Is anybody planning anything or just looking forward to watching it ?

I think it is a shame it starts too late as 9pm it quite late if for little people as it should be a family thing.

Anyway we have Flo my daughter coming for a week from Uni and work ,  before she goes off to Spain and France next year for her third year studying Modern Languages at Durham.

So we will be cooking a huge Lasagne with garlic bread and salad and we are thinking an international cocktail evening to go with the theme!! Ok so we should be watching on the treadmill but it is a once in a lifetime event and we are having salad :-)

I won't be watching it for the fact that there are going to be live animals involved, sheep, horses, cows etc.

There is no need, i'm sure the director could promote his "Green and pleasant land" theme without the need to use animals.

I will however be watching everything else.

I shall be watching.  I suppose 9pm is a bit late but there is no school the next day :)

Anyone actually going or to the games themselves? 

> I won't be watching it for the fact that there are going to be live animals involved, sheep, horses, cows etc.
>

Beats going to market I suppose :)

Yes true but younger children do have a sell by date and attention span issues after a certain point :-)

I don't see why having animals is a problem ? It is not as if they are going to be abused or put in danger ?

So you'd say the same about circus animals would you ?

Different thing completely :-)

This is a one off show that I am sure will have proper handlers, vets and infrastructure in place for them.

Farms animals are taken to shows all the time where there are lots of people and noise and are used to being handled.

Totally agree, this is a one off and not something I'll see again in my lifetime so I'm looking forwards to it, I'll be off on a caravan trip with my new van and my five girls, OH will have his duties i.e. see to the toilet and water and make sure the telly is working, then it's BBQ, vino and the opening ceremony.

I'm sure that all safeguards have been put in place for all animals and that the vet oversee will be on hand, it's a show, loads of animals get shown for various reasons and as long as their wellfare is taken care of then all should be good.

I'm well up for it :)

Stooge-- they'll end up in the abattoir anyway--it isn't a matter of either or. It is just unfortunate they have to go through all this stress as well. There is no way live animals should be used.

Both my children have got tickets for this with their dad, apparently they are being picked up from me at 12 noon - didnt realise it started so late!!

> Stooge-- they'll end up in the abattoir anyway--it isn't a matter of either or.

True, but as show animals I suspect their lives will be quite a bit longer for it.
I can't really see the difference between this and one of the large county shows. 
Do you know this got a mention on 2012 tonight :)

All the animals used in the opening ceremony have been supplied from an "Entertainment animal" supplier, they have a life of films, commercials etc being transported up and down the country etc, after Danny Boyles use of them they will go back into the entertainment industry.

The source of the above is Peta (Peoples ethical treatment of animals)

Entertainment industry....hmmm, quite like a circus then !

I'll be watching but whether I make it to the end...

I don't know about my kids but I may nod off :)

> The source of the above is Peta (Peoples ethical treatment of animals)
>

Ah.

>being transported up and down the country etc

A bit like a show dog then :) and no reason to suppose they are any less well looked after in their travels.  If this is the life they are used to I doubt they find it particularly stressful.  

The whole thing is based on big business and money. It was built on the backs of cheap foreign labour, they got round the local labour rules by employing people who had a London postcode, most of them have now gone back to their country of origin. All this at the time of a deep recession when thousand of British workers were unemployed.
And the complete hash that has been made of the security staff is disgusting.

London 2012 should have been of benefit to all of the people, a games to be proud of, but the vast majority  have no interest in it. The sponsors will make a fortune, as will the main contractors etc. But the local population will have no benefit, just severe disruption to transport systems for the duration of the games.
Very disappointed in how the whole thing has been handled, but then what can you expect it is no longer about sport it is just a money making vehicle.

Maybe you are right, although I am sure there were plenty of job opportunities for those willing to work for the minimum wage, however they are here now, things are not going to change, so we may as well enjoy them :).

Of course it has benefits to the local population better future infrastructure in place and it will generate jobs as businesses will start to locate or relocate and provide opportunities for local people.

Yes it is causing disruption but you cannot build or host an event without a considerable amount of temporary inconvenience.

I find people's attitudes quite disappointing when this is an opportunity to promote this country to a world wide audience.

Just think of the impact to tourism is is significant.

Without the big sponsors the games would never have been funded and also future facilities will be improved for example alot of the sports arenas that are being used by the teams for training are closed the public now but will be reopened once they have been refurbished and so will be available to use by everybody.

To my way of thinking there is no difference between keeping dogs and horses and training them so we can share our leisure time with them in competitive and other activities, if you do not agree with this why are you a member of this forum. I assume that those who are complaining about training pigs, cows and sheep to take part in our leisure activities are owners of pets, a case of double standards.

>All the animals used in the opening ceremony have been supplied from an "Entertainment animal" supplier, they have a life of films, commercials etc being transported up and down the country etc, after Danny Boyles use of them they will go back into the entertainment industry.

So they're not scared animals fresh from the fields but instead animals well-used to travelling - if they were dogs we'd say they were properly socialised! How different is that from taking your own pet dog away on holiday with you, or to a show?

>The source of the above is Peta

Oh yes, the organisation who wants to outlaw the keeping of pet animals.

I will be watching this historic event..and that is what it will be for Britons!  I don't think that we need worry about the treatment of animals who have the eyes of the world on them, there will be plenty of people checking that they are being treated O.K.  

I'll be catching bits of it, it's our dog training club night, but I'll watch as much as possible. Can't wait for the sports to start, I love the Olympics! And we've got tickets for the canoe sprint too! :-)

Not going but will be watching over  the coming weeks.  I know one of the paralympians, so will be cheering him on from a distance!

Stoog would you expect your husband if he was a skilled tradesman to work for the minimum wage ?? But most were denied the opportunity as the job was flooded with workers from abroad. What if you have an exsisting mortgage how do you pay that on minimum wage ??

Yes there will be a lasting legacy in terms of infracstructure but most of it in London, they could have done so much more to get the country behind the games but didn't, a lot of lost opportunities.

This will be the first games where tickets for the paralympics will be charged for, talk about greed.

If you live in London then the games are probably a big thing for you, most of the rest of the country could not care less unless you happen to be involved in a particular sport or have a family member involved.
As for having animals in the opening ceremony why ? As " the eyes of the world are on us " surely they could have come up with a less controversial theme.

Sorry but the whole thing bores me rigid - sport is simply someone else's hobby ...and no-one is funding mine to the tune of nine BILLION pounds !! -it's a complete and utter waste of money particularly so when we are in the worst recession for over 50 years and with so many people losing their jobs and so many local  facilities closing or being cut back.

Yvonne

>I'll be watching but whether I make it to the end...

My first cynical thought was that, with the major sponsors being US companies, it's been timed for the US audience. But then I realised that there'll no doubt be fireworks involved (by which time I hope the animals are safely tucked away) so they'll have to wait until dark, and that's not till about 10pm.

> If you live in London then the games are probably a big thing for you, most of the rest of the country could not care less

A bit of a sweeping generalisation... ?! 

A lot of the jobs you describe are not skilled and so wouldn't warrant anything higher than the minimum wage so those jobs are not really for people who have to pay a mortgage or if they did get it then they would more than likely he able to claim for tax credits and additional benefits. I should imagine most people didn't bother applying :-)

I am not in London but feel very proud of what has been achieved and has involved thousands of people.

This is a strange thread, if you wish you can get loads of enjoyment but if you are not interested then you can ignore.

If you want to do the work on offer you do it if not you don't.

Just what is there to argue about, chill and enjoy is what I say or chill and ignore, your choice.

Don't think anybody is arguing (I am not ) just having different opinions and views on the importance of the games to the country !

LOL LJS, think I have been reading too much internet this morning it is enough to send everyone to put their head in the oven, one would have expected people to be a bit more positive about the few thing we have to be positive about but no everyone seems to have the grumps.

I know Jackie I get really frustrated with apathy and people having no pride as I have a positive out look on life otherwise why bother breathing !

>If you live in London then the games are probably a big thing for you, most of the rest of the country could not care less unless you happen to be involved in a particular sport or have a family member involved.

I live in Suffolk and I'm excited about the games thank you. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I doubt I'm the only person outside London who is looking forward to a major sporting event...... ;-)

If you live in London then the games are probably a big thing for you, most of the rest of the country could not care less unless you happen to be involved in a particular sport or have a family member involved.

I'm not " the rest of the country " but for me, in my own little world, I agree with the above statement.
There have been numerous items on the local Scottish news highlighting the lack of interest in Scotland, and the general view that the games are only of benefit to London and the far south.

I'm in Lincolnshire and am looking forward to it but then I would if it was being held anywhere in the world or on the moon if it comes to it. I love competition of any kind and athletics in particular and the fact that we seem to be doing our usual good job fills me with national pride. I wish the event and everyone taking part whether as a competitor or volunteer, specialist or workman all they best and I hope it brings you pleasure to have been associated.

I live in Wales and I consider myself to be 'Welsh' before 'British'. I can't wait for the games to start and will be cheering on our GB team.  Most of the people I come into contact with feel the same, that is except the ones who hate sport anyway!  :)

Wasnt the Common Wealth Games held in Scotland as I certainly didn't have apathy just because it was held over the border :-)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18966548?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Well, for the most easterly small island off the English Coast, Mersea Island doesn't come much smaller - and the fact that we have produced two of the Olympic and Paralympic sailors fills us all with much pride!

Of course the cynics will say that we cannot afford them - my brother (who is 75) can remember my parents ranting on at the unnecessary expense to the country of the 1948 Olympics - plus ca change!   Do you read about that now?  Of course not!

It is a once in a lifetime event (well twice in a lifetime for people the same age as my brother and I - but I remember nothing about 1948 :D ) - let's be proud of our country for once - it doesn't hurt, you know!   Think about how enthusiastic your dogs are to see you - wether you've been out for 5 minutes or 5 hours - can't we cultivate the same enthusiasm?

Well said Margot!!  :)  :)

> Stoog would you expect your husband if he was a skilled tradesman to work for the minimum wage ??

If there was no other work, yes. 

> But most were denied the opportunity as the job was flooded with workers from abroad.

I always wonder when people claim this.  It must be very much easier to pass an interview and get hired if you have the native tongue for instance.

>If you live in London then the games are probably a big thing for you

I don't live in London, I am ooop North and thought from the beginning there were be nothing for us out of this and, all in all, wish that the vote had gone to France, they deserve it :) but it is here and we should make the most of the entertainment instead of moaning about it.  Just my thoughts anyway :)

Wasnt the Common Wealth Games held in Scotland as I certainly didn't have apathy just because it was held over the border

I dunno, passed me by if it was lol.

Have you seen the amount of channels covering the Olympics ?, it'll take some doing to avoid them, although I might sneak a peek at the men's diving   :-)

> Have you seen the amount of channels covering the Olympics

I'm looking at the RT and can only see BBC1 BBC HD and BBC3 that have dawn to dusk coverage.  There is very little on BBC2 other than highlights (when the news is on BBC1).  Nothing at all on ITV, C4 or C5 and nothing on the other satellite channels either.  I'm fairly sure that the Olympics are also not covered on any of the Sky Sport channels except British Eurosport...

In my view that leaves an awful lot of sport free channels - although whether that makes them worth watching is another matter, much of it looks like the 'same old same old' :)  Summer TV often has a lot of repeats

- although whether that makes them worth watching is another matter, much of it looks like the 'same old same old'   Summer TV often has a lot of repeats

So true lol.

Telly's not on at the moment but when I looked last night there were about two whole pages of Sky channels all dedicated to the Olympics.

I'm almost giddy with excitement about it!  We don't have tickets for anything, but just to have it here in the UK is amazing.  All those top class athletes, all those hopes and dreams, all that training, all the blood, sweat and tears.

If the main thing the press can jump on is a third party blunder (big I know) regarding security personel, then haven't we done well to get everything else done.

The first match is on the radio and roll on Friday and the opening ceremony :-)

Well Team GB women's football first win of the games so a good result :-)

The whole point is that most of the construction jobs were never advertised so British workers were not even given the opportunity to apply or an interview.
My husband is in engineering and construction and knows lots of people who wrote, emailed telephoned the main contractors as soon as they were announced. They recruited workers from abroad put them up in accomodation in London, so they would have the required postcodes despite assurances early that they would take on local people first, that is why the postcodes were important !!!

Most of these jobs were for skilled construction and engineering workers, Joiners, Plumbers, Electricians etc. People who are quite willing to travel and not just minimum wage jobs. They did employ engineers, surveyors and senior staff who were british, but the vast majority of workers on the olympic site were recruited from abroad, we have this first hand from someone who did manage to get a job on the site.
What is so annoying is that during the period of the recession, there were lots of skilled tradesmen looking for work, yes some of them did receive benefits, but a lot did not as they were self employed and had houses repossed, gone bankrupt with the resulting marriage breakdowns and family split ups. These people could have had several years work on the site, paying taxes and spending money in the UK. The foreign workers were earning money here to send home !!!
I am sure in 1948 that the games did employ British people on the constuction projects.
People seem to be under the impression that people do not want to work, we are in the middle one of the biggest recessions ever, repossesions are at an all time high, bankrupcy, cut backs in welfare services. None of the politicians all parties could care less they are only concerned with profits. So I am not a kill joy just spelling out why some people are not giddy about the games.

>wish that the vote had gone to France, they deserve it :-)

As a 'poisoned chalice'? :-D

> but the vast majority of workers on the olympic site were recruited from abroad

There will be expences incurred in a foreign recruitment drive so not sure it makes any sense that they would deliberately do so if appropriate and willing recruits were available here but who knows.  Our workers have done well in Europe in the past (and sent the money home no doubt:)) so I guess it is all swings and roundabouts.

> As a 'poisoned chalice'? :-D

;)

Actually what you have now spelt out, for the third time, is your dissatisfaction with the games.

We are all intellegant people on here, we can think for ourselves, and make our own decisions. We also have our own opinions, which we are also entitled to.

A balance of opinions is good, but it needs to be balanced.

Anyhow! We have won our first match woohoo, back to giddy giddy giddy ness :-)