17 replies to this topic

[Padge]

well I think we are doing quite well (in a British sort of way) at organising this event

Nothing to do with the sport, the organisation.

A friend at work has a daughter working as a 'helper' (unpaid labour) who says everything is going really well.

As a sceptic about our ability to put this together, I'm impressed.

Edited by Padge, 02 August 2012 - 11:04 PM.

[Old Frightful]

So, seeing as it's "our" Olympic games, why didn't we have "organising" and "queuing" installed as events.

We'd be unbeatable at the latter.

[John Rhino]

So, seeing as it's "our" Olympic games, why didn't we have "organising" and "queuing" installed as events.

We'd be unbeatable at the latter.

Or pessimism. Nailed on gold if some on this board entered.

[gingerjon]

Today will be the crunch day for the organisation but I've not heard anyone complain about it at any of the events.

Prices, yes. Organisation, no.

[hindle xiii]

Or pessimism. Nailed on gold if some on this board entered.

We'd probably end up with bronze.

[bulldog_paddy]

We'd probably end up with bronze.

Superb

[T-Dub]

What was the sceptiscism based on in the first place?

[Methven Hornet]

For me it was our inability to organise the World Championships a few years back after they had been awarded to London. The stadium (Picketts Lock?) didn't come close to getting off the drawing board. When UK Athletics asked if they could move them to Don Valley the IAAF told them where to go and switched them to Finland.

After that I'm surprised that the UK were trusted again so soon to hold a major championship.

[Saintslass]

For me it was our inability to organise the World Championships a few years back after they had been awarded to London. The stadium (Picketts Lock?) didn't come close to getting off the drawing board. When UK Athletics asked if they could move them to Don Valley the IAAF told them where to go and switched them to Finland.

After that I'm surprised that the UK were trusted again so soon to hold a major championship.

I didn't know about that. When did all that happen? How embarrassing!

[terrywebbisgod]

Having attended 4 events during the first week (fencing,archery,basketball and shooting) the organisation has been first class, everyone was extremely helpful(even for southerners)

[John Rhino]

We'd probably end up with bronze.

Tip o'the hat sir!

[Methven Hornet]

I didn't know about that. When did all that happen? How embarrassing!

IIRC the bid was made at the turn of the century, 1999-2000 I think, and the initial idea was to incorporate an athletics track into the new Wembley stadium. When the FA wouldn't consider the idea, the proposal was to build a dedicated athletics stadium at Picketts Lock in the Lea Valley (other options, such as expanding Crystal Palace were rejected). The problem was that London, I think uniquely amongst large international cities, didn't have a strategic local authority at the time to push things through - the Mayoral system and the GLA had only been set up in 2000. Added to that, the government was unwilling to underwrite the ever expanding costs of a stadium that would rarely be used afterwards, and UK Athletics had only just taken over from the failed British Athletics Federation.

UK Athletics offered a refurbished Don Valley - built originally for the World Student Games - but the IAAF opened the bidding again, the head of that organisation saying that Britain would never be trusted again. Fortunately, time has healed and the Olympic Stadium will now hold the World Athletics Championships in 2017. I do wonder whether the excellent Commonwealth Games put on by Manchester played a part by proving that the UK could successfully hold a large sporting championships.

[heartofGold]

Having attended 4 events during the first week (fencing,archery,basketball and shooting) the organisation has been first class, everyone was extremely helpful(even for southerners)

Bloody cheek

[T-Dub]

The problem was that London, I think uniquely amongst large international cities, didn't have a strategic local authority at the time to push things through - the Mayoral system and the GLA had only been set up in 2000. Added to that, the government was unwilling to underwrite the ever expanding costs of a stadium that would rarely be used afterwards, and UK Athletics had only just taken over from the failed British Athletics Federation.

BAF had been a skeleton organization after the Dianne Modahl case
Lottery funding was also in its infancy
Picketts Lock would have been a disaster

The UK has staged several events on a grand scale The Manchester Commonwealth Games you mention, EURO 96, Queen's Golden Jubilee and is more than adept at staging such events as this summer has again showed

With Padge and Mitt Romney onside all we need now is to gain the approval of Andrew Gilligan and Bod Beldof and the Olympiad can truly be judged a success

[Phil]

We ended up having an impromptue "gold medal party" in our street last night, people in and out of each others houses taking round beer and even a couple of bottles of champers!! It actually did bring our small community a little closer together, spoke properly with some folks I've been saying "good morning" to for years and now we actually feel like we know each other.

Only a small thing I know but to me it hi-lighted (sp?) the power that sport can have to bring people together.

[Griff9of13]

Yes, I still have qualms about the cost of the thing, but once the decision was made I was sportive of it and wanted it to be a success, but I approached the whole thing more in hope than expectation.

But overall I have been very impressed. Walking round London a couple of days last week I couldn't help but be impressed by the vast number of volunteers (including service personnel) who were everywhere and always polite, friendly and helpful.

The opening ceremony was a fantastic spectacle but at the same time a little quirky and very British.

The performance of our athletes has exceeded all expectations, and coming 3rd in the medal table to only USA and China (both who have populations equal to a continent), just 10 golds ATM behind China is a fantastic achievement.

The TV coverage has also been superb, with the extra BBC sports channels available meaning you could watch just about every event live a fantastic innovation. This, I am sure, has given a real boost to some of the minority sports, I know I have watched sports I would rarely see.

I wonder if there will be a long term pay off for the country, as this Olympic games has been revived extremely well by visitors from around the world and have (mainly) presented UK plc in the best possible light.

Also, I do hope that there is a lasting sporting legacy. We should pay close attention to what has happened in Australia following the Sydney games. They initially did very well, but have really dropped off recently. Our success this time around would suggest that we are doing some things very well, especially in sports we have traditionally not been that great at such as gymnastics. My biggest fear is that when the football season starts again next week it bulldozers the Olympic Team GBs achievements away and we go back to being effectively a one sport nation.

[tonyXIII]

...
My biggest fear is that when the football season starts again next week it bulldozers the Olympic Team GBs achievements away and we go back to being effectively a one sport nation.

It wouldn't be so bad if we were any good at it, but we're rubbish. When was the last time we won a knockout game at any major soccer tournament? We get out of the group stage and then fail, usually on penalties!

If only the media would realise that there are other sports out there. Soccer just swamps everything else.

[Wolford6]

When was the last time we won a knockout game at any major soccer tournament? We get out of the group stage and then fail, usually on penalties!

Usual useless English footballers. These days, they've got so bone idle that they prefer to employ Welshmen to miss the penalties.