It just proves that capitalism need reigning in with some good old fashioned socialism. If China is the best you can come back with after all this time then I'd give up.

Is anyone else getting fed up with seeing "celebrities" swanning around on the torch relay? Chris Moyles (FFS), Dr Who, Will.i.am? Why do these people get a chance to take part, when other deserving candidates were overlooked? Were they all nominated in the normal way? Or did the selection committee pick up a copy of "Hello" just before the consideration?

Its the Olympic flame - it doesn't need celebrity endorsement.

I know two people who have pulled out because they don't like the way it's been hijacked, what the f'k has fat gobshoite from L**ds Moyles done to deserve being involved, or Diddieversellouttochina Drogba!!!?

I really don't know what it was like in previous Games, but we do seem to be hellbent on making even this 'bigger' and 'glitzier' than I've been aware of before.

Back to the stuff I mentioned earlier: tb says that, in the same conversation, he heard that things like the water company and Virgin won't be allowed to have more than two vans in the Olympic area at any time either. Heaven help us if we get a mega water burst, then.

It's hellsih (from what I am told), a friend of mine worked with me in Manchester in 2002, she went to do liscencing/merchandising (having left UEFA in Lucerne to do so), she packed in after 12 weeks, I haven't heard a positive story about LOCOG or ODA in recent months. Another friend is working on the torch relay and is hating every minute of it, people only being given 700/800 metres to run and then "celebrities" given a mile or so.

The whole idea, I thought, was to reward the "worthy" not just to publicise the largesse of modern britain.

(I feel all grown up having used that phrase, I may need a lie down)

What I heard - and this could be just hearsay - is that Thames Water have been told they can have two emergency vans on the go to cover London. In Virgin Media's case, two vans for East London.

Chris28 wrote:Is anyone else getting fed up with seeing "celebrities" swanning around on the torch relay? Chris Moyles (FFS), Dr Who, Will.i.am? Why do these people get a chance to take part, when other deserving candidates were overlooked? Were they all nominated in the normal way? Or did the selection committee pick up a copy of "Hello" just before the consideration? Its the Olympic flame - it doesn't need celebrity endorsement. Agreed, there should be more local celebrities, like this one

Chris28 wrote:Is anyone else getting fed up with seeing "celebrities" swanning around on the torch relay? Chris Moyles (FFS), Dr Who, Will.i.am? Why do these people get a chance to take part, when other deserving candidates were overlooked? Were they all nominated in the normal way? Or did the selection committee pick up a copy of "Hello" just before the consideration? Its the Olympic flame - it doesn't need celebrity endorsement. Agreed, there should be more local celebrities, like this one

That torch comes through Warrington tomorrow. I'm hoping someone nicks it and throws it in the Mersey. Absolutely sick of the fugging games already.

Heard on the radio, that prices in the olympic stadium have been set. Can of beer £4.20, Bottle of water £1.60. Someone is making a nice profit somewhere. Dispicable.

Can of Heineken is £4.20. Ale & cider will be available but will have their branding covered because Heineken is the official beer (the ale & cider probably consists of Newcy Brown and Strongbow) and it obviously ain't their fault that some people may want something other than a pissy Anglicised version of what was once a decent Dutch lager

1. The bitter is John Smiths.
2. Heineken has not been the Anglicised version for around 5 years, every drop on sale here is the real thing.