Are you getting excited about the Olympics?

No not a bit excited

I just keep telling myself - it'll soon be over. Then we can have our country back again... roll on!

Hi nanaej
We will be there next Sunday, 0930 onwards, how about you?
Enjoy yourselves. We can compare notes afterwards!

I wonder if general views [and my view] will change once the Olympics starts and we win a medal or two. I am not convinced but - just have to wait and see. I didn't want us to win the Olympics for London and I dislike the ballyhoo. My main concern is security and if it goes off without incident, that will be the best result of all.

MaggieP am going to Eton Dorney too, taking my DGD1! no idea what a canoe sprint is but we will enjoy it anyway!

No. I've just been subjected to almost a full body search each time I've entered my hotel! There were about 4 police officers and at least half a dozen 'security' guards around and inside a small marquee a manned xray machine and one of those arches to walk through. Apparently some Olympic team or other were staying at the hotel but the funny thing is there was a bus stop right next to this tent which was ignored, a subway nearby and a college down the road where I was attending a conference with absolutely no security at all. The railway station was normal as well. I was carrying some scissors in my bag because I'd attached my poster roll to my suitcase and wasn't challenged on that - it was my bra strap that caused the machine some gip! Rather OTT I think.

We are going to see some of the rowing at Eton Dorney, with fine weather it could be fun, however we have to park and ride,be there two hours early, expect an hour or more security checks as at the airports and same rules re: 100mls of liquid etc. Heats start at 0930, so a very early beginning of the day.
After all that, the heats are only for 2 hrs 20 mins!!
Having started to read about what we are seeing and where , I did feel a 'frisson' of excitement. So watch this space friends

A bit...

Don't believe the hype. Trading standards officers are going to have enough on their plate dealing with fake merchandise.

Not in the slightest - I hope to avoid as much of it as possible.

The commercialism is sickening - people can't even put the olympic symbol in their windows - it is nonsense, and little of it has to do with true sportsmanship.

Can't end quickly enough as far as I am concerned.

Lets face it the Aussies are entitled to have a bit of a go at UK, as are lots of other countries. it is the UK having a go at itself that I object to!
Lots of silly hype about "you can't use the world gold in your shop" along the same silly lines as "the pc brigade have cancelled christmas decorations" that our pathetic press come up with. And then the public join in with gusto, griping, moaning , criticising and generally hoping that things will all go wrong.
Am so outraged at all this negativity that I am seriously considering buying an authorised olympic t shirt, however unflattering and wearing it for the next month.

What happened to the Australian swimmer who swam in the Varsity boat race this year? Was he one of Australia's advance team? Whatever England [ GB ] do there are Austrailians ready to mock. Even if we came top of the medals' board and put on a faultless Games their press [many Murdock controlled ] would still find something to sneer at. Remember what the AOC president was reported to say in the Guardian at Beijing after Rebecca Adlington's Gold in the 400m freestyle: "It's not bad for a country that has no swimming pools and very little soap."

I'm planning to decorate the sitting room. I will start at the end furthest away from the TV and gradually work my way around DH's chair as he probably won't budge for a fortnight. That way I get to do something constructive and not miss any of the exciting bits (if there are any)

Perhaps the paralympics are now closer the original ideals of sport. Also the fact that these people and the way they have overcome their disabilities deserve a medal before they even get to the games. They make me feel very humble.

NO !

It is the gross and oppressive commercialism of the Olympics that has destroyed my interest. The banning of the use of the Olympic rings symbol which stops shops small and large using them in window dressing to celebrate the event, the monopoly of catering by fast food manufacturers and the oppressive rules that stop spectators bringing in their own food, the farce of the ticket sales. All these bring the Olympic ideal into contempt.

However the paralympics are something else and I will undoubtedly watch those.

Apparently the German press is having a field day, predicting that this year's Olympics will be a washout in more ways than one. I'd love them to be proved wrong, but I can't help wishing France had won the bid.

Yes I am!
And really fed up with the Uk press for being so negative. No wonder the Ozzies call us whinging poms. I'd bet when they had the olympics there was not all this negative press. They are blessed with less press of course. But the BBC is leading the charge.

I'm getting more embarrassed by the day.

Not interested in the Olympics but will watch the opening and closng ceremonies.

No. I like the Winter Olympics for the skating and ski-jumping,otherwise I might watch the gymnastics and some athletics. I have no interest in any team games.

I had to be in London on Wednesday to take DH's heart monitor back to the Royal Free in Hampstead so instread of just coming home, I took the London Overground which passes very close to the Olympic Park, if not actually through it, round to Stratford, went into Westfield shopping centre and up to the third floor of John Lewis where there is a viewing suite (sadly, in use, so closed) but the windows on either side gave a fantastic view of the stadium etc and the big red Anish Kapoor thingy. Despite no interest in athletics per se, I found myself feeling quite excited!

In a word...no!