Why 2012 Will Be An Olympic Effort for the British
Last night finally saw the end of the Olympics, and it was with much excitement that I looked forward to the closing ceremony so I could have a glimpse of what the London Olympics might bring us in 2012.
For a start, it bought us Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, ambling through the stadium with the head of the IOC and the Chinese leader. How proud I felt as I watched this buffoon of an overgrown schoolboy take the Olympic flag and wave it with all the pride of a mother hanging out stained washing. How wonderful to think this scruffy looking man, who couldn't even button his jacket, was representing London to the world, especially after what visually must have been the best Olympics ever.
It didn't get much better when a red double decker bus drove into the area. For a start, everyone knows you never get just one, you have to wait an hour for three to arrive together. Unfortunately, the scene where several people tried to pile on at one time was true, but not done humourously enough to make anyone think the British were poking fun at themselves.
Creatively, the bus opened up to reveal David Beckham, Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page. Beckham is a great ambassador for British sport, so it was fitting to see him up there. But the music? Oh dear. I know this is going to sound middle aged, but there is so much more Britain has to be proud of than a Pop Idol star and an aging guitarist. I expect our opening ceremony will be full of current rappers and singers because youth culture has taken over the country.
What people around the world will want to see is Britain's heritage. They'll want grenadier guards, the Royal family and all those other old fashioned things that made the country great. (And yes, I am using the past tense).When Americans talk about England, they aren't thinking about drunken girls laying in the streets or kids being knifed in the playground. They think about the Tower of London, the green rolling hills of the Cotswolds and (unfortunately) Hyacinth Bucket. Let's not disillusion them too much.
For what it's worth, this year the British team had their best Olympics in 100 years. They came 4th overall in the medals table with a total of 19 golds. They could be a force to be reckoned with in 2012. London could boost tourism and feel really proud of itself again. Excited as I was to see Buckingham Palace and the Red Arrows on TV, they are not currently the real face of London. Let's hope they become so in the next four years.
For a start, it bought us Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, ambling through the stadium with the head of the IOC and the Chinese leader. How proud I felt as I watched this buffoon of an overgrown schoolboy take the Olympic flag and wave it with all the pride of a mother hanging out stained washing. How wonderful to think this scruffy looking man, who couldn't even button his jacket, was representing London to the world, especially after what visually must have been the best Olympics ever.
It didn't get much better when a red double decker bus drove into the area. For a start, everyone knows you never get just one, you have to wait an hour for three to arrive together. Unfortunately, the scene where several people tried to pile on at one time was true, but not done humourously enough to make anyone think the British were poking fun at themselves.
Creatively, the bus opened up to reveal David Beckham, Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page. Beckham is a great ambassador for British sport, so it was fitting to see him up there. But the music? Oh dear. I know this is going to sound middle aged, but there is so much more Britain has to be proud of than a Pop Idol star and an aging guitarist. I expect our opening ceremony will be full of current rappers and singers because youth culture has taken over the country.
What people around the world will want to see is Britain's heritage. They'll want grenadier guards, the Royal family and all those other old fashioned things that made the country great. (And yes, I am using the past tense).When Americans talk about England, they aren't thinking about drunken girls laying in the streets or kids being knifed in the playground. They think about the Tower of London, the green rolling hills of the Cotswolds and (unfortunately) Hyacinth Bucket. Let's not disillusion them too much.
For what it's worth, this year the British team had their best Olympics in 100 years. They came 4th overall in the medals table with a total of 19 golds. They could be a force to be reckoned with in 2012. London could boost tourism and feel really proud of itself again. Excited as I was to see Buckingham Palace and the Red Arrows on TV, they are not currently the real face of London. Let's hope they become so in the next four years.
posted by Hilary at
1:11 PM
3 Comments:
As everyone knows, there will be the 100 metre drunken shell suit dash, followed by the 200 metre young mothers buggy push. In the pool, there will not be any races as the no running/ smoking/ bombing /eating /snogging signs will have 'no swimming' added to it on health and safety grounds and as for the high diving........not till Hell freezes overfor the same reasons.
By
Adele, at 4:24 PM
What is a shell suit? How does one snog? Will there be bubble and squeak eating contests?
It sounds like the 2012 British Olympics will not be smashingly boring. Advertisers must be queing up in droves for this planned extravaganza.
Diane
By
Anonymous, at 6:59 AM
I really will have to hold an English lesson for you! A shell suit is a 1970s brightly coloured nylon tracksuit; bubble and squeak is a dish made of cabbage and mashed potatoes mixed together and either fried or baked in the oven. Only teenagers snog, but stop the minute their parents enter the room. You might also do it in the back row of the movies....
By
Hilary, at 3:01 PM
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