutely no desire to make them competitive. My 'sports' are pleasant past-times, and I pay my own way. Why can't the Olympic athletes do likewise?

stevemcol

winchpuller wrote: »

My 'sports' are pleasant past-times, and I pay my own way. Why can't the Olympic athletes do likewise?

Olympic athletes devote every waking minute to excellence in their discipline. Because their 'thing' happens to be athletics, why should they not be remunerated? Should all sportsmen be amateurs? Footballers, F1 drivers?
Perhaps bankers should only work for competitive glory?

morg_monster

I really want all the moaners to shut up for the next 2 weeks. They have had 7 years to moan and whinge about it and boy have they. I am hearing people on my train into London every day STILL moaning about it this week. Get over it, it's happening. You can start moaning again when it's all over. Just accept that some of us are really excited about it and want to see London and GB as a whole put on a really good show. Please just give us TWO WEEKS to enjoy it without you all being total killjoys!! Is that too much to ask?!