Olympics

[Paoli]

Well, aren't all french people either that or arrogant ********s?

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Well, aren't all french people either that or arrogant ********s?

Coming from an Aussie, that is rich!

[Maranello]

Some snippets from the London (oh okay, the British) press about our bid:

Tim Hames
A cynic recants — London can beat those Frenchies at their little game
(link)

And Stratford’s alleged anonymity is in many ways its secret asset. This part of London is close to a blank canvass. It would be renewed by the arrival of the Games in a manner that no section of any city selected to organise the Olympics in the past century has been. A brief glance at the blueprint prepared by Lord Coe and his team should be enough to ward off the sniping of the critics. This is a fundamentally viable, even visionary, plan that would transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

The only issue then is whether the IOC has the imagination to acknowledge what is in front of it. Paris has been the favourite from the start but London is catching her. Atlanta overtook Athens at the last to seize the 1996 nomination and Sydney pipped Beijing at the post in an unexpected triumph four years later.

London can do it and London should do it because, above all else, London would do it better.

David Aaronovitch
If the IOC voters are tired of vibrant London, they must be tired of life
(link)

Compared with Paris, London is now a youthful city. Compare the sedate Seine with the playful Thames. If France worries about Polish plumbers, London welcomes them, and they know it — them and Estonian electricians, Latvian lap dancers, Bulgarian bus drivers and Moldovan mime artists.

You name the language, the nationality of the Olympic team, and we will find them someone to talk to in their own language, to take them to a café or restaurant, to show them the sights.

As one of her friends told the BBC correspondent in Paris, Caroline Wyatt: “Paris? Yes, it’s beautiful. But it’s a museum, or maybe a mausoleum. It hasn’t changed in years. I prefer London. It’s dynamic and it’s vibrant.”

This is the truth. London, on the way up, has passed Paris on its way down. London is the city for the young, for the traveller, for the lover of experience. And it’s beginning to dawn on us all just what a great place it is. If you were to retake the Olympic poll, now my guess is that support for the bid would be in the 80s.

Richard Morrison
The real reason I'm backing this costly sporting jamboree
(link)

Most of all, it was about showing the world (and, more importantly, ourselves) that 21st-century Britain is a confident, “can do, will happen” place — not the withered, washed-up pip of a dead imperial power that it seemed to be for most of the 20th century. And let’s not have any more nonsense from the regions about the bid being “only of value to London”. The reality is that if London is no longer perceived as the sort of powerhouse city that is capable of hosting something as vast as the Games, Britain is finished as a global economic force.

[...]

On the other hand, it’s never unpleasant to beat the French. Particularly in a race they are so smugly confident of winning.

[R W S]

A most excellent post !!

I'm off to Trafalgar Square tomorrow to join in the clebrations/comiserations party at midday - announcement due at 12:45 BST.

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[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Well, aren't all french people either that or arrogant ********s?

Many Frech people I've come across have shown these characteristics, Paoli. With my more diplomatic hat on, I'll call it 'differences in culture'. Of course, I have come across Frech people who are lovely, kind, helpful people. But they've been far outweighed by the temperamental w*****s. Any decent French people reading this, sorry. It's not your fault your countrymen let you down.

Mr Jenkins, don't you reside in France? What's the expert's take on the Gallic folk?

[Kirsty Harris]

I think it would be totally amazing if London got the Olympic games in 2012!!

We have seen this weekend that London is capable of running several big events at once: Gay Pride, Live8, Wimbledon and the Natwest Series final. All with no problems at all!!

I think people in England not in favour of it are a miserable bunch - it would be amazing to see the worlds greatest sportsmen in this country, imagine the boost for UK sport - all the new facilitity's that will be put in place.

I know Paris are the favorites, but the general feeling seems to be that the Londong bid has the momentum at the moment - rather like Seb Coe in the 1,500 metres final against Steve Ovett in 1980!!!

I also think Coe has done a first rate job, taking us from no-hopers to being in with a real chance of snatching the game from under the nose of the French.

[Mongoose]

I'd like to see us win it just to rub Chirac's nose in the dirt. The sooner that man is off the international stage, the better. 'Ave it, Tony!

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'm not that fussed either way (although it would be one in the eye for chirac) I have to agree Seb coe, who I previoulsy disliked, has done a very proffessional job.

[King Aragorn]

Holding the Olympics is thought by most to be economically viable but I came across an article in The Economist some 2/3 months ago in which the editor made the point that holding the Olympics wouldn't really benefit the British economy. The statement made was on the lines, "Do London a favour: give the Olympics to Paris ."

Did anyone else come across such a piece? Unfortuantely, I can't remember at all why the editor thought on these lines. Maybe our resident economists can help us? Although Maranello seems to be very much in favour of London getting the vote.

[Lemming]

Let the French have the trouble. It would be nice to have the Olympics in England but it's sooooo much hassle, let other fools host it. The quicker Paris gets the vote tomorrow, the quicker we can all forget about it and get on with our lives!

In my opinion the only city in this country capable of hosting a successful Olympic games is Lichfield.