EDITORIAL COMMENT: A brilliant occasion

12:44pm Monday 28th May 2012 in Gwent news

EDITORIAL COMMENT: A brilliant occasion EDITORIAL COMMENT: A brilliant occasion

BRILLIANT. Just brilliant. The tens of thousands of people who lined the streets of Gwent to see the Olympic torch relay last Friday showed the real public response to the arrival in this country of the greatest sporting show on earth.

And it really put the whingers in their place.

For weeks we have been hearing that Wales wasn’t interested in the Olympics, that the whole event was a terrible waste of money, and that the Games were about London and nowhere else.

Well, last Friday revealed those views – entitled as people are to hold and express them – as so much hot air.

The reality is there is a huge enthusiasm for the Olympics in this country.

People are proud the Games are being held in Britain.

And that pride was evident throughout Gwent on Friday.

It was a truly marvellous day, for those with the honour of carrying the torch and those watching them.

All too often in this country we get caught up in believing that a minority of moaners with loud voices and internet accounts are somehow speaking up for the nation as a whole.

They are not – and that was proved gloriously on Friday.

If the huge crowds turning out across Wales to greet the torch are anything to go by then the Games are going to be truly memorable for the UK as a whole.

Comments(15)

Mr Angry says...
1:28pm Mon 28 May 12

I was trying to get home from work Friday afternoon, stuck in the Bus Station while Busses were delayed due to Olympic lame. There were many angry people waiting for their bus home.
I do wish the Argus would stop putting a gloss on things and being Seb Coes mouthpiece.

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Kevin Ward - Editor says...
2:22pm Mon 28 May 12

We're nobody's mouthpiece, Mr Angry.
We're sorry you were incovenienced by a once-in-a-lifetime event that brought tens of thousands of people on to the streets of Newport.
Everyone who watched the relay will know we are not putting a gloss on things - it was a truly fantastic event.
As we say above, those with different views are absolutely entitled to hold and express them - as we are to disagree.

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Dee-Gee says...
2:39pm Mon 28 May 12

As an old whinger, I got dragged out to watch the torch pass by the Riverfront and enjoyed it in spite of myself. Free cola, free tambourine thingy (straight to Ebay!), heckling the banker bus... all good fun.

Though the pomposity of the "council group" hogging access to the front doors of the Riverfront was galling, to say these least. Perhaps Kevin could persuade them that they'd be more photogenically displayed away from a main throughfare next time.

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Mr Angry says...
2:55pm Mon 28 May 12

I had been in work since 6.30am was tired and looking forward to getting home a shower and some food and drink. The delay was frustrating to say the least.

Was this 'once in a lifetime' occasion worth gridlocking Newport ? Maybe the Argus is 'no ones mouthpeice' but corporate line is being 100% towed.

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Kevin Ward - Editor says...
3:26pm Mon 28 May 12

Glad you enjoyed yourself Dee-Gee. You'll be glad to know we didn't take any photographs of the 'council group'.
Mr Angry - there is no corporate line, our line is that 100,000 people across Gwent turned out to see the torch and thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we are reflecting that.
To be fair, there was no shortage of publicity in the run-up to the torch arriving in Newport warning of road closures and potential delays - including signs on all affected routes.

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Mr Angry says...
3:36pm Mon 28 May 12

I was aware of a probable problem on the way home, unfortunately my commitments at work prevented me from making my planned early get away and avoid a delay.

Some of us do have to work as well

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Mr Bump. says...
4:00pm Mon 28 May 12

If you don't like people expressing their views why do you offer the comments facility? Tens of thousands sounds impressive but not when you realise there are half a million people living in Gwent. You'll claim the same rubbish next week about the majority of people being pro monarchy, because of a handful of street parties. Do us a favour before you do this and get pics of all the streets not holding street parties just so we can get a good comparison.

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Kevin Ward - Editor says...
4:02pm Mon 28 May 12

Odd comment. Are you suggesting the people watching or taking part in the relay don't work?
And aren't you posting from your workplace now?

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Dee-Gee says...
4:07pm Mon 28 May 12

" You'll be glad to know we didn't take any photographs of the 'council group'."

Ah, that's a shame. ;) All that posing, milling and sweltering in their Sunday best for nothing...

Bless you, Kevin - nothing like a bit of shadenfreude to soothe the indignity of being ordered to the servants entrance!

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Kevin Ward - Editor says...
4:15pm Mon 28 May 12

Blimey, Mr Bump... Mr Angry... we're close to the full set.
Where have I said I don't like people expressing their views?
I've said I don't agree with some views, but that's an entirely different thing.
Everyone is welcome to express their opinions on the site providing they do so within the laws of the land.
I don't agree with many views expressed on our website or our letters page - but we still publish them.

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robswad says...
4:28pm Mon 28 May 12

I tried to watch the progress down the valley on the BBC News flash-feed, after it had gone through Blaenavon - no luck - there was no live coverage between the Gilchrist and Pontypool Civic Centre. Friends abroad I'd emailed the link to were also disappointed. It just proves that 3G not-spots exist, and they cover a wide area. Cracking advertisement for the accessibility of 21st Century technology in Torfaen. By the time the flame comes again (in 2-3 generations time), we may have a signal, but I'm not holding my breath.

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Ch4rlie says...
8:42pm Wed 30 May 12

Check out my video of the Olympic Torch in Pontypool (uploaded from a bench sat in Pontypool Park with an excellent 3G signal!) ;-)

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=QXbO3jYM6
K4&feature=share&lis
t=UU0Gr9YR3FRF-uXY-2
2_M_rA

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Mervyn James says...
9:41am Thu 31 May 12

I'm glad its all over, and I won't be supporting the Olympics either. I am incensed Wales is funding London Housing/work and jobs, while ours are being decimated. I find the whole thing obscene.

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Dee-Gee says...
9:47am Thu 31 May 12

You have a good point, Mr James.

But as the wise mother of the bride said to the disapproving dad, "You've already paid for the bluddy thing, you might as well smile and enjoy it"

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Mervyn James says...
9:09am Fri 1 Jun 12

I don't think celebrating would be appropriate.

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