Why do we hate the Olympics?

[R1Geezer]

http://www.theanswerb...t/Question897418.html
Just one example of the rabid vitriol spouted about 2012. Any other nation would be delighted but not us oh no. It'll probably make a profit anyway as has every games since 1984 but that doesn't stop the gutless, "price of everything, value of nothing" sh1tbags having go at every opportunity. What are they worried about? running out of snout and white lightening for workshy scum?

[jno]

beats me, I wish them well. I'm still in some doubt about the mascots but maybe they'll grow on me.

[anotheoldgit]

The money, it would have died out years ago, if it was sill an amateur athletics contest.

[ludwig]

I like the mascots.

[lesblue]

I love The Olympics. Prefer it to the football World Cup too. I can't wait for 2012 when I hope to be going to as many events as possible and cheering on "Team GB" (don't like that much, though). Cheering on Great Britain sounds much better!!

[bobtheturkey]

Britain goes mad when a cyclist wins a medal for going round and round a track while wearing a silly helmet

[cazzz1975]

I bet they payed a company thousands just to design the mascots

[R1Geezer]

yes bob and we give a cup for 22 blokes kicking a pigs bladder round a field! Any sport can be ridiculed by that method.

[R1Geezer]

paid Cazz, paid!

[Seadragon]

I think the mascots are pretty cool although I wish they had a smile - mouth at that! The names Wenlock and Mandeville are meant to be symbolic and they can be customised to other characters (Times).

[Ankou]

the design work cost about £400k.

i think they are quite cool. better than neve and giz

[craft1948]

I'm all for us having the Olympics but doubt that a lot of ordinary people (especially those living outside London) will be able to afford the tickets or hotel costs........I would love to be proved wrong.

[cazzz1975]

sorry geezer, knew it looked wrong when I pressed submit. Im obviously tired.

[woofgang]

the Olympics are (is?) dull. Football is boring to the point of comatososity.
next question

[Ankou]

if its a choice between watching big brother or olympics, i'd rather poke me eyes out with a rusty nail

world cup is brilliant

[Dris]

Who knows-maybe cos it almost guarantees a Knighhood if you get over 3 golds an OBE if you get one gold and an MBE if you get silver or bronze-smacks of old school now IMO.

Get the kids off the street and if theyre talented at a given sport -the carrot dangling at the end is incentive enough.

At the same time the big boys are rubbing their hands with glee with their sponsorship (advertising) and their gong for 'charity' work -thats why people are cynical i suspect.

[youngmafbog]

R1. Problem this time round is tha noo labour have left us penniless.

[modeller]

Geezer why do you claim that every country staging the games since 84 have made a profit ? In fact the reverse is the case . What is more they continue to lose money for many years afterwards . Many of the Olympic venues built for the games are far too big to be used afterwards. Greece is one of the worst examples they spent 10 billion Euros and most of the buildings are now standing idle. Some say that it contributed to the collapse of their economy. According to the China news agency the only lasting sign of the games is masses of neon lights. The vast buildings are empty or barely used. Whilst there may be development of run down areas that is still an expense not a profit. http://www.npr.org/te...php?storyId=113351145 I coudn't find a web site that listed a country that had made a profit. Some may claim there are other advantages such as status and its a good advertisement for tourism but does it warrant spending billions ?.
Remember they first said it woud cost 4 billion then 9 then 12 and now ???

[New Judge]

I remember precisely where I was when it was announced that London had “won” (been saddled with would be more appropriate) the right to stage the games and I was absolutely gutted.

Most host cities that have staged the games in recent years have been saddled with enormous ongoing debts. The “legacy” that the organisers try to persuade London’s hapless taxpayers will ensue is a pipedream. Organisations monitoring the Games’ progress now have serious doubts that any substantial legacy will materialize. The main stadium is all but useless for anything other than an athletic stadium without major alterations and will never turn a profit.

The profligacy of the organisers knows no bounds. Greenwich Park is being ripped up just to stage the equestrian events and then returned to its former state although there are perfectly good world class facilities at Badminton and Hickstead.

East London will be a virtual no-go area for the duration in 2012. Apart from the “special lanes” for competitors and VIPs (of whom there will be plenty, including, no doubt, the usual sprinkling of “celebrities”) moving about by road will be virtually impossible. If the congestion does not stop you moving about “security” most certainly will. The hype, the press coverage and TV scheduling of the nonsense will be unbearable

Ken Livingstone made no bones about his support for the bid. He had no interest in sport whatsoever but saw the Games as simply a way to con the government into paying for the redevelopment of East London. If only he could have persuaded them just to do the redevelopment and forget the bid. It would have cost a lot less and caused far less hassle. Paris would have won the bid and anyone wanting to watch the events could pop over on Eurostar (from the newly developed Stratford International station).

[tamborine]

We're working hard down here, preparing for the 2012 water olympics....specially built lake, here

http://www.dorneylake.co.uk/