There's nothing in it for me (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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There's nothing in it for me
9:00am Thursday 14th June 2012 in Opinion
By Helen Perkins, Reporter
I WANT it noted that I, and many others, have not been won over by the Olympic Games shenanigans.
To me, it’s just another glorified sports day. I have been trying to forget about those events since I left school.
Every year we would be herded out on to the fields to sit, in the blazing heat or freezing wind, and watch the organised madness.
Kids spent the afternoon racing up and down the athletics track. The cool ones dressed from head to toe in Adidas. The fat ones at the back.
For a few talented runners, it was a chance to show off and up their status in the high school pecking order. However, I was never one of that group.
I hated the hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin and discus. I quite liked running although I couldn’t sprint and when forced to take part in the 1,500 metres, one of my peers told me I ran like a giraffe.
Sports day seemed more like a punishment than the jolly day of good will and humour the PE department insisted that it was.
Usually, me and my friend Katie survived by trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible and therefore missing as many races as possible.
When the eyes of our PE teachers were turned, we would disappear off round the back of the art rooms.
It’s felt similar this week. While politicians and tourism groups seem to be falling over themselves to applaud the Olympics as something the whole nation can take part in, I can’t help feeling there’s nothing in it for me and around another 80 per cent of the population.
For elite athletes, I’m sure the competition will be amazing. Likewise, for the elite city of London and its businesses I dare say the Olympics will be great –or at least profitable.
But for people, like me, in the North, there’s not much fun to be had except watching hours and hours of ‘other people doing stuff on TV’.
The Olympic torch arrives in South Lakeland next Thursday, and I’ll be reporting on the events. This oversized cigarette being dragged up to Cumbria has done nothing to light my passion for the event.
I’ll try to be enthusiastic. Just don’t expect me to cheer, or run after it, or anything...
Comments(17)
FormerReader
says...
10:36am Thu 14 Jun 12
Dr J Dean
says...
1:15pm Thu 14 Jun 12
I enjoy Helen's column whenever I read it. It is always lighthearted and witty.
In answer to FormerReader, it's not this good humoured article that is offensive, it's you with your quick temper, your insults and your dogmatism (i.e. this bizarre idea that anyone who doesn't enjoy the Olympics is somehow insulting those who do).
Herdwick also takes this same dogmatic line: If you're not an ardent supporter of the Olympics you should lose your job. This is the veiled threat contained in both comments. Apart from their authoritarianism, this reveals how these two commenters have delusions of grandeur and power, thinking that their comments will somehow get Helen in trouble. In short, this behaviour is pathetic, aggressive and deluded.
Early_bird
says...
2:01pm Thu 14 Jun 12
Old Fart
says...
11:06am Mon 18 Jun 12
Every man and his dog are after publicity and having their names and photo's published in the newspapers.
I will not be watching the "torch" going through Kendal, I have better things to do.
I cannot stand Sebastion Coe either, he and his cronies will end up being much wealthier after all this.
Best of luck to all the British competitors though.
Regarding the first two posts, I would tell them to "**** off"
fellsman
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11:36am Mon 18 Jun 12
emmielou
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11:58am Mon 18 Jun 12
zaney5
says...
12:57pm Mon 18 Jun 12
Spies
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7:58pm Mon 18 Jun 12
thebigsheep
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9:59pm Mon 18 Jun 12
onelocal
says...
2:39am Tue 19 Jun 12
fellsman wrote:Unfortunately anyone owning a trademark, brand name or copyright has to protect that from general usage, or they lose the exclusive right to use it. Whether it is the IOC with their rings, a company with their trademark or brand, a musician with his music, a writer with his books, or a photographer with his pictures, the same need to protect applies.
Well said Helen - people need to get to grips with the idea that there are people for whom the Olympics hold no interest. It is over commercialised hype - when small shop keepers are threatened with prosecution for decorating their windows with the olympic symbol because of its copyright - for bearers of the torch not able to wear anything that might upset the sponsors - for people not being able to take soft drinks into a venue because the one of the sponsors won't allow it - the true spirit of the Games disappeared many years ago and will never be allowed to return owing to the greed of the big sposoring corporations
Moonbase
says...
8:36am Tue 19 Jun 12
My carbon footprint on thursday will be like big foot avoiding this charade.
Waste of money yet again.
On a lighter note as to 'onelocal's' comment.....How did 'Little Chef' get away with selling 'Olympic Feast's'?
Surely that's a breach of copyright.
onelocal
says...
9:28am Tue 19 Jun 12
Moonbase wrote:Little Chef have used the term "Olympic Breakfast" continuously for many years, and long before the legislation The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 was introduced. The act specifically allows this continued use. I understand they were not allowed to openly use Daley Thompson to advertise the breakfast in the run up to the 2012 games.
Well said Helen,good too see that i'm not the only 'Meldrew' in town.
My carbon footprint on thursday will be like big foot avoiding this charade.
Waste of money yet again.
On a lighter note as to 'onelocal's' comment.....How did 'Little Chef' get away with selling 'Olympic Feast's'?
Surely that's a breach of copyright.
The 1995 Act protects the Olympic Games trademarks and specific words generally. The use of specified word and symbols in relation to the London games is protected by the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006
redhairedgranny
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11:25am Tue 19 Jun 12
redhairedgranny
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11:25am Tue 19 Jun 12
tictoc1
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12:33pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Kendmoor
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5:30pm Thu 21 Jun 12
Herdwick says...
9:27am Thu 14 Jun 12