Team GB want Villa stars - McLeish

[Monty]

As a matter of interest, what has Salmond done that's racist?

Nothing, it's entirely the wrong choice of word there. However, you have to suspect he's one of those Scots who finds it impossible to talk about how much they love Scotland without mentioning how much they hate England. I've not met many like that but they've all been staunch SNP indepencists (new word!), and while some of it's just banter, there's a level where it seems to get nastier than necessary.

Thanks for that - you are right maybe racist is the wrong word but i too feel that the banter of old is becoming very different the more he drums up nationalistic pride. I would not be suprised to see him in kilt and blue paint across his face ala Braveheart any time soon

In a way this is my problem with Salmond - he's slyer than that, but what he does which is sly is applauded in Scotland by his friends in the media, whereas similar tactics by other politicians and parties would be, and are, condemned as empty publicity courting. Of all the charlatans in British politics - and there are plenty (with Clegg coming a close second - and I say that as a life-long liberal) - he is definitely the least honest and most deceptive.

Anyway, the Olympics. I don't the the SFA or FAW have really helped anyone with their stances. Seems narrow-minded and fear-based more than logical or logistical.

[dave.woodhall]

It's better for the majority of sports fans in this country when you consider that football is by far and away the most popular sport in this country.

I'm struggling to see your logic here (surprise surprise). So a tournament that has a wide range of sports (a number of which are extremely popular in the UK, i'm confident of presuming), including football, is not as good as a tournament that only caters for one particular type of sports fan? Right you are.

The World Cup pisses all over the Olympics no matter how much spin you put on it. Honestly, I couldn't give a damn about the Olympics, but if it was the World Cup that was happening in this country this year the place would be going crazy with anticipation. I don't think Synchronized Swimming has that same level of excitement though.

2010 World Cup finals total TV audience - 3.2 billion
2008 Olympics audience - 4.7 billion.

[saunders_heroes]

It's better for the majority of sports fans in this country when you consider that football is by far and away the most popular sport in this country.

I'm struggling to see your logic here (surprise surprise). So a tournament that has a wide range of sports (a number of which are extremely popular in the UK, i'm confident of presuming), including football, is not as good as a tournament that only caters for one particular type of sports fan? Right you are.

The World Cup pisses all over the Olympics no matter how much spin you put on it. Honestly, I couldn't give a damn about the Olympics, but if it was the World Cup that was happening in this country this year the place would be going crazy with anticipation. I don't think Synchronized Swimming has that same level of excitement though.

2010 World Cup finals total TV audience - 3.2 billion
2008 Olympics audience - 4.7 billion.

Hell of a lot more sports at the Olympics though.

I specifically don't like to see tennis and football at the Olympics though. The Olympics should be the pinnacle for minority sports, not for football (and it isn't). It seems like a fraud to me.

[Ger Regan]

It's better for the majority of sports fans in this country when you consider that football is by far and away the most popular sport in this country.

I'm struggling to see your logic here (surprise surprise). So a tournament that has a wide range of sports (a number of which are extremely popular in the UK, i'm confident of presuming), including football, is not as good as a tournament that only caters for one particular type of sports fan? Right you are.

The World Cup pisses all over the Olympics no matter how much spin you put on it. Honestly, I couldn't give a damn about the Olympics, but if it was the World Cup that was happening in this country this year the place would be going crazy with anticipation. I don't think Synchronized Swimming has that same level of excitement though.

2010 World Cup finals total TV audience - 3.2 billion
2008 Olympics audience - 4.7 billion.

Also, to write off the olympics on the back of your lack of interest in synchronized swimming is ludicrous, in as much as it'd be ludicrous to write off the world cup because some of the games can end up being, say, New Zealand v Saudi Arabia.

[Ger Regan]

Hell of a lot more sports at the Olympics though.

I specifically don't like to see tennis and football at the Olympics though. The Olympics should be the pinnacle for minority sports, not for football (and it isn't). It seems like a fraud to me.

More sports = more interest from the general population, yet the world cup is still "better"?

[saunders_heroes]

It's better for the majority of sports fans in this country when you consider that football is by far and away the most popular sport in this country.

I'm struggling to see your logic here (surprise surprise). So a tournament that has a wide range of sports (a number of which are extremely popular in the UK, i'm confident of presuming), including football, is not as good as a tournament that only caters for one particular type of sports fan? Right you are.

The World Cup pisses all over the Olympics no matter how much spin you put on it. Honestly, I couldn't give a damn about the Olympics, but if it was the World Cup that was happening in this country this year the place would be going crazy with anticipation. I don't think Synchronized Swimming has that same level of excitement though.

2010 World Cup finals total TV audience - 3.2 billion
2008 Olympics audience - 4.7 billion.

Also, to write off the olympics on the back of your lack of interest in synchronized swimming is ludicrous, in as much as it'd be ludicrous to write off the world cup because some of the games can end up being, say, New Zealand v Saudi Arabia.

For me the only thing worth watching is the track and field events. All the rest is pointless (especially the football).

[Ger Regan]

For me the only thing worth watching is the track and field events. All the rest is pointless (especially the football).

Horses for courses, innit? There's plenty I've no interest in, but can appreciate that others might.

[saunders_heroes]

Hell of a lot more sports at the Olympics though.

I specifically don't like to see tennis and football at the Olympics though. The Olympics should be the pinnacle for minority sports, not for football (and it isn't). It seems like a fraud to me.

More sports = more interest from the general population, yet the world cup is still "better"?

If there were more matches in the World Cup they'd be more interest and more viewing figures, so your argument doesn't really make much sense.
The World Cup if infinitely better than the Olympics in my opinion.

[Dave]

Hell of a lot more sports at the Olympics though.

I specifically don't like to see tennis and football at the Olympics though. The Olympics should be the pinnacle for minority sports, not for football (and it isn't). It seems like a fraud to me.

More sports = more interest from the general population, yet the world cup is still "better"?

If there were more matches in the World Cup they'd be more interest and more viewing figures, so your argument doesn't really make much sense.
The World Cup if infinitely better than the Olympics in my opinion.

Good for you.

Millions of people would disagree. And best of luck to them.

[SoccerHQ]

Must be honest, I've never watched and Olympic football match, just don't have an interest in it.

However I do think there should be a football team as it's not going to happen in our lifetimes again is it, a British Olympics.

I actually would probably go and watch if they played a test friendly at VP, watching a team with the likes of Beckham, Giggs, Bale etc would be quite cool imo, old and new generations.

I do think there will be desire from a lot of players to play...someone like Stephen Fletcher who refuses to play for Scotland under Levine and is actually one of the highest scoring premier league players over the last year...what better way to get yourself a move from Wolves than performing well in the Olympics?

[saunders_heroes]

Hell of a lot more sports at the Olympics though.

I specifically don't like to see tennis and football at the Olympics though. The Olympics should be the pinnacle for minority sports, not for football (and it isn't). It seems like a fraud to me.

More sports = more interest from the general population, yet the world cup is still "better"?

If there were more matches in the World Cup they'd be more interest and more viewing figures, so your argument doesn't really make much sense.
The World Cup if infinitely better than the Olympics in my opinion.

Good for you.

Millions of people would disagree. And best of luck to them.

And I'm sure millions might agree with me as well. The best of luck to everyone!

[Dave Summers]

Well I have attended games at Euro 96, the Rugby World Cup in England and France and I'm delighted that I have tickets to the Olympics next summer.   As you can probably tell I am a bit of an all round sports fan, having been to test, one day and county cricket, Athletics, Horse Racing as well as copious amounts of Football and Rugby games.

This is a once in a lifetime experience and I am going to try and enjoy it as much as possible.  Personally I think it will be great for our country and hopefully take our minds of the current doom and gloom for a few weeks and give us back a bit of pride.

I, like  many people went into the ballot and like many people got diddly squat.   I managed to secure tickets 2/3 months back through the Dutch Olympic website with a combination of Mrs S and google translate.  I was that keen to get tickets.   In the ballot I chose cycling and rowing as my two favoured sports and I'm glad to say that I have two days worth of rowing finals tickets, with a little bit of Boxing thrown in.

That's enough for me.  I am attending the Olympic rowing with my 11 yr old daughter and it will be an experience we will remember for the rest of our lives.  I believe the Olympics is bigger than any other sporting event on the planet, but accept there are plenty who don't feel that way.

Having said all of that, I wouldn't have either Football or Tennis in the games.  The Olympic gold medal should be the pinnacle of that sport and in neither of these sports is that the case.

[Pete3206]

'Team GB' indeed.

[The Man With A Stick]

It's better for the majority of sports fans in this country when you consider that football is by far and away the most popular sport in this country.

I'm struggling to see your logic here (surprise surprise). So a tournament that has a wide range of sports (a number of which are extremely popular in the UK, i'm confident of presuming), including football, is not as good as a tournament that only caters for one particular type of sports fan? Right you are.

The World Cup pisses all over the Olympics no matter how much spin you put on it.

The only thing the last World Cup pissed all over was itself.

[Ger Regan]

The only thing the last World Cup pissed all over was itself.

I'm sure there's an audience out there for even that......