The Olympics
It's been 17 years since I watched an Olympics with any interest,, so I can't say I was too excited about the Games coming to London. Nevertheless now it I think the tone of the 'don't cares' or 'it will be a disaster', or 'it won't work' seems rather jaded.Those who are forecasting London meltdown forget the fact that London is a very big city, and should be able to absorb even something the size of this relatively easily. Olympics do bring traffic chaos, but I doubt anyone will notice. Those who argue it will be an expensive disaster are on stronger grounds, but the bid has been well-planned and uses a surprisingly large amount of facilties that are already built. Anyway we hear a lot about how rich and successful the economies of London and Britain are, so it should be easily affordable.
Whether the boredom threshold can be overcome I don't know. Athletics remains the key of the modern games, and yet also the most damaged in public esteem. Sports such as tennis and football (will Britain put up a team?) don't transfer well, and the other sports tend to be for enthusiasts (will pistol shooting be allowed?) or patriots (Note to Britons - your view of rowers & rowing for all but two weeks every four years is correct, not the one you have during Olympics).
posted by Matthew @ 7/06/2005 12:54:00 PM
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