Olympic Torch Experience !

[luluj]

I have had the most magical day !

As a local town councillor I have been priviledged to spend the morning with 13 torch bearers before and after there own once in a lifetime experience....lots of pictures taken and on my facebook status...I even got to hold the torch myself - we were noted to be one of the busiest towns for crowds lining the street and Radio 1 Chris Moyles mentioned it this morning - just a shame we can't do it again !

I have a close friend who was nominated to run with the torch and he did us all proud this morning !

For those who have not yet seen the torch - please try to - it really is a moving experience !

[artemischild]

I hid in a bush to see it when it came to our area lol! it was going from the bus into a BT centre for a 'private sponsors' event so i hid near the entrance.....like some deranged stalker lol!

it was a weird and quite emotional experiance, unsure why as im not really into sports, just some overwhelming sense of pride i guess!!

Glad you got up a lot closes, i bet the 13 torch bearers were beaming!!!

Arty

[luluj]

They certainly were Arty - all had been chosen for various reasons and came from the local area !

[Skippy]

It's near me tomorrow. I was going to take the afternoon off and go but decided it was a waste of holiday, especially in the bad weather!

[Niobe]

It's been in my area twice and one of the wifes work colleagues was a bearer but I'm afraid neither of us went. I'll be glad when it's all over!!

[footiemad]

Saw the pictures on fb - lovely x

[luluj]

Thank you footiemad.

Harpic and Skippy - I am sure the thousands of people that came out and saw it this morning included some that really do not like sport - my mother included - however it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the atmosphere and adrenalin that you get from being part of it is fantastic.

We took the day off work and have continued to celebrate the day with breakfast in the pub (yes beer at 9am) and then time with friends before a meal tonight to celebrate our friends torchbearing experience !

Go on put your shoes on and go and see it tomorrow !

[Skippy]

I love sport but I'm just not bothered about standing in the rain to watch someone who has probably paid for the privilege carry the torch!

Even if I still wanted to go it would be half a day's holiday that I can't spare.

I'm afraid I agree with Harpic - I'll be glad when it's all over as it's going to cause all sorts of problems, especially in the South East. We've already been told that we might have delivery issues to our customers and freight is already being bumped from flights. It'll be even worse the closer it gets!

[luluj]

Nominations for the torchbearers were made over 12 months ago - they are worthy of carrying the torch.

I have issues with the celebrities getting in on the act as this then means less local people get the opportunity - such as Lewis Hamilton today in Luton !

I understand your concerns during the actual games, as my workplace is also busy putting continuity plans into place and cancelling all unnecessary meetings in London and moving people to the offices outside of the area to the Olympic venues to avoid being caught up in the travel for it all.....but I still am excited about the games and think we may have to agree to disagree on this one !

[Foggy]

I saw the thread title and wondered what shinagigans OT had been up to

Personally I don't hold much store in the torch bearing ceremonies going on around the country, but, being a torch bearer (apart from the celebrities drafted in as crowd pullers) does mean an awful lot to the bearers themselves and, as such, their pride should not be diminished.

If I could leave the country for the duration of the games I would be ecstatic !!

[Skippy]

I think we will have to agree to disagree!

My main problem with the torch is so many corporate people have got involved when it was nothing to do with them - it should be local people who have actually achieved something, and preferably who actually take part in sport.

I just think it's going to be a white elephant that will be costing the country money for years, much the same as it has Greece.

I'll watch it but I'm even a bit disillusioned with the sport side now - since they decided to let cheats like Dwain Chambers back into the team it's devalued it completely.

Now if they have Roger Black commentating I might be a bit more interested!

[Skippy]

Oh and I also think the people trying to sell the torches on Ebay are complete mercenaries who obviously weren't that bothered about carrying it in the first place!

[Niobe]

I totally agree Skip with both of your posts.

[Foggy]

The selling of torches is a difficult one if you are in that position. Personally, had I been a torch bearer (which would have been a minor miracle in itself) I would keep it.

However, the daughter of a friend was so honoured and said to her mum ( when torches were reputed to be getting silly money) that the torch would pay for her to go through Uni, without incurring massive debt, if sold .... quite a dilemma for a teenager. As it turns out, she has decided to keep it.

You have to remember that they had to buy their torches and, in some cases, this is no different and just as heartbreaking as veterans having to sell medals.

[luluj]

I think there should be a ban on the selling of the uniforms and torches......I totally agree with you that this is unfair and shows little respect.

The 13 torchbearers through our town this morning were all linked to voluntary work with local organisations involved in sport, or were victims of a sports injury that had left them paralysed.....so for my town they were all worthy torchbearers