The time has come to Scrub the Olympics All Together

philownwrite — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:52:44 +0000

During a recent edition of ‘The Andrew Marr Show’ television programme ( BBC One television, 9:00am Sunday 6 April 2008 ), The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, politics and protests were mentioned. On these matters, Nigel Lawson ( Member of Parliament for Blaby in Leicestershire from 1974 to 1992, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1983 to 1989, now Baron Lawson of Blaby, Member of the House Lords and a Privy Counsellor ) said:

I think that it is inherent in the Olympics. The Olympics have always become completely politicised. They are run by the International Organising Committee, which is completely corrupt. And really the time has come to scrub the Olympics all together and end the Olympic Games. They are far more trouble than they are worth. They do more harm than good. I’m all in favour of international sporting engagements. But not the Olympics.

I cam tell you we have the misfortune to have the games in London in 2012. It’s going to be an absolute disaster. And any Londoner who can get out of London is going to get out of London.

On the matter of scrubbing the Olympics all together, regrettably, I pretty much agree with him.

Back in 2005, when the 2012 Olympic Games were awarded to London, and up until the recent protest against China ( over Tibet ) leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, I was only against the Olympic Games being held in this country. I’m not prepared to endorse spending that much money and I’m very doubtful of the long-term spin-off benefits.

However, now ( Spring 2008 ) I’m against the Olympic Games in principle. If it were just sport and no politics or the host nation’s government showing off, I’d be happy with them. But that’s not the case. The host nation’s government has to back the city hosting the games. The British Olympic Association mentions the term “limitless financial guarantor” on its website ( see Websites below ). And that means host governments then use the games to promote their country, themselves, their policies and their political system; antagonising, and even enraging, others who disagree with them.

The awful prospect of our Queen having to welcome the head of state, from a country with a poor human rights record, to the 2012 London Olympic Games, has occurred to me. I don’t want to see any member of the British Royal Family, or the British Government, doing that. Nor do I want to see any British sportsman or woman doing it, for that matter.

In the case of China, they may be past the worst excesses of the Cultural Revolution, but I’m not happy with some of the practices I’m led to believe are taking place in China: the suppression of ethnic Tibetan culture in the west; working conditions in the special economic zones of the east; the harsh treatment of those who criticise the government of the People’s Republic of China.

Finally, don’t think it’s just happenings in foreign countries that I’m not happy with. British Members of Parliament are next up on my list things to write about. Via Stephen Fry.

Phil.

Saturday 19 April 2008

Websites:

The Andrew Marr Show, BBC TV:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/andrew_marr_show/

The British Olympic Association:
http://www.olympics.org.uk/

The British Olympic Association:
Winning the London 2012 Olympic Bid – An Eight Year Journey:
Including: “… the host city contract required a legal undertaking from the Government that they would be the limitless financial guarantor.”
http://www.olympics.org.uk/contentpage.aspx?no=268

The British Olympic Association:
Our Role in the London 2012 Olympic Games Project:
http://www.olympics.org.uk/contentpage.aspx?no=269

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games:
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing:
The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games ( 8-24 August 2008 ):
http://en.beijing2008.cn/

The International Olympic Committee:
The Official Website of the Olympic Movement:
http://www.olympic.org/

Tibet in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet

The People’s Republic of China in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People’s_Republic_of_China

Queen Elizabeth II in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom

The British Monarchy:
The Official Website of the British Monarchy:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/

The British Prime Minister’s office:
Guide to British Government:
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page30.asp

Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby:
UK Parliament, Member Profile:
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/alphabetical_list_of_members.cfm#L
Then select “biog” of Lawson of Blaby, Lord, Conservative.

Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Lawson

In His Own Write

philownwrite — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:06:33 +0000

The name of my weblog comes from the title of John Lennon’s book “In His Own Write”.

The Wikipedia entry for John Lennon’s book “In His Own Write”…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_His_Own_Write

Phil.

Monday 17 March 2008

“Good Morning, Good Morning” by The Beatles

philownwrite — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:23:24 +0000

I am — and was at the time — a Beatles fan. From 1965 to 1970 I was a member of The Official Beatles Fan Club here in the UK. Below is the YouTube video of “Good Morning, Good Morning” by The Beatles.

Being a computer programmer, calling my first post “Hello World” was most definitely NOT what I wanted to do. So I chose “Good Morning, Good Morning” instead.

Also, at work, when I first meet people, I try not to say “Hi”. Instead I say “Good Morning”.

So for you delectation …

From YouTube, “Good Morning, Good Morning” from the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album by The Beatles …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5OQGknWnlI

“Good Morning, Good Morning” by The Beatles

The Wikipedia entry for The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper’s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band
The Wikipedia entry for The Beatles’ “Good_Morning, Good Morning” track…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Morning_Good_Morning

Phil.

Sunday 16 March 2008

Good Morning, Good Morning!

philownwrite — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:20:11 +0000

Good Morning! Good Morning!

This is my first post on WordPress.

This is my very first post on any weblog!

Phil.

Friday 14 March 2008

Phil in his Own Write

The time has come to Scrub the Olympics All Together

In His Own Write

“Good Morning, Good Morning” by The Beatles

Good Morning, Good Morning!