You do realise that you could all be potentially in breech of copyright law here?


All of the official names, phrases, trade marks, logos and designs related to the 2012 Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements (collectively referred to as the 'Games' Marks') are protected by law in a variety of ways.

The following are some of the current items that make up the Games' Marks

Not only that, all official vehicles (coaches & cars) are also chipped and can change traffic lights in their favour, as they approach.

It is going to be an absolute nightmare. Unfortunately, I cannot be out of the country – and, therefore, out of the 'Olympic borough' – for that period. Waiting to find out working arrangements and hoping to be working at home for a chunk of it, which will at least mean being able to avoid one of the most busy areas of the centre of town.

I may go and see the torch, since it's passing by only about a 20-minute walk away, but that's not a given.

I'll be attending the games.
It's costing me an arm and a leg but I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime thing and, as it approaches, I'm looking forward to it more and more.

Despite all that, I doubt I'll watch the torch go by or the opening ceremony.
To me, they are a bit like the matchday "entertainment" we get at SL games, it's there and that's all fine and dandy but I don't actually give it much attention.

im going for a couple of days, got reasonably priced tickets for the events, and booked a decent hotel last week in Central London for £120 a night, so not a complete rip off.

Which links in with there being places where local people are being told that they cannot cross the road at a crossing as usual, but have to walk to a different crossing, even if they actually want to go to somewhere directly on the other side of their usual crossing and the next crossing is quite some way away.

Black cabs will not be able to get within a mile of the main venues – so don't hire one to get you there. They and buses will, as has been mentioned, be barred from lanes on a number of routes.

We have rl'Games Maker Training' near us – the Games logos are the same size as McDonalds and Cadbury on banners outside the venuesrl; it's little wonder that a lot of people are beginning to wonder just who the Games are actually for. Perhaps this is what every host area feels?

And there are plenty of people locally who are also beginning to seriously ask just what we are going to get out of the events, especially as it's thought many small businesses will suffer (the really big ones will make more money, of course, with an expected retail boost of £60m.

I think there's going to be a massive disparity between the glamour and the excitement of the sport itself, and the reality on the ground.

And as for 'the legacy' ...

Emma wanted to apply for tickets until I pointed out that the best venue for watching and discipline was on a sofa, in front of a Panasonic 50" HD screen, with a Sherwood amp providing 5.1 surround sound. She kept the money in her bank.

I've managed to get through life since 1966 and only watching the World Cup Final on the telly, without a sense of too much deprivation, I reckon I could manage without seeing an Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling contest or the Ladies' Weightlifting.

On the subject of traffic, the only problems I personally foresee are when I want to go fishing from Weymouth. Although saying that, the hotels and guest houses in the area still have plenty of availability so I can't imagine the place will be heaving with speccies. They've put exclusion areas in place around Portland & Weymouth to prevent boat traffic getting too close and there is talk of closing certain parks to prevent anyone copping a free viewpoint. There are also contingencies for a complete lock-down of the whole of Dorset, in case of terrorist attack.

I miss nearly all of it. Flying out to LA for the start of our hols the day before the opening ceremony and don't get back until 4 days before the close. That wasn't deliberate but I'm not too fussed either.

Back in 1996, I covered Euro '96, attending 13 of the 31 matches over three weeks. I had an absolute ball – I would love to go to the World Cup or even another European Championships as a fan. The atmosphere was brilliant.

There are plenty of the sports involved in the Games that I enjoy – and in some cases, have watched live. But I think that the concentration of so many sports (and people) in one already very crowded area is bonkers from a logistical point alone. And that's without the issue of the corporatism.

So you like looking at the female snatch?

Do you follow up with your own jerk and clean?

Would have been funny if he hadn't prefixed it with "without seeing "

Even then I think I'd have to be back in the playground to find it remotely humorous

So you are an old f**t?

There are definitely negatives as well as positives but one of the positives that small businesses may well be overlooking is the increased business that they may well get after the Olympics have been and gone, with the increased foot-fall to the venue and an increase in residents.

Managed to get tickets for an evening at the athletics followed the next morning by the canoeing & kayaking (which I admit to knowing nowt about) at Eton. £100 for a B&B in Ascot (will probably get there about 1am leave at 8am). I expect the travelling to be horrendous (Park & ride from/to Lakeside then 60m drive to Ascot to the B&B). Priceless.