# I pit the Olympics. This is the final straw. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 19, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440 "2012-05-19T16:56:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![spotthegerbil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@spotthegerbil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spotthegerbil)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/21 "2012-05-19T22:39:52Z")
Sod the Olympics. They tried to [drape Edinburgh Castle with their logo](http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15757202). We [sent them homewards to think again](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15859236). It’s bad enough that we’ve got two days of road closures while they lug round a sparkly cheesegrater. London, you have my sympathies. People are coming to Scotland this year to get away from that tat. I wish Paris had won. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/22 "2012-05-19T22:47:55Z")
Driving me around the bend at the moment with all this bogus threatricality and faux-gravitas surrounding the flame being lit and transported; really, all these young women in their white robes and shit. Do me a favour. It’s just a private franchise that knows how to squeeze an awful lot of money out of taxpayers. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/23 "2012-05-19T22:49:06Z")
Don’t forget that there’s also the Diamond Jubilee, Wimbledon and Euro 2012 to endure beforehand. An entire Summer packed with fun. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/24 "2012-05-19T23:08:17Z")
I remember when the Olympics were at Atlanta… everybody was bitching about how the traffic would absolutely be a disaster, etc. Except that most people took that week off of work, made other arrangements, etc. The Olympics was actually the easiest time one had driving downtown @ 7:30 in the morning since the 1960’s. Your mileage may vary, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/25 "2012-05-19T23:16:20Z")
I for one am grateful for the opportunity to pay additional tax for several years to fund an event which will increase the price of everything within miles of the site and make it virtually impossible for me to get into work, which the UK will not do any better than normal at and which then will result in the whole overpriced Olympic site being sold to government cronies at vastly reduced prices so they can knock the whole thing down again and put up “luxury flats”. Go Team UK! ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/26 "2012-05-19T23:16:25Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Enforced by who? The London Organising Committee of the Games and Paralympic Games ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/27 "2012-05-19T23:17:18Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > all these young women in their white robes and shit Sounds more like a ritual sacrifice to me. Oh yeah, I think a [minute’s silence](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sports/2012-05/17/c_131594829.htm) should be held for every Lebanese civilian killed in the latest incursion by Israel there. That way we could skip commentary for almost a day. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/28 "2012-05-19T23:19:47Z")
> [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](#): > > The London Organising Committee of the Games and Paralympic Games I don’t mean to hijack a Pit thread (is that even possible?), but what legal mechanism of British law do they use to enforce this? It just seems crazy to me that they could force local businesses to take down signs. I’d like to think that this kind of thing wouldn’t stand in the United States. Does anyone know if something similar happens here in the states when the Olympics roll into town? ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/29 "2012-05-19T23:20:57Z")
And to think I tried to help the NYC 2012 Olympic Committee way back when. Shudder. I recall the 2004 Republican Convention at Madison Square Garden and what a pain it was for me to get to Penn Station to go home on the LIRR. NYC would have had the most compact modern Olympics ever. Everything would have been local. But the big sticking point was a new stadium to be built on the west side. The NY Jets would have had a sweetheart deal and the pols were still smarting from getting screwed over by the Yankees and Mets. (IIRC) So now the Jets and Giants share a new facilty across the river in New Jersey and the west side yards are still there along with a few not so beautiful businesses that can’t afford ritzier digs. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/30 "2012-05-20T01:04:48Z")
I am terribly sorry that this once-in-50-years event that spans all of 12 days is going to mess up you’re commute. Isn’t stuff like the Olympics kind of the point of living in a world-class city? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/31 "2012-05-20T02:14:49Z")
I think most of your rant is valid. But, why shouldn’t the tickets be expensive? Most of the world will watch it on TV for free, they have to recoup costs somehow. $474 for a ticket doesn’t seem that bad, given how much they cost to put on. I’m just happy they haven’t gone to pay-per-view! Anyway, it seems dumb to build a bunch of new infrastructure every 4 years. Why don’t they just pick one location and host it there every time? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/32 "2012-05-20T03:14:40Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t mean to hijack a Pit thread (is that even possible?), but what legal mechanism of British law do they use to enforce this? It just seems crazy to me that they could force local businesses to take down signs. I’d like to think that this kind of thing wouldn’t stand in the United States. Does anyone know if something similar happens here in the states when the Olympics roll into town? I’m looking for the cite, but Harry Shearer had a bit on his weekly radio show recently about how the International Olympic Committee required the host nation to change its laws to favor rigorous protection of the Olympics’ and their official sponsors’ trademarks. I can’t recall which show but here’s his website: [LeShow](http://www.harryshearer.com/news/le_show/) ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/33 "2012-05-20T03:26:36Z")
Found it on “The Guardian” web site on 4/13/12: [Olympics 2012: branding ‘police’ to protect sponsors’ exclusive rights](http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/13/olympics-2012-branding-police-sponsors) ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/34 "2012-05-20T04:47:33Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I think most of your rant is valid. But, why shouldn’t the tickets be expensive? Most of the world will watch it on TV for free, they have to recoup costs somehow. $474 for a ticket doesn’t seem that bad, given how much they cost to put on. I’m just happy they haven’t gone to pay-per-view! > > Anyway, it seems dumb to build a bunch of new infrastructure every 4 years. Why don’t they just pick one location and host it there every time? Imagine how expensive the tickets would be if all the pro athletes received their usual compensation. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/35 "2012-05-20T04:54:11Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Most of the world will watch it on TV for free, they have to recoup costs somehow. Free? Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how much the broadcasting television stations pay to the Olympics people for the rights to broadcast the games? And how much those TV stations, in turn, charge advertisers for spots during the coverage? The fact that the schlubs sitting at home watching NBC (or whatever) don’t have to pay directly for the coverage does not mean it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/36 "2012-05-20T06:07:12Z")
> [@spotthegerbil](#): > > Sod the Olympics. > > They tried to [drape Edinburgh Castle with their logo](http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15757202). We [sent them homewards to think again](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15859236). It’s bad enough that we’ve got two days of road closures while they lug round a sparkly cheesegrater. London, you have my sympathies. > > People are coming to Scotland this year to get away from that tat. I thought we were getting stuck with some of the [football](http://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/events/hampden/london-2012-olympic-games-football-at-hampden-park.html)up here? > [@spotthegerbil](#): > > I wish Paris had won. Seconded. OP, you have my sympathies. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/37 "2012-05-20T06:11:55Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > … it’s caused a **circus convention** I was going to attend to be cancelled … I think the Olympics are the _least_ of your … concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/38 "2012-05-20T06:44:11Z")
OP sounds like some kind of a nut. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/39 "2012-05-20T06:56:36Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Free? Are you kidding me? > > Do you have any idea how much the broadcasting television stations pay to the Olympics people for the rights to broadcast the games? And how much those TV stations, in turn, charge advertisers for spots during the coverage? > > The fact that the schlubs sitting at home watching NBC (or whatever) don’t have to pay directly for the coverage does not mean it’s free. DVR works on the Olympics, too. It’s quite possible to record the stuff you want to see, and fast forward through the commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440/40 "2012-05-20T07:21:57Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > OP sounds like some kind of a nut. 😛 I saw what you did there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-olympics-this-is-the-final-straw/622440.md?page=3)