talkmagic.co.uk

With so few security guards turning up for work, there's bound to be good money for an enterprising young magician or two keen to entertain angry queues.

Knowing how commercial the olympics are they probably have an official magician already

mdawg wrote:Knowing how commercial the olympics are they probably have an official magician already

Probably sponsored by some faceless monolithic corporation.

You lot are so cynical!

The commercial aspect of these games is cranked right up, even to the extent of Cameron offering the sponsors tax breaks if they supported the Games - McDonalds have bowed to pressure and agreed to still pay tax on the huge income expected, Coca-Cola are still to be so munificent.

I heard on the radio recently that many shops in Melton Mowbray had agreed to decorate their premises ready to welcome the torch as it passed through the town. In the dress rehearsal some weeks beforehand, one shop - a dressmakers if I remember right - covered five hoops in the Olympic colours and hung them in the shop - they were careful to not interlink the hoops as they'd heard that could infringe copyright. Nevertheless, they received a visit from Trading Standards with a sheaf of paperwork forcing them to remove the hoops there and then whilst the officials watched. Even though the rings weren't fully Olympic, they were enough to upset someone somewhere so, naturally, the shop owners said stuff it and took no further part.

On that basis anyone turning up to entertain will probably be frogmarched away by faceless goons whilst the real security risks are not covered.... Cynical? Moi? Nah!!!

There's also something deeply ugly about fast food vendors like McDonald's and Coca Cola sponsoring an athletics event.

British Gas offering a free swim as part of their support and sponsorship - far better to knock a few quid of their extortionate charges...

Tomo wrote:There's also something deeply ugly about fast food vendors like McDonald's and Coca Cola sponsoring an athletics event.

Aren't the NHS an official sponsor offering obesity and diabetes advice ?

I personally think that the Olympics are a fantastic thing that could encourage many people into sports. Anything that gets the kids away from their playstations and outside and active has got to be a good thing. There is a commercial side to it but you're never going to be able to put on a major event like this without the sponsors.

True, the athletes should really be the focus of things and there's certainly a need for sponsorship to help cover costs. However if the peripherals weren't so elaborate perhaps the sponsorship needn't be so desperate? It's not all that long ago that the opening ceremony was simply a parade of all the athletes taking part, carrying their national flag and receiving cheers and applause. These days' it's an extravaganza featuring celebs and ex-celebs who have naff all to do with the sports or events!

I've just found out that there's a disant relative taking part so will take a renewed interest in the appropriate event !

Personally, I'm not into the Olympics. Dunno why, just not. However I've decided to follow something called speed canoeing. It's so niche it might be worth it. After all, I took a punt on Channel 4's kabadi coverage years ago and thought it was great.

The only problem is that Lord Coe said this week that the canoeing site in Eton has ... wait for it ... waterlogging problems!

Sadly the canoeing event will take place during some very cold weather but the sponsors have decided not to install heaters in each vessel because the Health and Safety people have stated that you can't have your kayak and heat it.....

(sorry, very sorry... coat, hat, door...)

Mandrake wrote:Sadly the canoeing event will take place during some very cold weather but the sponsors have decided not to install heaters in each vessel because the Health and Safety people have stated that you can't have your kayak and heat it.....

(sorry, very sorry... coat, hat, door...)

That was actually physically painful...

I'm sure there will be a few performers out and about for the queues although I expect it will be mostly flag sellers hawking their wares.

I think that despite the good old efforts of our national press to find fault with anything and everything to do with the Olympics we will actually put on a decent event and although a lot of my interest was lost with the whole ticketing arrangements (applied for many and got nothing) I am looking forward to watching some of it on the television.

Today's news is that the organisers have cut half an hour off the Danny Boyle directed opening ceremony to allow attendees to get home before public transport stops operating. I also see that if you want to watch the Basketball final then there's no problem. A ticketing firm is offering seats but they're in a hospitality box with a champagne reception. I guess the price will be rather high!