BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games

Subject: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: GUEST,Angry from Manchester
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 10:46 PM

I'm really pissed off.

We've put on a great competition, the city has buzzed, there has been massive wealth creation, both for a huge number of individuals and for the infrastructure of the city. The games have been a fabulous boost to the area and (guess what)WE'VE HAD FUN!

Yet, assuming that the opinions of London / South East media are to be believed, it's a complete disaster.

Snide comments about it being a crap competition (or even a competition at all), the all too predictable jibes about the weather, criticisms of the tiniest organasational failure etc. etc.

Well, I'm sorry. I won't mention Wembly or Pickett's Lock. What the hell is it the you southern ponces have about us in the north doing something good, useful, and right?

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 11:13 PM

I have been watvhing it at werk, 9the boss finaly devided to buy a telly at last, i enjoyed watching it9badminyon, tabble temmis and weighjtlifyng, dont take any notice of them shandy drinking southerners, the dome was a gig waste if money, we got a deep in hull, if you pissed off try geetting a goldfish.john

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: windymike
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 03:27 AM

I'm in Auckland and watching the games on TV. Apart from the weather looking like our winter I am enjoying the competition...with one exception (probably the same one as the southern tabloids)...too many renditions of 'Advance Australia Fair'...but then it's our own fault for outscoring them in 76 at the olympics...shamed them into taking sport to the top level of professionalism.

Last time (and only time I was in Manchester was back in 1970...from what I see on the box you guys have done wonders in improving the place.

Ignore the southerners (and I originate from there)... enjoy your success.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: janey
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 08:48 AM

I agree, Manchester's Commonwealth Games have been brilliant; there is a real buzz about the place. It makes such a change to have something happening up here. I have done a few days work in the Athletes Village and the atmosphere was so friendly. The improvements around the city are amazing. I am a southerner by birth but I'm really proud to be up north!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: allanwill
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 11:26 AM

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"

Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw.....

Allan

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Micca
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 05:47 AM

Well, I am a Southerner, and live in London, and I think the Games have been teriffic,( with the Caveat mentioned above about Australia) and I LIKE Manchester and the North, I have enjoyed the hospitality of both Mancunians and many other Northern folk, and I like them!!! so There!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Trevor
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 05:33 AM

And the closing ceremony wasn't too cheesy either.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Hrothgar
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 07:49 AM

From what I've seen and heard of it, Manchester has done a wonderful job! Comments:

Will the Pakistanis be so keen on having a war with India when they see how many medals the Indians won in shooting?

What's happened to Canadian swimming? Once it was a battle to beat the bastards - these days they are only a distant splashing noise.

You didn't need to put in the words of "Advance Australia Fair," Allan - the Poms have learned it over the last couple of weeks!

(Further guffaws)

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 08:57 AM

Hrothgar ... Over and out!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 09:14 AM

Bloody brilliant. Especially the closing ceremony. Mind you, I'm biassed, my partner worked on making the big lanterns. Werent they pretty, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Jock Morris
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 09:20 AM

I must have been watching different coverage than 'Angry from Manchester' as I didn't hear any criticism of the organisational effort. A big pat on the back to all those who helped make it such a success.

Scott

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Pied Piper
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 10:48 AM

I greatly appreciated the games, not for the sport but for the fact that the Trams ran till 2:00am as opposed to the usual 11:30. More seriously I think things went very well and a lot of people had a good time. Sports not my cup of Tea(and as usual the TV coverage was ridiculously over the top)but it takes all sorts to make a world and maybe we'll get the Olympics some time. All the best PP

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: John Routledge
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 02:09 PM

It was a great event - Both live and on TV

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Roughyed
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 04:50 PM

I thought the big lanterns were the most beautiful and impressive bit. Congratulations to your girlfriend, Greg.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Mrs Cobble
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 06:09 PM

I think Manchester should be congratulated..... The Games were great and the fact that the home countries athletes did so well was an added bonus. Well done to all who must have worked very hard to put on a wonderful show.

Mrs C

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 04:08 AM

If I could put in a little plug for the Boat Band..we do a lot of work connected with outdoor celebratory theatre events, carnival processional music and image projects etc etc. Kate Barfield and Mark Burke from the band both worked on the lanterns for the closing ceremony of the games. We dont just play NW fiddle tunes!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: fat B****rd
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 06:29 AM

My big sister is 70 at the end of this month. Her youngest son bought her and her husband tickets for the closing night of the games. Having watched some of it on TV I think that a bloody marvellous present !! Of course I'm in no way envious. All the best from green Eyed fB.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Strupag
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 09:42 AM

Manchester really did a great job and deserve unqualified congratulations but the whole thing about the Comonwealth, her Majesty and the military leaves me cold. At the starting celebrations all the dignitaries arrived in "London" cabbies. I waited to see if the queen would arrive in one also but no - the special Rolls Royce turned up!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: John J
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 02:13 PM

Thanks for all your kind comments. I went to see the Triathlons on Sunday morning. What a brilliant atmosphere! I've heard a number of comments about the rain at some events, particularly the closing ceremony. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a severe weather warning in force for the south east of England at that same time? There was certainly a huge amount of rain around the country that day, but there you go!

John, a very proud Mancunian.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From: Goodfellow
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 11:07 PM

Here's to the folks of Manchester

I spent a day there this summer on a trip from the UK My wife belongs to an internet discussion group and one its members works a few blocks from a Church parish where my wife's great, great, grandfather was born (Newton Heath) she took us all over the area visiting sites where my wifes ancestors lived and were married etc. Her son and daughter took my two sons bowling and to an entertainment center and gave them a real intercultural experience for the day. A great hostess. When we were leaving town I took a wrong turn and ended up very mixed up and had to ask help and directions several times to get back on the right motorway to head down to Warwick. I met very many helpful people. Manchester has a pretty bad reputation in the US but we enjoyed our visit and the hospitality and friendship folks showed us during our visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester and the Commonweath Games
From:
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 11:27 PM

Here in Oz many were referring to it as the Australian Athletic Championships curently being held in Manchester.
I, and many others, don't get too stoked up about well fed, well trained, well organised athletes from 3 or 4 nations belting the crap out of a bunch of half-starved triers from third world countries. Some victory.
Each gold medal we win has been assessed as costing the Australian taxpayer $3.7 million. I'd rather we went back to hop-scotch and use the money to feed Africa.

JG / FME