Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Olympic torch coming to London tomorrow - anyone going for a look see?

37 replies

FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 08:46

Starting at Wembley ending up at the 02 in Greenwich, lots going on in London town - check out the website www.London.gov.uk.

Me and Maureen might check it out with our girls.

OP posts:
edam · 05/04/2008 09:01

No, but I am taking ds into London today, will be a bugger if roads and tube stations are closed.

Wouldn't want to go and see it anyway with the way China is behaving in Tibet. One of the athletes who has turned down the invitation to be a torch bearer said: 'I may be an athlete, but I'm a human being first.'

Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 10:07

are they going to turn down competing in the olympics too then?

OP posts:
Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 10:10

I'm not taking a political stance, I'm going out in London for the day to see what's going on.

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/04/2008 12:51

I'm torn between going and protesting or boycotting it. As I've got to get packed up fro camping and the house in a reasonable state I've decided to boycott it ;-)

MaureenMLove · 05/04/2008 13:10

Yay! Won't it be nice to have a family fun day in our fine capital. Feel the wind (and possibly snow!) in our hair. Get the kids in the fresh area and enjoy the excitement and entertainment along the way!

No19 · 05/04/2008 13:16

I"m boycotting anything to do with the Olympics. I don't care if no-one notices, China is behaving disgustingly (as it has done on a human rights front for YEARS including most of the 20th century).

And yes, some athletes are not competing.

Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 13:27

But I don't get it. I know the Olympics are being held in Beijing this year but the Olympic organisation isn't Chinese, they don't control anything in China. How is not supporting our athletes going to change anything?

I admit I am not remotely political or worldly but I am supporting the Olympics (especially 2012) and showing my children that the world CAN come together peaceably in sport if nothing else.

OP posts:
Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 13:27

And if it's good enough for Dame Kelly Holmes, Steve Redgrave etc ...

OP posts:
No19 · 05/04/2008 13:37

The world can come together peacably? I don't think the Olympics are showing that. To me the Olympics this year are showing that the Olympic committe is willing to turn a blind eye to appalling human rights abuse in order to let China have the Games, an opportunity China will use to puff out a load of bullshit propaganda about how wonderful the country is now. The participating countries are happy to ignore not only the bloodstained and beaten of Tibet but the shocking abuses within China itself - they come together "peacably" because they agree not to mention the war. That's not peace. That's pretending: Bad Things Aren't Happening.

And as for "if it's good enough for Steve Redgrave" etc - well, I don't base my political beliefs on a belief system being good enough for someone else, I think them out for myself.

I am sure it will be an excellent day out for your children and yourself.

MaureenMLove · 05/04/2008 13:37

Hey, if Dame Kel and Theo Walcott are on our turf, I'll be there!

Looks like its just to two of us then!

Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 14:27

I mean peaceably from an athletics level not a political one - I don't think politically at all. I'm not interested and I don't apologise for it either.

I'm going to London to see the entertainment with my children and to get excited about the Olympics coming to London in 2012 too and most of all to support our athletes who get precious little support from this country.

I will have a fabulous day thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 14:28

And you are very bloody patronising also.

OP posts:
No19 · 05/04/2008 14:41

What is patronising about what I wrote?

Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 15:02

"well, I don't base my political beliefs on a belief system being good enough for someone else, I think them out for myself" - fairly patronising I would say.

OP posts:
No19 · 05/04/2008 15:15

But you had written

"And if it's good enough for Dame Kelly Holmes, Steve Redgrave etc ..."

and I had interpreted the ellipsis to mean "then it's good enough for me" or something similar. If that is not what you meant then I withdraw what I said about thinking for oneself.

Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 15:35

that is what I meant and I am thinking for myself thanks very much.

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/04/2008 16:53

You did ask whether people are going to see the Olympic torch and of course some people including myself will explain why we aren't. I am passionate about politics - not for politics sake but for the sake of human rights and like you I won't apologise for my stance as it is who I am

It doesn't mean I don't support our athletes - I'm fantastically excited about 2012 and we live near one of the venues. I can't wait to try and get involved somehow. But also I can't condone China hosting the olympics even down to the way their government run media is blanking out any negative aspects so that the Chinese people can't see that people are protesting about the way China runs things.

However, I do hope that you, Maureen and your girls have a nice time tomorrow and that you don't get too cold

MaureenMLove · 05/04/2008 16:55

And the outlook for London, oh wise weather one?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/04/2008 17:03

Well, errmmm, I'd dress warmly

Sleet and snow showers in the morning, prob not settling in London though met office are warning there may be some disruption to transport! (can't see it myself but they are highly trained and I'm clearly not!) Clearing away by middayish.
Then another band of heavy snow/sleet showers late afternoon. I think they might get a bit haily and thundery but I'm guessing on that.

So - good luck lolol!!!

marina · 05/04/2008 17:06

Rotten weather forecast - hope you both have a good time just the same .
I have to admit I am so disgusted with the way this government is failing to condemn China's actions in Tibet (FFS even Sarkozy is being more forthright than Brown on the matter), that we're not going either.
China is exploiting the UK's lack of condemnation for its human rights abuses on the world political scene

guiltyascharged · 05/04/2008 17:07

I wont be going, Such a shame Tibet has no oil.

RustyBear · 05/04/2008 17:07

They're starting from Wembley on Cup Semi-final day? Who thought that one up then?

guiltyascharged · 05/04/2008 17:13

Under any other circumstances I would take the DCs to see it but I am boycotting (ok no one will miss me) but I cant say I approve of our team being sent to the Olympics, I think we should have withdrawn. Not as if we ever bloody win anything is it?

marina · 05/04/2008 17:18

We are on course to do pretty well at the cycling guilty!
Unless we have an official national boycott of the Games it's down to the competitors whether they attend or not. I know they have all worked so hard for 2008 so I'd not judge anyone who went to Beijing, personally.
However, people in the West can stay away from publicity events that will be used in the Chinese state media to give the impression that the whole world backs China's persecution of the Tibetan people.

Original poster
FloridaKbear · 05/04/2008 17:40

wish I hadn't mentioned it now, am I allowed to go to the London Marathon next week or is there some political reason I can't go to that either?

OP posts: