The opening ceremony will be a farce. Four maypoles for each country FGS. And animal rights are up in arms about the use of real farm animals - cows, sheep and ducks - to say nothing of a sheepdog. Then there is the cricket match - fantasy of English countryside? Well yes - a scene that can be witnessed almost every weekend (barring the rain) in many country villages. And where is any reference to British maritime history? Ah yes - artificially induced rain clouds. Then whole scenario is changed to show dark satanic mills, polluted land, and the wholesale rape of the countryside - all for monetary greed; with just one hospital bed and a few 'real' nurses to depict the NHS failing to cope with the myriad of cases of industrial diseases. WTF has any of this got to do with sport? ===== As a pensioner living in London I am already sick of the Olympics having been well-excluded from it all from day 1. I am sick of all the monetary greed, commercialism and sponsorship deals to the exclusion of the general public. I am sick of being priced out of even thinking of trying to get a ticket for any event. I am appalled at the placing of guided missiles on top of residential blocks of flats without any consultation with residents. I am appalled that Central London will be carved up by Russian-stle 'zil lanes' from which ambulances, taxis and cyclists will be banned. I am appalled at the promises made to new born children a few years ago that they could attend the opening ceremony for free, only to have this offer cancelled. I am truly shocked that executives of sponsoring megacorps have pushed out local folk and young people to take priority in carrying the torch. I am truly shocked that all food and drinks (non-alcoholic) or liquids will be banned from being taken into any of the venues including medical needs, mother's milk and formula for infants. I am shocked that most of the souvenirs have reportedly been made in the sweat shops of China and have not been made in the UK - as was originally promised. I am shocked that those small businesses compulsorily closed down and/ or forced to move out of the Olympic park area have (allegedly) still not been properly compensated. I am horrified that the opening ceremony will cost £18 million - enough to build and equip many hospitals and schools. etc., etc. And the song? The mind boggles - its cr*p. ===== And now they've dropped the greatest current ambassador for UK sport - Beckham.
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