To not give a flying fuck about the Olympic Torch route

[WetAugust]

Title says it all.

Waste of time and money.

I care not a jot, but am feigning interest as the kids want to see the torch in our town.

I am worried that we will make a hash of hosting it.

Thanks outraged - I should also point out he was nominated as over the last few years every sports event (runs / triathlons) he enters he has been raising money for charity

mummynoseynora how absolutely brilliant for your DH and family! I am really happy and excited for you all!

The people I know that are carrying the flame or who are involved in some way have done a lot for charities and for other people too. I'm sure every one of the people that will be carrying that flame are more than worthy of the chance to do it. That's why I can't understand why the country doesn't want to get behind them and celebrate them more.

These are normal people who give so much. We have threads on her complaining because of annoying neighbours, inconsiderate people on public transport etc etc, but when we get the chance to celebrate normal people who are generous and considerate, people say they aren't interested. It's twisted, and woudo only happen in the UK!

The current advice for us who live near the Olympic Park is not to travel at all between the hours of 6am and midnight. These limits don't just apply for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic games but to the weeks either side too. I'm trying really hard to 'get into the spirit' and 'make the best of it' but I really resent the implication I'm professionally miserable given the extreme level of disruption this is probably going to cause to many lives.

I'm not anti Olympic and, as the mother of a disabled child, I'm really heartened at the profile of the Paralympics. We bid for tickets and didn't get any, but no worries, that's the same for a lot of people. We'll be there watching the torch because the kids will love it. But I do feel allowed to be frustrated at the impact this will have on our community on a practical level for the duration of the games and to voice this frustration!

Big congrats to your DH noseynora. Your DD must be sooo excited! What a lovely experience for you all.

I care about the actual Olympics. I don't give a stuff about the flame. And it's coming very close to my road, on a Sunday, the whole city centre is going to be paralysed, my running route will be closed (there's going to be a 'party' FFS ) and DD2 has a dance show rehearsal that afternoon that I'm not sure we will be able to get her to because of all the hoohah. Bloody ridiculous. And to top it all there will be late night fireworks BUT it's a school night (being Sunday). That won't stop our firework obsessed council. Am very annoyed.

I totally agree outraged it is incomprehensible to me that people would whinge, moan and derride this. We have been watching little videos at my school of people training for the Olympics/paralympics and special Olympics. It has been incredibly thought provoking an inspiring for us all.

MissBetsy yes, in those circumstances I can totally understand how you might feel pissed off!

@cherries is the flame not coming near your road then? Or do you have nothing to do that day that won't be completely disrupted? Lucky you. Not everyone is the same though. Some of us have stuff to do which will be trashed by a hugely expensive hoopla that has nothing to do with the actual sport. And in the case of my city, it will be just two weeks after the city centre is closed for a half marathon (I don't have a problem with that, it's a local event where the date is set a year in advance and I've run it in the past). It's just too much, having everything disrupted twice in three weekends.

I do find it inspiring- the torch relay- the symbolism and the way that the participants have been chosen. It is coming to our city which will cause disruption but to me, it is worth it, maybe for others it isn't. I am not suggesting that people are unreasonable to be pissed off about that it is the general "couldn't give a shit about the olympics" that I find depressing but we are all different and I have many friends who feel the same.

Im not interested after my sister was turned down to carry the flame. It was something she always wanted to do and i nominated her and she got to the second round but was unsuccessful we were ok but the local media has been talking about who was chosen and it was just a bunch of sob stories and cats bum faces like the x factor. So not fussed anymore. My other sister has been asked to entertain the chinese gymnastics team while they are training and she hasnt a clue

Thanks to those that have congratulated my DH - yes we are all very excited for him - it is completely a once in a lifetime, dream come true moment - and I for one am going to do my best to ensure he enjoys every minute of it!

Completely agree with what outraged is saying about it all

the parties I think are a great idea, they are trying to bring the country together in these rubbish times and get everyone celebrating this worldwide event - show that we can enjoy it and work together, why the hell shouldn't we be proud?! I may not care for the athletics, but we have done a damned sight better at organising the thing than bejing did!

I think the olympics themselves will be fabulous. Even though they are causing me all sorts of logistical problems work wise - I would normally do a lot of travel visiting European offices in July and the very beginning of August, before I knock off for my summer holiday. This will not be able to happen this year - the potential for travel trauma (I live in the proper south west, so it's not just a question of heathrow might be a bit busy, it's getting into london too) is too great, the price of hotel rooms in London (for when the flights get back late and I have to stop over) through the roof, and although flights out of London aren't too bad flights back immediately before and during the games are impossible. So, no office visits for me. But they have to be visited sometime so I'm having to cram all the July and early August visits intoMay and June together with the normal May and June workload. But I'm OK with that because I love the Olympics. What I am NOT OK with is the one day I will get at home in two weeks of solid travel in mid may, the city will be completely buggered by the stupid flame.

Maighdlin, do you mean that to sound quite so derogatory? I'm sure you wouldn't have called the torch bearers 'a bunch of sob stories and cats bum faces' if your sister had been chosen.

The words sour and grapes spring to mind.

I don't give a sod about any kind of sport and so the Olympics just magnifies that x100. So YANBU.

Having said that I'm sure it's lovely for those who will be carrying the torch and I can't begrudge them that.

I don't give a flying fuck about you not not giving a flying fuck about it.

(Although it should be noted that you did start a thread on Mumsnet stating your opinion, so you must give some kind of fuck about it, even if it's only a tiny little fuck.)

They keep trying to convince us in Cornwall that it will be a Really Good Thing and worth them spending loads of council money on, because a billion people will be watching who then apparently flock to the West Country.

I don't know about anyone else, but I have never tuned in to an Olympic torch relay in my life.

Actually you're right Tiggy - I am being unreasonable because I do give a .....

Everyone is desperate for tickets here. It's a once in a lifetime event - why be apathetic when you and your kids could be looking forward to an exciting, memorable event

Err maybe because ive got more chance of getting tickets to the moon?

Whats to look forward to?

bloody hell. For once we do something to include and recognise ordinary (extraordinary) people by letting them carry the torch, instead of giving it to elite athletes, and we do the typical British thing and complain about the disruption and that we can't get DD to dance recital.!!!

I know that a lot of people lost interest due to the tickets fiasco.