runningrings Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 Eh, suck it up. It's a long enough relay as it is - it would have been nice to include Melbourne, the last Australian host, or Sydney, the first Australian host, but given the relay is a near year long event, Canberra - being the capital- serves as a nice in-between venue like it did for Beijing. The inclusion of those Queensland cities is appropriate - given its the next Australian host cities (Townsville and Cairns host some competitions). Notice however Brisbane, shouldering a dozen or so 2018 sports is completely left off also. Who cares. I've always noticed the QBR to be a bit half hearted - especially when in the non-host country. Even if the couple of encounters I had with it weaving its way through the suburbs of Melbourne in the days leading up to 2006, there was a sense of apathy amongst Melburnians toward the relay, even though most people were excited about the Games themselves. Doyle should shut it up, its embarrassing. It's not like Clover Moore is crying foul over the missed chance for the Glasgow's granite stones to get a ride down one of her cycle lanes.
intoronto Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 Well if its going to visit every country, it should visit all former host cities imo.
JMarkSnow2012 Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 Well if its going to visit every country, it should visit all former host cities imo. I'm not convinced- it would probably be a better policy to target cities which might stand a chance of being future hosts.
Alexjc Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 Could it be that Melbourne missed out because they blew the CWGs out of proportion?... I do find it quite a slight though...Melbourne is sports central!!! Still it's not hanging around in New Zealand much either. :meh
runningrings Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 Could it be that Melbourne missed out because they blew the CWGs out of proportion?... Again, we've been through this before - how did Melbourne "blow the the CWGs out of proportion". How else do you propose Melbourne should have staged the event? If London decides to bid, do you fear they will do the same? Bizarre conclusion. 1
Scotguy Posted October 31, 2013 Author Report Posted October 31, 2013 The Baton has arrived in Australia
runningrings Posted November 3, 2013 Report Posted November 3, 2013 There is something really unsettling about the hands in this picture...
Ikarus360 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Posted November 3, 2013 There is something really unsettling about the hands in this picture...
Alexjc Posted November 3, 2013 Report Posted November 3, 2013 TVNZ Breakfast Show's Rawdon Christie is hosting live feeds from Glasgow this week showing the city off to viewers in NZ. The CWGs of course being the focuss but also trying to get the mindset of the average NZer away from the post Thatcher "Taggart" image we have of Glasgow...ie, a dump.
yoshi Posted November 4, 2013 Report Posted November 4, 2013 You just know it's going to be a rainbow coloured model surfboard for the 2018 baton...quite a difference
Sir Rols Posted November 5, 2013 Report Posted November 5, 2013 Will you be going to see the baton when it reaches Aotearoa?
Scotguy Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Posted November 5, 2013 Only if it comes to Wellington Rols? Work makes me not able to travel to see it in other cities.
baron-pierreIV Posted November 6, 2013 Report Posted November 6, 2013 Just as the Olympic torch has a flame that keeps dying out...shouldn't the Queen's baton maybe be one that keeps trying to light up...and then they have to snuff it out???
runningrings Posted November 6, 2013 Report Posted November 6, 2013 As much as I adore this design, and if it were an Olympic torch it would be my favourite, the issue I have with this design (and other previous ones) is that it LOOKS like a torch, and not a baton! Take a look at earlier CWG batons, and how they were carried, and they are much less 'informed' by the Olympic torch. Now they mimic it- even though the results in Glasgow's case are stunning (I didn't mind the 2002, 2006 or 2010 batons, either - Melbourne's was beautiful and gracious). It might be an idea in 2018 to revisit the past and have an ACTUAL BATON - similar to pre 1994 ones (although Brisbane's 82 baton was torch like). I loved what Canada did for the 1994 Baton: It should be held low, in hand. The reason the torch is long and held high is because it carries a flame. Unless the Queens message is burning with hate, I see how reason why it should be held high like that. 2
JMarkSnow2012 Posted November 6, 2013 Report Posted November 6, 2013 The reason the torch is long and held high is because it carries a flame. Unless the Queens message is burning with hate, I see how reason why it should be held high like that. So that people in a crowd can see it as it is carried past them, surely.
Alexjc Posted November 6, 2013 Report Posted November 6, 2013 ...and to whallop those who object to the way it looks. Oh and its good to see Native Australians participating as well as seeing them in the everyday street view of the relay.
Sir Rols Posted November 6, 2013 Report Posted November 6, 2013 (edited) So that people in a crowd can see it as it is carried past them, surely. I don't know if the Commie baton draws the type of crowds that the Oly torch does. The pics posted here, for example, seem to show it more getting out and about infomally amongst the people rather than the highly organised procession the Olympic torch gets. I've never gone out of my way to watch the Commie baton pass-by. It sure wasn't a highly hyped event here in Oz even in the run up to the 2006 games. I'd never looked at it that way, but I do tend to agree with runningring's observation _ I do think the CGF is trying to ape the Olympic relay and symbolism more than stick with their own, quainter traditions and keep it more like the baton being passed on it's meant to be. Edited November 7, 2013 by Sir Rols
Alexjc Posted November 7, 2013 Report Posted November 7, 2013 Oh agree Rols, I remember 1990 and the fact that organizers simply couldn't find enough people to run the South Is half of the baton...let alone show up. They had to drive it all over the place and let schools run mini relays.
JMarkSnow2012 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Posted November 7, 2013 I don't know if the Commie baton draws the type of crowds that the Oly torch does. The pics posted here, for example, seem to show it more getting out and about infomally amongst the people rather than the highly organised procession the Olympic torch gets. I've never gone out of my way to watch the Commie baton pass-by. It sure wasn't a highly hyped event here in Oz even in the run up to the 2006 games. I'd never looked at it that way, but I do tend to agree with runningring's observation _ I do think the CGF is trying to ape the Olympic relay and symbolism more than stick with their own, quainter traditions and keep it more like the baton being passed on it's meant to be. It does seem that the Baton Relay is almost ashamed of its similarity to the Olympic Torch Relay sometimes.
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