Irish love fest on BBC

[Barry Scott]

You don't know the tune of La Marseillaise?

No idea. Don't even have the slightest clue. I'll Google it post post.

Edit: Yes. As if it wasn't obvious. I'm quite special don't you know.

[Batch]

Baz, they knicked the 'Oooh aaah, oooh ahh, oooo ah, Cantona" song from Man U,  HTH.

[Flashheart]

Agree to a certain extent FH, but there is a bit of bollocks there. Okay England didn't win, but they did succeed, they did what was acceptable and did it in an positive fashion (okay ignoring the fact the Spaniards had a perfectly good golden goal in the quarters wrongly ruled out for offside). Euro 96 may not have been won, but it was still a success.

But so many say the only acceptable thing (for the fans) is to win the whole tournament and therefore, we put too much pressure on the national team for trophies. 96 showed that what we want is to really give a shit and do the best they can, which is why it was a 'success', because they gave what the fans really want.

You've pretty much just re-iterated the point I was (trying) to make. That may be my fault for not explaining myself well.

[janaage]

Perhaps people dont sing it because the words are fucking rubbish!I also agree with jan aage-come September most people wont be able to name at least 69% of our medal winners.Shame,but true I think

And how many names of the athletes/competitors that didn't win medals will be remembered?  The medal success of Great Britain is the thing that's increased the pride in the squad. Which is the Olympic version of getting to the semi's I reckon.

If Great Britain had a Gold 2 Silver 4 Bronze 8 record no one would be banging on about look at how much better this poor athletes are compared to footballers?

Not being negative at all, and not taking anything away from the Olympics, because they've been great, but comparing them to footballers isn't being that fair on the people who play the beautiful game.

[janaage]

No idea. Don't even have the slightest clue. I'll Google it post post.

Edit: Yes. As if it wasn't obvious. I'm quite special don't you know.

Ha ha! I thought you might know it if you heard it.  How about the American one?

[Barry Scott]

Ha ha! I thought you might know it if you heard it.  How about the American one?

Shut up.

[jonny72]

And how many names of the athletes/competitors that didn't win medals will be remembered?  The medal success of Great Britain is the thing that's increased the pride in the squad. Which is the Olympic version of getting to the semi's I reckon.

If Great Britain had a Gold 2 Silver 4 Bronze 8 record no one would be banging on about look at how much better this poor athletes are compared to footballers?

Not being negative at all, and not taking anything away from the Olympics, because they've been great, but comparing them to footballers isn't being that fair on the people who play the beautiful game.

Football fans might not remember the athletes but there are plenty of kids that have got new heroes and will be trying to follow in their footsteps, some will be drawn away from football. There are a few athletes I'll keep an eye out for in future, same for the women's handball team - who I'd prefer to watch over England. I missed a number of England games prior to the Euro's as I wasn't even aware they were playing and even when I realised I didn't give a toss.

It's not just about winning. I dislike the England football team as they are a bunch of overpaid obnoxious wankers and that wouldn't change if they won a major tournament. Compare that to the athletes in tears as they only finished 4th in an Olympic final.

The other thing is the buzz of the Olympics. I've been to a few events and it's been amazing, far different and better than a football match and something that I and many others won't forgot. Plenty are going on about how everyone is being a lot nicer to each other, especially in London, as well. Not sure about that myself and even less sure it will last but who knows?

[sonicyouth]

On the subject of team GB, I've spent the last few days with one half of my wife's family. All discussions about the Olympics have revolved around Norway, Germany (where my wife's uncle lives) and England. No mention of team GB or Storbritannia and I gave up trying to correct them.

I don't really understand why this is as Norwegians in general are quite aware of the nuances of the UK as they're sick of being alternately ruled by Swedes or Danes and of 'mericans calling them Scandinavia. I can only conclude that the rest of the world views team GB as England et cetera.

[janaage]

Football fans might not remember the athletes but there are plenty of kids that have got new heroes and will be trying to follow in their footsteps, some will be drawn away from football. There are a few athletes I'll keep an eye out for in future, same for the women's handball team - who I'd prefer to watch over England. I missed a number of England games prior to the Euro's as I wasn't even aware they were playing and even when I realised I didn't give a toss.

It's not just about winning. I dislike the England football team as they are a bunch of overpaid obnoxious wankers and that wouldn't change if they won a major tournament. Compare that to the athletes in tears as they only finished 4th in an Olympic final.

The other thing is the buzz of the Olympics. I've been to a few events and it's been amazing, far different and better than a football match and something that I and many others won't forgot. Plenty are going on about how everyone is being a lot nicer to each other, especially in London, as well. Not sure about that myself and even less sure it will last but who knows?

So if England hosted the 2018 world cup they'd be no buzz?  That'd get the country going?

[jonny72]

So if England hosted the 2018 world cup they'd be no buzz?  That'd get the country going?

Not in the same way, it is totally different than say Euro 96.

[THE FLASH]

TEF classic off thread tangent.

Why do the BBC continue to bang on about Ireland.....great country (been many many times), nice people....but....it's a fucking foreign country.

They have their own TV network, so.....why do we do it?

Please don't tell me that its because we have loads of paddys living here......I doubt American TV do the same...we dont seem to the same for Indian, Bangledesh or Pakistan do we and we have a lot of them in the UK melting pot?

It's getting worse and it fucks me off.

[Arriba]

They dont. you're obsessed

[Reg Smeeton]

TEF classic off thread tangent.

Why do the BBC continue to bang on about Ireland.....great country (been many many times), nice people....but....it's a fucking foreign country.

They have their own TV network, so.....why do we do it?

Please don't tell me that its because we have loads of paddys living here......I doubt American TV do the same...we dont seem to the same for Indian, Bangledesh or Pakistan do we and we have a lot of them in the UK melting pot?

It's getting worse and it fucks me off.

Flash, it's worth pointing out that the Olympic flame went to Dublin....at the time I thought it was a bit strange, but maybe the Paddys still see themselves as being a little bit connected to UK.

Further, the BBC does provide the Asian Network for the sub-continental diaspora. OK this is radio based and probably undermined by the commercial Zee TV, which may be the reason the Tories want to axe it.

But for all its faults on the domestic front, the BBC in its provision of things like the World Service, is something worth commending

[Ardiles]

Ireland is a special case.  Despite the disgraceful way the people were treated when a part of the Empire, the links that we have with the Irish are permanent.  There must be many millions of people here who are part-Irish...probably more than the population of Ireland itself.  The popular cultures of the two countries are also a lot closer than most.

The same situation would exist if Scotland gets independence in 2014 (which I doubt it will).

[LucienSanchez]

If Scotland don't vote for independence, do we then get to vote them out of the Union anyway?