olympics - they should've listened to us

Subject: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Mo the caller
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:09 AM

I hear a whisper that the idylic English countryside is not as easy to recreate on the ground as on paper. How long do you imagine it would take to get animals On and Off.

Now Morris men are practised in such choreography.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:24 AM

Why am I even more convinced that The Olympics are going to be a total fiasco all round ?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Fidjit
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:36 AM

Well I am steering well clear of it all.

Chas.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:48 AM

Don't feel too bad. The UK setup so far is only at about double it's original budget. I think it was the canucks that went about 8X in the hole, and nobody has done it in recent history without an overrun at least near 2x the estimates.

I think the report was that LA got the tightwad prize for coming in close within the last few decades, but it was probably just 'cause they quite payin' for what they bought for it after they ran out of money. (Standard practice in CA(?))

John

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: stallion
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 08:04 AM

Why contracts cost more is that the clients brief to the architects is incomplete, the architects instructions are incomplete and the builders go in at cost knowing that the clients will get cained for all the bits they have missed out.The way forward is to thoroughly think out the project out and tell the builders to include for any glaring mistakes that the clients and architects have made because the sum quoted will be the sum paid. One contract I was involved with didn't ask to include in the price the cost of the switch gear, £15k, we included it because it was an obvious mistake, the firm that got the contract were £8k less than us, they then caned the client £24k for providing the switchgear. So over spends are largely due to general incompetence of highly paid professional and advisors as well as increases in costs between the pricing of the job and the commencement of the project.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 08:19 AM

Bugger Brown approved the budgets did he not?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 08:25 AM

no its not the money....its that sense of foreboding. Every English person knows it - you feel it every time theres a penalty shoot out, every time we enter a song for the Eurovision song contest, evry time the Duke of Edinburgh opens his mouth....

something inside you sinks....

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 09:10 AM

The opening event in bound to be so stage-managed to present to the world media how wonderfully organised the whole event is:

What is the betting that the opening speeches will not ioncluide an admission that transport workers had to be bribed otherwise getting to the event would be difficult - impossible?

What is the betting that the opening speeches will not include how the government has invoked anti-terrorism legislation in case someone publicly points out the incompetence of the organisers in or near the venues?

What is the betting the the opening speeches will not proudly announce how a month before the olympics the bus service providers brought London to its knees, and may do so twice more because TFL failed to come up with a satisfactory bribe?

What is the betting that the opening speeches will not proudly announce how the government is metaphorically defecating on care workers while giving inflation busting pay rises to transport workers because they have the power to embarrass the organisers?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 10:36 AM

well true! But a metaphorical defecation, isn't as bad as a paradoxical shit, in my experience....

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,Tootler
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:02 PM

Don't worry.

Our marvellous politicians have it all in hand and they know everything and will not let us down.


(Can't understand why my nose has got so long!)

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 05:33 AM

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.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 05:54 AM

And over 50% of workers at the Olly Park are foreigners (I wonder how many illegals are there?), so much for the promise to recruit out-of-work Brits.

It is horrifying that McD's has built the biggest fast-food fat-laden 'restaurant' in the Athlete's Village to imply to the gullible world that fitness and athletic success comes from eating their crapburgers.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Kampervan
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 06:33 AM

Now its not often that I quote from the Daily Mail , but the following seems to sum up why no-one believes a word that politicians say ...........

The Government yesterday issued a glowing report on the Olympics coming in under budget – despite the cost being almost four times the original estimate.
Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson said it was a 'significant achievement' that spending on the 2012 Games was expected to come in £476million under its £9.3billion budget.
But his boast was declared 'disingenuous' by critics, who pointed to the initial estimate of £2.4billion made by the Labour Government when London won the bid in 2005.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159050/London-2012-Olympics-just-6-4bn-budget.html#ixzz1zSYhfF00

But then no-one could think of a better way to spend £9.3 billion in the U.K. could they!!???

K/van

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 12:31 PM

The Olympics will cost you less than half what you've spent so far on the Iraq/Afghan Wars, which, all apologies to CJB, really have shocked, horrified, and appalled.

If it's an consolation, the least entertaining Olympic event is infinitely more satisfying than the accidental bombing of a wedding.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 01:12 PM

The Iraq & Afghan wars and the respective aftermaths are indeed obscene. The British public had no choice in those either. All was (and still is) a horrendous waste of money and lives.

But right now it is the Big Shen that is attracting front page news and not all is positive. When it comes to installing guided missiles on top of blocks of residential flats and not consulting the residents then something is very wrong.

But both the wars and the Olympics are really all about corporate greed.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 01:26 PM

my son has had to leave ireland because there is no work, the olympics will provide him with a couple of months work, so i am pleased that it is happening

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 01:36 PM

For details of the draconian security around the Olly Park, and also pictures of the wonderful and picturesque decaying buildings and demolition sites nearby see Monday, July 02, 2012 at:

http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk/

Saturday, June 30, 2012 has the following report:

The BBC news website published a shocking article yesterday entitled "Rubble and ruins by Olympic Park". They sent a reporter to circumnavigate the park with a camera, photographing the neighbourhoods that immediately encircle it. And they discovered many an "unlovely spot" amongst the "scenes of urban decay". How ghastly it might be for spectators arriving from abroad to see London like this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18625346

And the new dangleway is something else at:

Thursday, June 28, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012

CJB.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 01:57 PM

For myself, I'd rather have rockets aimed from my building than aimed at my building, but I am a bit of a traditionalist...as a former Philadelphian, I remember that, in preparing for the Republican National Convention in 2000, they did a facelift on the notorious Admiral Wilson Boulevard. It's abandoned warehouses and cheap motels were leveled, the hookers were chased away,and an elegant esplanade was created, which confuses and bewilders returning expatriates even to this very day.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: banjoman
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 05:12 AM

The second greatest non event of the year after the Jubilee celebrations.
The olympics were originally conceived as a means of getting waring factions to lay down their arms and to observe a truce. The modern olympics are far from that ideal. They have been cancelled because of wars, boycotted for political ideals and been the subject of terrorist attacks on more than one occasion.
Also - where are the morris dancers - surely they are part of any traditional english country scene??

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 06:34 AM

"Also - where are the morris dancers - surely they are part of any traditional english country scene?? "

Yes, that's what I was trying to say in the first post. We offered them Morris Dancers but they wanted chickens.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 08:47 AM

This in the name of sport??!!!!!

Anti-aircraft missiles to protect Olympics given go-ahead by ministers

03 July 2012

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/antiaircraft-missiles-to-protect-olympics-given-goahead-by-ministers-7906063.html

Ministers today gave the go-ahead for the use of six anti-aircraft missile sites to protect the Olympics.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has approved the deployment despite concerns from some local residents.

The Government will also robustly fight court action aimed at stopping the locating of missile units at key locations to guard the London Games against a terror attack.

The missile sites are on top of a block of flats in Bow, on Blackheath Common, the Lea Valley reservoir, Barn Hill in Epping Forest, Oxleas Meadow in Shooters Hill and in Waltham Forest.

The units will be armed with surface-to-air Starstreak or Rapier missiles.

The weapons travel at three times the speed of sound with a range of 3.4 miles.

David Cameron or other senior Cabinet ministers will have to decide whether to fire them if a plane is bearing down on the Olympic site.

The surface-to-air missiles are being deployed as the third tier of defence aimed at slower or smaller aircraft.

Fast jets stationed at RAF Northolt will also be scrambled to intercept other planes.

Helicopter-borne snipers and SAS special forces will be on standby to deal with a terror threat.

A total of 7,500 soldiers and naval officers will be deployed in London during the Games.

HMS Ocean will anchor in the Thames off Greenwich to serve as a floating base for more than 800 marines

A 1,000 strong unarmed "contingency force" will be on stand-by to help with searches and security surrounding the games venues.

More than 12,500 police officers will be on duty.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 09:35 AM

And what will the marines do in the event of an attack--airborne or otherwise?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: bill\sables
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 11:38 AM

I have said for years that the Olympics should be held in a purpose built Olympic region in Greece and every four years some country could sponser the event. It would be sure of good weather and they wouldn't have to carry the torch far. This would save on building expences in countries where they just can't afford it. If the Olympic organisation built such a place it would be of great help to the Greek ecconomy as well. And Winter Olympics could do the same in some region in Switzerland
Bill

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 11:45 AM

So what about non Europeans bill\sables? Or doesn't it matter if they never get to see them live?

Subject: 2012: Olympics wants musicians to play free
From: Genie
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 01:37 PM

I just found this yesterday:

London Olympics organizers' "policy" is to have musicians perform without compensation beyond "the publicity"

This is pretty outrageous. Everyone else gets paid. Plus, how much publicity or promotion do these musicians actually get by playing at the Olympics (except maybe for the one who sings/records the main theme song)?   Their names, websites, etc., are not highlighted, if they're mentioned at all, and they're not allowed to display promotional literature or sell CDs, etc.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 02:13 PM

I can't wait! Got my holidays done in June, just a bit of decorating to finish and then woooooo-hoo! - time to take up occupation of the armchair to watch it all on telly. Excellent! This is what retirement's for, BRING IT ON!!

Subject: Musicians asked to play at Olymics w/o pay
From: Genie
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 05:58 PM

Apparently, the London Olympics committee is setting up a special bandstand and inviting bands to play there, where they actually will get some publicity.   It seems to be sort of like a band competition in itself, though with no medals awarded.


Make It Happen: Perform At The London Olympics

This sounds a little more reasonable than asking unnamed musicians to provide background music for Olympic events or music during the opening and closing ceremonies without compensation. But I think they should at least award a monetary prize or recording contract to the best band(s) that perform on this stage.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 03:29 AM

If the missiles are used, where does Philip Hammond propose that the burning wreckage should fall - on the olympic park, or on a deprived residential area?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,grumpy old ben
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 03:42 AM

"If the missiles are used, where does Philip Hammond propose that the burning wreckage should fall - on the olympic park, or on a deprived residential area?"

statistically, what would be the probability of the said wreckage falling on an English-speaking native-born Englishman anywhere around there? Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out the middle-man and just strafe Karachi or Mogadishu?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 02:34 PM

Heavy rain has been forecast until September. The Opening Ceremony is going to display English countryside as a fantasy of green rolling hills, quaint villages with maypoles (sans morris dancers), Glastonbury washed out, farmyards with ducks, and then dark satanic mills. But then they were also going to add artificial clouds to represent the British weather. No need to do that though - there'll now be a portrayal of British weather and real wet and bedraggled countryside with real FLOODS cascading through the displays. Better get some morris dancers 'cos it never rains on the morris - does it?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 02:55 PM

I've just read the CAMRA July newsletter.

The Olympic venues which are suppose to be celebrating thre 'best of British' will be selling Heineken - but there are two consessions allowed - British Bitter, aka the famous real ale John Smith's Smoothflow, and Cider, aka the famous cask cider Strongbow.
At Lords cricket ground where the cricket event will be held the Marstons handpumps will be removed.

So........... the best of British is represented my multinational corporations, and real ale and freshly cooked food has never been part of British Heritage.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 03:32 PM

About what you'd expect of the conservatives running the show.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:01 AM

About what you'd expect of the conservatives running the show.
Any chance to knock the Conservatives.
The government are not "Running the show", that is done by the International Olympic Committee. It is they who arrange sponsors for the games, and insist that no competitors to those sponsors are allowed to advsertise, or supply goods within Olympic venues.
Those are the standard terms of the IOC,

And of course, the winning bid for the Olympic Games 2012 was under the control of a certain Mr Blair, who is the one you should be castigating for accepting the standard contract!

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: BanjoRay
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 11:38 AM

Well I'm off to the Appalachians for the duration, so I'll be jamming through the whole fiasco...

Hee hee

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 12:43 PM

EFDSS on Facebook shared this BBC News video of a morris-dancing torch carrier

Gemma David, who is a primary school teacher, has shown off her morris dancing skills while carrying the Olympic torch through Barford St Martin in Wiltshire.

Her dance came on the 55th day of the torch relay.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 01:01 PM

This is a music thread?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 01:05 PM

And I see that the Non Madonalds Catering in ALL the Olympic venues will not be allowed to serve Chips with any thing excpet Fish ! Thank You MacDonalds !

As well as that G4S have screwed up , and at VERY short notice , despite a 280 Million pound contract ,and can NOT supply sufficient security personnel , so MOD has to supply troops at a fortnights notice ! Thank You Teresa May

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 02:48 PM

As well as that G4S have screwed up
As much as I hate to say it the reports are totally unclear about who has screwed up. Was it G4S or was it the Security Industry Authority not delivering the accreditations on time?

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:10 PM

Well real ale and folk tend to go hand-in-hand

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:14 PM

In my view, if a company is going to tender to provide security, it is there responsibility to allow enough time for the accreditation process. G4S have had 8 years notice to get their act together!

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Mo the caller
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 05:08 PM

"This is a music thread? "
Well it started as a "Morris dancers would have been better than sheep" thread, but has drifted so maybe it should sink.

I'm not sure how much you can blame G4S, the govt changed its mind about how much security was needed.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 05:44 PM

As I Said ! Thank you Teresa May - How many Cock Ups can one Home Secretary supervise ? And DONT try to blame it all on 'The Previous Administration' .

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 08:39 PM

well there will be cock ups. There always are. The olympics will still go ahead. So we might as well make the best of it.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 09:10 AM

GUEST Peter - G4S only found out less than a fortnight ago that they were not going to meet their commitment . OK , the Goalposts HAD been moved , but they should have realised very shortly after that event that they were up the creek .

So its G4S AND the Home Office who are to blame !

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Gozz
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 11:22 AM

I suspect G4S need to take some of the blame here. I was asked to steward for the Paraolympics and it involved a 5 hours overnight bus ride from my home area to London, then straight into a 12 hour shift, followed by an overnight "indoor camping experience" in a conference centre with another 12 hour shift to follow before another ride home in the bus. All for about £7 per hour. I can't cope with that anymore, but when you sub-contract stuff out to smaller security companies this is what you will get - costs cut to make a profit.

Talking of profits, did you realise that it is not even possible to take your own packed meals (traditionally a British thing to do) to any event that you attend in person? No food, no drinks (well more that 100ml - just like on a plane) allowed at the venues including Weymouth's sailing events. Okay, they will say that is for security, but it does help boost profits for the official sponsors doesn't it (nudge, nudge; wink, wink)

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 04:33 AM

The 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympics were privatlely funded.

Under the leadership of Peter Ueberroth (USA corporate leader) they netted a 250 million dollar profit ... which went to support youth sports.

It was a masterful piece of free enterprise.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 06:06 AM

Simple answer - postpone the olympics for 6 months, sack the imbiciles who have messed up managing the event, and recruit managers who are far more competent, eg unemployed school leavers. No additional costs - don't pay anyone for anything related to the postponed event - the builidngs are there already.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 06:24 AM

SPB-Cooperator,

Did anyone ever tell you that you're a complete prat?

They should have.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 07:27 AM

On a more serious note, Londoners who have lives to get on with, are expected to foot a big chunk of the bill through council tax precept, bend over backwards to accommodate the disruption caused by the event, all so that the organisers get a pat on the back by he worlds media saying what a wonderful job they've done .- and for a 'legacy' that will probably end up lining the pockets of corporations and overbloated executives.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: Steve Howlett
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 07:34 AM

EFDSS on Facebook shared this BBC News video of a morris-dancing torch carrier
Gemma David, who is a primary school teacher, has shown off her morris dancing skills while carrying the Olympic torch through Barford St Martin in Wiltshire.

But she's a...a...woman!

The shock caused my Flash-player to crash!

Meanwhile in other news, the Morris Ring has reminded member sides not to take part in any flash-mob morris, as this would bring the Morris into disrepute.

They could always offer their services as Stewards!

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 07:37 AM

Surely 5,000 morris dancers with sticks would be more than capable of ensuring security at the Big Shen?!! Instead we have a bunch of yoofs recruited from local schools, many of whom can't speak English, and many of whom have (reportedly) got criminal convictions or are awaiting trial. And to these the nations of the world are entrusting the safety and security of their highy regarded athletes the latter of whom have worked hard for years to attain the perfection required to compete in the Big Shen. What a bl**dy fiasco.

Subject: RE: olympics - they should've listened to us
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 10:12 AM

I would strongly suspect that the problems with securing "security accreditation" are not unrelated to the recent whinge by one of the Daily Telegraph's alleged columnists, that it is difficult to recruit Urdu speakers for the Foreign Office because Pakistanis tend to fail the security vetting.... quelle surprise....