Do We Really Need Two Separate 'heroes' Victory Celebrations?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3749624/A-parade-fit-Britain-s-Olympic-heroes-PM-orders-victory-celebration-despite-financial-concerns-turf-wars.html

Hasn't enough money been thrown at this two week event already?

£347m of lottery money has been spent on the event and they say that each medal that has been won cost £5.5m of public spending.

Most of these minority interest events create attention for only 2 weeks every 4 years how many of us rush out every week to watch little pole vaulting for example?

[Gromit]

whiskeryron
The National Health Service should be funded by the Government, not a levy on gambling.
The lottery fund is set aside for projects the Government do not fund.

[New Judge]

"...look at the regeneration of London's Olympic site, fantastic area for everyone to enjoy. "

Everyone who lives in East London, you mean? Arguably, if you're prepared to spend half a day getting there, everyone who lives in London (which seven out of eight people in the UK don't).

[whiskeryron]

I still think that a great deal of Lottery money could help the NHS

[Prudie]

Gromit is dead right

[New Judge]

And, incredible as it is (!) I too agree with Gromit.

[Gromit]

New Judge,
And I agree with you on your not toffs rowing argument.

[sp1814]

AOG

You wrote:

No the Olympics are mainly for a chosen few, I would have thought that such events would be completely against Leftist's ideals?

Of course the Olympics are for the chosen few.

At the top of anything...sport, acting, music or whatever - you will have the chosen few.

However, there are literally millions of people who get enjoyment out of watching sport.

Also the debate about class is really strange. Yes, there are events where you need to come from a pretty comfortable background (sailing, equestrian), but you can excel at athletics, badminton, diving, cycling, hockey, gymnastics, judo, modern pentathlon, swimming, taekwondo, weight lifting and the triathlon without large amounts of money.

[mushroom25]

east london looks rather better now than it did in the 1990s; nevertheless it could be argued that the real winners would appear to be west ham united and messrs westfield, whose 3rd-largest-in-the-eu shopping centre is rapidly seeing off all the remaining local traders.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// AOG
You are a self proclaimed 'old git'.
So I don't see how you can take offence at curmudgeon? ///

How many times have you called yourself 'an idiot' on certain occasions, when perhaps you have done something rather silly? But that is entirely different to someone else calling you an idiot.

Regarding my username, but then you must already know this since I have explained this on a number of occasions, but for the interest of others.

At the time of me joining AnswerBank there was a programme on TV on which a few elderly celebrities would come together and debate news items, they called themselves "The Old Gits", so seeing we did much the same on this site I called myself anothe(r)oldgit leaving out the letter "R" since at that time one's username was only allowed to contain 12 letters.

But as time went on this site became less friendly than it was at that time, and other ABers started to use my username in a less friendly and in a more insulting way, so when the chance came for us to change our usernames I applied but for some reason I was denied the opportunity.

[Bazile]

New Judge.
Are you the first toff in your family then

[Gromit]

mushroom25

// the real winners appear to be West Ham United //

They certainly are.

A tale of Two Stadiums

City of Manchester: Cost £134million. Annual rent from MCFC £3 million.
London Olympic Stadium : Cost £486million. Rent From WHUFC £2.5 million.

[mushroom25]

......not to mention the windfall from the sale of upton park - no figures were ever disclosed but it's believed the sale made the club £70m.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// However, there are literally millions of people who get enjoyment out of watching sport. ///

Yes mainly Soccer, Rugby and Cricket.

But how many 'Millions' get to watch Fencing, Shooting, Horse Dressage, Gymnastics, Diving, Archery, Beach Volley Ball, Rhythmic Gymnastics and table tennis for example.

Except for a period of 16 days every 4 years?

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Not really true fans of these kind of sports are they if they don't take the trouble of getting off their sofas and picking out a venue where these particular sports take place much more often than every 4 years?

[weecalf]

Bet the guy that run from where ever to where ever thousands of years ago wishes he had took the bus ,or used his bmx bike .will doctors be on soon I miss that place would not want a live in leather bridge but like Mrs Tamby

[Mamyalynne]

I think the parades are a superb idea and well deserved, I have no objections to Lottery funding being used in this way.

It also funds lots of other projects.

The feel good factor (in many places if not here) has been tremendous and has no doubt inspired some of our youngsters too which can only be a good thing.

[sp1814]

AOG

Millions of people watch athletics events year in year out.

The niche events are just that - niche. They will have fewer viewers, because relatively few people take part in those events.

I don't know what point you're trying to make.

[mikey4444]

AOG...is bloody such a dreadful swearword ?

This is a time when we should be celebrating some extraordinary British achievements, not moaning......Come on....Lighten up a little !