Olympics

[Maranello]

I think another large factor has always been the poor Human Rights records exhibited by China.

That is what I have just said - some countries, in particular the US, try to use China's human rights record as geo-political tool. It has absolutely nothing to do with human rights or with concern for humanity; if that was the case, the US and its allies would not do most of the reprehensible things they routinely do, and would not support and sanction human rights abuses the world over, when it suits their geo-political and economic interests.

[Maranello]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4655555.stm

Rivals London and Paris are waiting to find out which city has won the race to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

The other contenders - Moscow, New York and Madrid - were eliminated in the first three rounds by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

[Maranello]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/07...ics/index.html

London will host the 2012 Summer Games, members of the International Olympic Committee have decided.

[greg]

Zinedine Zidane,Jacques Chirac,Vanessa Paradis,Thierry Henry your boys took a hell of a beating.

[Kirsty Harris]

Smashing!!!!

Seb Coe is a total legend - it's him that has made the difference here!!

[Lemming]

Well that's all we need!

It's just hassle! Now London is under pressure to host the biggest and best Olympics ever and it's just going to one big amount of trouble. Now, I suppose all I'm going to hear about for the next seven years is the London Olympics.

One good thing to come out of this is that we have beaten the French who thought they had it in the bag. It's wiped the smile off the face of Chirac, the smug idiot!

[Milo]

A stroke of genius sacking the American woman and getting Coe to step up to the mark. I must admit I saw him this morning and he did put on a good show. Lord Coe for PM (relinquishing his title of course and returning to the House of commons). And of course, Beckham talking about the games coming to his manor must have confused people and put the Kibbosh on Madrid's bid at the same time.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Lemming

It's just hassle! Now London is under pressure to host the biggest and best Olympics ever and it's just going to one big amount of trouble. Now, I suppose all I'm going to hear about for the next seven years is the London Olympics.

Don't be such a sour puss, Lemming - you never know if England win the Ashes, they might have Ashley Giles lighting the Olympic flame in 2012, and that would be a sight worth seeing

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Milo

A stroke of genius sacking the American woman and getting Coe to step up to the mark.

Agreed. Cassani was just not up to the job; running a low-cost airline is quite different to persuading and negotiating on a global scale.

Originally Posted by Milo

Lord Coe for PM (relinquishing his title of course and returning to the House of commons).

Well he was poor Hague's Chief of Staff (and Judo partner) and fat lot of good it did either of them! Maybe that's what the Tories need - Coe as Leader, Hague as his Chancellor - a tempting combination indeed.

[Lemming]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

...you never know if England win the Ashes, they might have Ashley Giles lighting the Olympic flame in 2012, and that would be a sight worth seeing

Hey yeah! Never thought of it like that. I can imagine Gilo doing that right now! What a man! What a man!

I'm not being a sour puss, but it is a big hassle hosting an Olympics. Each time the opening and closing ceremonies have to be the best ever, as well as the Olympics as a whole.

It is nice though to see this country showing that we can stage a Olympics and I am looking forward to seeing it. It most likely will be the best Olympics ever, a world spectacle. My problem has only ever been it's the amount of money that has to be spent and the amount of logistics involved in what is no longer just a sport thing, but a statement thing! Luckily, for me, I don't live in London and won't have to see the complications.
Plus, I don't think I'll be trying to get a £200 ticket to any of the events. Doubt there'll even be a seat for the common people after Beckham and his mates have been given all the tickets. I'm afraid that such large tournaments are no longer going to accessible to the masses, but only to the people who are well-off!

One positive thing to come out of this is undoubtedly the new sporting facilities which shall be used. That's if they will be allowed to be used after the games has finished.