Doreen Lawrence and the Olympics

[PickandMixisthefuture]

Am I the only one who thinks it was very unreasonable and was rather bemused thought wtf on seeing Doreen Lawrence walking into the Olympic arena helping to carry the Olympic flag?! Has she done something to embody the spirit of the Olympics that I have missed? Did she win first prize at her primary school sports day when competitive sport at that level was allowed? She's not even an elected politician and I didn't see Dave or Boris in the arena. They stayed firmly in their seats where they belong. Also saw that woman from Liberty. Am in about the whole thing. Nice to see them when many of our previous Olympians had the 'starring' role of just standing around. Daley Thompson anyone?

ffs

Yes viva, through SPORT

Good grief, do you not think she's done rather more than most to bring people together, in the face of hatred and evil? What a mean spirited OP. One of the better things about this country is a long tradition of protest - of people standing up for what they believe in. That's why women got the vote here 60 years before Switzerland, for example. Look at the cotton workers in Lancashire who literally starved in support of the cotton boycott protest against slavery. These are people and stories to be proud of.

I didn't ask a question? Unsure of why you're saying "yes" to me.

She has done for than charity work, she has brought about a major change in the law regarding institutional racism, by her tireless campaigning.

But Edam, what has any of that got to do with the Olympics either?

OP - the Olympic/Paralympic values are respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination,

Maybe the key link between the carriers was trying to make the world a better place? Doreen Lawrence is a woman who has battled through personal tragedy to try to do just that.

Shame on you OP, that is just nasty and mean-spirited.

See Littlebluechair's list.

OP - the Olympic/Paralympic values are respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration, equality - those people were chosen because they embody those values.

The Olympics actively avoid political debate. If an athlete chooses to make a stance, then the Olympics, being a sporting event, would be a good place to do so.

"Pierre de Coubertin ...... saw in the Games an ideal opportunity to develop a set of universal principles ? or Values ? that could be applied to education and to society as a whole, as well as to sport itself

These Values are:

respect ? fair play; knowing one?s own limits; and taking care of one?s health and the environment
excellence ? how to give the best of oneself, on the field of play or in life; taking part; and progressing according to one?s own objectives
friendship ? how, through sport, to understand each other despite any differences
The Paralympic Values are based on the history of the Paralympic Games and the tradition of fair play and honourable sports competition.

They are:

courage
determination
inspiration
equality" From the 2012 Get Set website, rescources for Schools to use to link their learning to the Olympic values.

Sport is a metaphor for life. Those values are embodied in, but not limited to sport.

the Olympics ISN'T just about sport though is it ?

^ that was to shattereddreams

But Edam, what has any of that got to do with the Olympics either

The Olympic flame and flag symbolises, Strength, Unity and Diversity, that just about sums DL up.

What has any of the Opening Ceremony got to do with 'Sport'? (Other than the athletes pacing round). It was probably the best bit of the whole 2 weeks . And as Doreen Lawrence, I was very pleasantly surprised she was there...not sure why you're picking on her rather than Daniel Barenboim or any of the other completely un-sporty people holding the flag. Is it because she's black?

But if you don't like sport, why are you watching the Olympics?

I always wonder what the real agenda is behind these kind of posts. I suspect, that if a flag-bearer had been someone unconnected with sport, but whom the OP admired, that she wouldn't have started a thread about it.

I was trying not to be cross in my other post but have to say anyone who has got to adulthood without realising the Olympics are about so much more than sport is dim beyond words.

I have reported the thread

If you are questioning why Doreen Lawrence was there then why not also question Shami Chakrabarti and Ban Ki Moon carrying the flag. They have nothing to do with sport too. Just like thousands of the torch carriers. Most of those were nominated because of their community/charity work, nothing to do with taking part in sport. As others have said, the Olympic values are far broader than just competing to get a medal;

The olympics are about more than just sport. Many of the people involved in the opening ceremony have nothing to do with sport (musicians, inventor of internet, JK Rowling, actors etc) - going with your argument, they shouldn't have been there either. What about Ban Ki Moon, another olympic flag bearer - nothing to do with sport. Same probably goes for the others (can't remember who they were now).

It is about the spirit of the olympics, which is embodied not just in sport.