http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18002760

Apparently, they've had to relight the flame once already. I hope it survives the dousing it'll get once it arrives here in Blighty.



In other words, eat plenty of Maccy Ds and drink plenty of Cola, because our sponsors want you to spend your money and make them even richer.

The whole Lympic thing has become an expensive charade, in my opinion. The whole flame relay thing was introduced by the Nazis in the 1936 games, and the idea of a "pure flame" only started in the modern games in Amsterdam 1928. Hardly ancient traditions either of them.

How are they going to carry a lit torch on a plane from Greece? Have they chartered a flight which isn't subject to the usual rules and checks? are they carrying it in a smll paper bag? Is it going on a commercial airliner and does it need it's own seat?

I think they probably have a special container, like the miner's Davey lamp in reverse.

Either that or it's carried internally by a LOCOG official...

There's football too this year. Another marketing event with some sport going on in the background.

^^ This.

All of this shenanigans has so little to do with actual sport any more it's become a joke.

I believe the main entrance to the Lympic park is through one of the biggest retail outlets in Europe. Two of the biggest sponsors of the event are MacDonalds and Coca Cola - both paens to healthy living.

It's an expensive farce.

I think you over-thought that. Exactly like a Davey Lamp, nothing reverse about it! I rather like the idea and I hope it's true

You knew what I meant, though.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7327079.stm

I thought the torch burned some mystical essence of virgins or elite athletes. Apparently, it's just a propane burner.

Heather you seem to be having a 'rant about Olympics day'

Actually, in this particular case I would somewhat disagree. The football world cup does indeed vie with the Olympics for the title of 'worldwide sporting event that exists mainly to further fill the purses of global corporations and unelected (in any real sense) fat cats' but the European championships are much less so. There will be sponsors but it's much less up front and UEFA aren't quite as scurrilous a body as FIFA or the IOC. Mainly because they have the UEFA champions league as a massive cash cow, so don't feel the need to rapaciously commercialise their summer tournament rather than through any commitment to a sporting ideal, but nevertheless it's so. The European (football) championships are actually much more about 'the sport' than the Olympics or the world cup.

Not that it'll be any better for someone who does't care for them of course - it's still four hours a day of stuff you don't really care about clogging up the telly. But then, I could say the same about soap operas....

Jon

Yes it is - Westfield in Stratford. I went there (other half’s school were taking visitors there en route to the Globe Theatre) a few weeks back. It’s a massive shopping centre full of clothes shops, and the usual suspects.

And they're trying to make it sound posh

STRATFORD CITY!!!

It all horlicks if you ask me but I can't complain as my train line is on the Stratford line so they've done up my station. And the Stansted trains are rather nice now.

I've been ranting on and off since London had the misfortune to be awarded the games in 2005. Anyone with eyes could see it was going to be expensive and leave no legacy worth the name.

The running, jumping and standing still bits are very much a sideshow to the rampant capitalism as far as I can see, never mind the ramped up "security" supposedly to protect us from "terrorists".

I'm ranting again. I'll go and lie down.

Want a cup of tea?

Ooh, please. Milk, no sugar, ta. Any bourbons?

I was staying in Stratford last week.
What a hole.