Well the Torch relay went through Chester on the 29th and thousands of people turned out with 25K on the racecourse where the relay stopped for the night. I went along with one of my sons to watch it go past and it was a really nice atmosphere.

Jessica Ennis ran the torch into England from Wales at the south side of Chester into Saltney near to where I live which is where she grew up. She was interviewed on North West tonight and was clearly quite emotional and very proud and I have no problems with her being in the relay.

They also interviewed three people chosen to run with the torch. Only one of the three was from Chester and even then he was from Blacon which is outside of the City so I was a bit surprised at that but they were all worthy torch barer's.

The thing is though the one who ran past me was none of those three and I have no idea who he was!

The guy from Blacon was in a wheelchair and a bit of his stint was also on Northwest tonight and given what I saw it was clear he only got about 500m from the landmarks I spotted so yes this is a bit naff. One of the others was in here 70's so perhaps that was about right for her!

Here are some photos taken in Hough Green which is just up the road from Saltney to give you an idea of the level of interesthttps://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7307595108_4d269d704a.jpg" >rl

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and here is the mystery man with the torchhttps://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7307602670_bb2e422e66.jpg" >rl

I was chatting with someone a while ago. He and his teenage son follow one of the martial arts. They are club members, go to events all over the place, attend championships etc.

They can't get tickets for the Olympic versions – even though they can buy a ticket on the door of any other major championship, due to lack of interest.

In the meantime, the Lottery has been tweeting that it's got tickets for grabs: all you need to do is retweet. Well, that's obviously been a good way to spend the money raised for 'good causes' – and indeed to raise more.

Benefit by infringing a trademark? No.

What? You're defending this?

Olympic – of Olympus. Olympic Games – not trademarked when invented or even re-invented.

It's not like calling your cafe 'McDonalds'.

He knew he was on shakey ground three years ago when he asked trading standards about it.

He asked about it. He was given an answer (apparently) and he complied with that.

And you're defending this?

I can't believe you are defending someone who is seeking to gain financially out of trademark infringement.

The torch came through Warrington earlier, with hundreds lining the way. Majority of which were school children who were bussed in from all over the town (council tax money?). The rest were mainly the elderly.

Oh and there was a 15 minute coca cola break for everyone at the large Tesco store.

Could'nt exactly say it was a resounding success, just a hindrance for everyday commuters. God knows what the policing bill was.

So if, say, the Vatican trademarked the cross, you'd consider that perfectly acceptable?

From the link he only changed the name to try to cash in on the "Olympic" brand after London was awarded the games. Accordingly, he should receive no sympathy. If he wanted legal advice, the last place he should have gone to is a Local Authority!

You are still defending someone who seeks to make money from infringing a trademark.

And you're still defending idiocy.

I note you aren't answering the question about the church etc.

The Olympic 'brand' managed perfectly well for millennia without being trademarked. The current situation is doing more damage to it than anything that went before. And it illustrates just where we are a society – or perhaps that should be, as a corporatocracy?

Well as you can see from the photos I posted the crowd in Chester was made up of all ages and it certainly wasn't bussed in. The 25K crowd at the racecourse even paid to get in.

I reckon so far the majority are pretty happy to see the torch procession come through their locality.



They were handing out small bottles of coke from one of the floats when it went past. My son didn't get one. I think he has forgotten he just turned 18 and isn't a little kid any more!



People actually came to Chester to see it so as the city has a large tourist economy I think the council will have been pleased especially given the extended coverage it got on North West Tonight.

Millennia?
There were no Olympics during the time between the Ancient Greeks and Victorian times.
Hence, I think decades would be more appropriate.

Continue ...

I wonder when rlthis lotrl will start proceedings against the Olympic Organisation for nicking their original idea?