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Am I the only person that couldn't care less about the Olympics? 10 Billion to see who can run the fasted! no thanks, I'd rather have a cup of tea.

Indeed why the rush anyway? I would prefer a points based stroll to see who can appreciate their environment more, or a tea brewing contest followed by a national tea party and a digestive. Hammer toss? Who gives a toss?

How about all us Talk Magic members all get together on one of the special Olympic days and have our own Event. Maybe the most card tricks performed in 1 hour outside the stadium.. or maybe if there is another event that anybody can think of???? And maybe a Moderator can Organise a medal for us loyal posters?

I have a very biased point of view.....

To many it will be a wondrous and once in a lifetime event, to others it'll be a way of making money, to the rest of us it'll be a total waste of time, effort and money. I think we all knew that the original cost estimates would be far too low and the eventual total will be many times the figure forecast by the organisers. What ticks me off is the constant propaganda that the whole of the UK will benefit, OK some firms and areas will be graced with a bit of trade but, by definition, it's still the London Olympics, not the UK Olympics. For some reason I can't help but think of The Millennium Dome, all the pretence of the competition to find an appropriate site for some sort of project to celebrate the millennium yet, as was revealed afterwards, it was always going to be in London so the bids by other cities were a waste of time and public money. In the end the Dome was sold off at a token value – methinks that was the intention all along. To go down the conspiracy route even further, you might recall that several years ago Birmingham put in a bid to host the Olympics on the basis that it was more centrally located, plenty of open space for any new building and good existing road, rail and air links as well as many newly built buildings which would house and host the events. It was noticeable that, apart from local MPs, there was no support at all from London and, if the subsequent media reports are true, it now turns out that their agenda was to frustrate any bid by a UK city and thus avoid any conflict with a future London bid.

Much Wenlock was the place where the modern Olympics were reborn but, despite a lot of campaigning, the Olympic Torch won’t be going through the town – it would have been a very good acknowledgement of the true history but, again, it’s been denied - apparently to send the Torch through there would be 'logistically difficult'. Total piffle and proof positive that the organisers really don't have much appreciation of history and the feelings of those who have a stronger claim to involvement.The consolation prize of naming one of those horrendous so-called mascots ‘Wenlock’ is just a kick in the guts. I just heard that the Torch will be passing close to where I live but, thankfully, I’m away that day so I can cheerfully give the whole thing a justified miss. My DVD and Magic book collection will come in very handy to help avoid all the inevitable hype and wall to wall TV programming.

One idea about the Olympics I like, but which will never happen, is that after it’s all over there will be lots of empty contestant accommodation. Ideal to use for all those MPs who currently rip us off with claims for ‘second homes’ – move all the MPs in there, plenty of top quality existing security measures so the cost of looking after them will considerably decrease and we’ll save a lot of money on costs and expenses.

I sincerely hope all those who are looking forward to the Olympics have a great time and enjoy it to the full. Obviously I shan’t be one of them and if anyone even thinks of trying to engage my enthusiasm I shall quite probably stab them to death with a ball point pen.....

This reminded me to take a look at the torch route. It is going through both where I live and my hometown (so no matter which im in, I will be coming across it).
The evening celebration will be in the park right outside my house, and will be passing my house twice.

I have never heard of Wenlock, and its history, but if they are going through my hometown, a small town no one has heard of (probably apart for you Mandrake, since you are in the midlands, but even then maybe not), then I am suprised they won't pass through a town that has such history in the olympics.

I may watch the olympics, I may not, but it will be on the tv, not live. The only reason i'd have any intrest in it, would be because my friend should have been competing (but can't now).

Some events, such as ping pong, synchronised swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, and horse prancing, are just weird. But the core events - the track and field, swimming, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting - are riveting. I will watch those, particularly the men's 1,500 meters. That is the supreme event as far as I am concerned.

Karma wrote:Am I the only person that couldn't care less about the Olympics? 10 Billion to see who can run the fasted! no thanks, I'd rather have a cup of tea.

And yet you started a thread about them...

The Olympic Torch was a Nazi invention. Just saying.

What saddens me most, other than the sledgehammer/nut situation with Olympic brand protection, is that there won't be any more Eddie Edwards. Maybe it's the British in me but he always seemed to be a stronger symbol of the Olympic spirit than Bolt or whoever.

Still, some of the swimmers are nice.

I'm actually really excited about the Olympics, I didn't manage to get any tickets but I'm planning on heading up to see a couple of the free events.

I know that it is really the London Olympics but it honestly does benefit the rest of the country, lots of money has been invested in local sports facilities to make them usable as training venues for various teams. And to be honest, it's about time we had some decent facilities that weren't football related down in this neck of the woods. At the moment there's no decent pool, Crystal Palace is a horrible place in need of renovation with the only really international standard pool in the country in Sheffield. Same with cycling, we're always having to treck upto Manchester for Dave's cycling because there's no track near by.

And yet you started a thread about them...

Ok, you got me, I do care.

Lady of Mystery wrote: Same with cycling, we're always having to treck upto Manchester for Dave's cycling because there's no track near by.

Herne Hill Velodrome!

So, apart from the rather obvious 5 linking rings, what kind of magic effect would you folks do on an Olympic theme?

Mandrake wrote:So, apart from the rather obvious 5 linking rings, what kind of magic effect would you folks do on an Olympic theme?

Well I guarantee that the TV channels will magically make any decent shows disappear during the Olympics.

Looking at the current schedules they've already started!

I gather that, in our locality, there will be some celebratory events, outdoor stuff with a few amateur games and races (possibly the egg & spoon and sack races amongst them), vocalists and bands plus, as it is rumoured, a magician at one of them. I know I shan’t be at any of them as I’m away for the dates advised so far (I love it when a plan comes together!) but if any of you were booked to do an Olympic party/celebration gig and assuming you wanted to do the gig, what would you do that would be noticeably Olympic themed?

Maybe an ambitious card routine with a gold medal card

Perhaps a bit naff these days but some sort of reveal involving Flags of All Nations?
Some method whereby three specs are asked to take random positions on the winner's podium and an envelope which has been in full sight well beforehand is opened to show that Magicboy predicted the result exactly?
Changing 'bronze' medals into 'gold' ones?