The 'we are fantastic' attitude about the Olympics

We are doing fantastic at the Olympics.

 

This, pretty much. And before anyone asks, don't do the lottery...

 

Don't agree
I have never seen the England football team play
I don't go to Premier league matches where all of the England players play.
But I want England to win more than I want Barnsley to win because a win for England would be a huge uplifting boost for ALL of the country (England).
I do buy lottery tickets so I have a bigger stake in TeamGB and want TramGB to win medals because it is a great boost to the people of Britain.
I also think that it's a good advert for the country- people and businesses abroad will look at these results and feel that Britain is a special place to go and see and to do business in.
That's going to benefit all of us that live here - that is to say 'WE' that live here.

 

But in buying a lottery ticket, WE do support our Olympians. ..

 

I think it's been a very welcome distraction.

It's the media which creates all the hype and that's where people (me included) get all excited about the performance of the Great British team.

When I say it's been a welcome distraction, what I mean is that, for the first time probably this year, something really positive is being portrayed in the media. Prior to this, we've had the terrorist attack, and all the propaganda surrounding IS thrust upon us. This in itself has caused the British public to become divided due to everyone's differing opinions. This was worsened during the climax of the EU referendum and the aftermath.

The Olympic games has been a breath of fresh air. Yes I know, I've done sweet FA to support Britain's efforts in the games, but so what! Are you suggesting that I can only follow team GB's efforts if I am competing or have a monetary interest in the games? If that's the case then the same argument could be made about almost anything? I can't watch the football because I can't play it. I can't watch a boxing match because I'm soft. I can't watch the x-factor on a Saturday night (which I have absolutely no intention of doing anyway) because I can't sing and know nobody involved.

If it's uniting a nation again, albeit probably temporarily, then surely it's a good thing. My employer has tasked every team in our office with decorating their area to support a particular nation. We got Armenia. I went a bit mental and bought a couple of Armenian flags. We then have an Olympic event every day at 11am. It's been extended past the final ceremony of the games as it's been such a morale boosting exercise. It's even got us all following our adopted countries.

Does it really matter whether people have a physical stake in the games if the effects of it are positive regardless. I'm sure there's hundreds of kids watching it who have been inspired to take up a sport they probably wouldn't have though of prior to watching it. And in 16 years time, we'll probably be watching them win a medal.

I have watched the Olympic games almost religiously for as long as I can remember. I vaguely remember watching some of the 96 games with my dad. I would have been 6/7 years old. I'm not going to stop now because we're doing well at it.

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'We' all have

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Ok. As long as you don't say 'we' when referring to Barnsley football club.

 

You should sit and watch it with my Dad - he calls all the athletes by their first names as if he knows them.

Bit of a shame to try and to take the gloss off what has been a very successful Olympics. Can't see anything wrong with people wanting to be part of the success or for celebrating it.

 

I've found myself telling the missus all the athletes back stories after I've heard them the day before.

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I don't think I've ever read as much cummudgery in my life. That maybe how YOU feel but please don't class that as WE. each to their own and all that but your opinion and stand point will differ greatly from many others.

 

How could anyone not be enthused by the story of Nick Skelton. I've got zero interest in show jumping but the story of a 58 year old winning an Olympic gold is like a film script.

 

He's one of many inspirational stories from this games alone.

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You mean 58 years old ...has had a broken neck, hip replacement, dodgy knees and was advised by doctors not to ride again. Been to umpteen Olympics and RIO was the 'Last chance saloon' to win what he has always wanted i.e. an Olympic Gold medal. (Not to mention the 'crocked horse' that had to be retired from the last Olympics 'cos it was injured and hasn't won a thing since 2013.)

Wow!! What film studio or producer would believe that - way too far fetched! Truly inspiring and a real down to Earth bloke.

 

What gives you the right to say everyone is wrong to refer to the Great British team as 'we'. You say there's nothing 'we' about it. How?

Why are the athletes proud to represent their country if there's no 'we'? If there isn't a 'we', who or what are they representing, other than themselves? If that's the case why don't they just wear kit with their name on and not team GB?

You don't have any right to say the rest of the country have had no interest in the Olympians, as you have exactly fook all of an idea of what anyone is interested in other than yourself and people around you. Unless you know the thoughts of the whole population.

And as for drugs and misconduct. Which was the last British Olympic medal winner to be involved in any such scandal? You remind me. I won't have forgotten about all the athletes in a few weeks either.

I appreciate you can have an opinion, and that you won't be alone in it, but this and your subsequent posts make mockery of anyone that takes pride in the country being represented excellently and being happy to be associated with that success.

I am amongst those who definitely see Britain as we. I think we have had a magnificent olympics as a country and I laud all the competitors, win or lose, that have or are representing our country.

I have no issues with my attitude to myself. I have no need to 'satiate' as I am in need of no 'solace'. I have a decent job, nice home, I am healthy, my wife and kids are happy and healthy, my football team have had probably one of the greatest six months of form in their history. I didn't need the Olympics to brighten my horizons or to paper over any cracks in my life. I'm just pleased that our country is doing well.

Watch what you like of the olympics, refer to the British team as 'they' rather than 'we' if you wish. No bother. Your choice. If you want to be annoyed by people not agreeing with you that's up to you. I could easily throw accusations at you of your motivation in writing that post though I've little interest in throwing counter criticism at you. It's your choice.

But you've no right to criticise me or anyone else on a public forum who don't act as you do. We have the same rights of choice as you.

 

I never said you were mental if you read again did I I said some people mainly inferring the journalist who wrote that bit and most of the media. If your gonna split hairs about us and we then you need to get a grip they are winning these medals fro Great Britain and Northern Island of which mist of us are residents and even more of us are citizens of. Jason Kenny and Laura Trott aren't winning golds for themselves they are winning them for their country, its their country that's funded their training its people in their country who's taxes contribute to paying for their budgets to pay for coaches and equipment. Yes the Olympics aren't fair its rife with corruption, internal politics and drugs cheats but that shouldn't reflect badly on athletes who have devoted their lives to training in one sport should it, they should be proud of what they've achieved not be lambastes because not everyone competing hasn't had the same opportunities that's up to the IOC and the countries themselves to provide these opportunities for these people and we can't sit there refusing to compete because there isn't a level playing field because until the people in power of all of these countries and organisations sort themselves out there never will be and your just depriving people of opportunities that have done nothing wrong.

I'm assuming you've not read my post properly because alot of what I said wasn't aimed at you in the slightest it was aimed at that guardian article. And the comparison to football I valid because their both sports that face similar problems and Team GB and Barnsley are both teams I associate with whether they win, lose, draw and even fail to qualify their still my team. I get what your saying about people only supporting them because their good but why does that surprise you people are naturally fickle they'll always gravitate to the most successful, the richest, the most powerful. Anyway I've had enough of this argument I'm more bothered about what happens at 3 then the internal politics at the IOC and the unfairness of live, but please in future dont try and demean what I say especially if you haven't read it properly and as you admitted yourself you didn't understand it

Again I apologise long boring rant

 

But not quite as good as YORKSHIRE!..Eh Ian?

As for "We"..I call team GB We, like I do Englaand at football or cricket etc...And Me and Jess are on first name terms!!! She doesn't know it, but we are.

Winning at sport gives a feelgood factor away from the grind of everyday life.