Red Arrows at the 2012 olympics

[DSapseid]

Ive just been reading another forum and have found out that the Red Arrows are not being allowed to perform at the 2012 olympics for being 'too british'! 8O

 

The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed 'too British'.

 

Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be 'offensive' to other countries taking part in the Games. The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the display team 'too militaristically British'. Red Arrows pilots were said to be 'outraged', as they had hoped to put on a truly world class display for the Games, something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a British-based event for being 'too British' is an insult - the Arrows are a symbol of Britain .

 

The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over the world.

 

The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly spectacular.

 

It is to be hoped that common sense prevails

 

If you disagree with this decision, sign the petition on the link below

http:// petitions.pm.gov.uk/ RedArrows2012/? ref=redArrows2012

 

What kind of country are we living in!!!

[bishopsgarthstockton]

thats disgusting. I've signed it

[bishopsgarthstockton]

RED ARROWS PETITION

[Norphy]

Ludicrous. Petition signed.

 

I've saw them at the British Grand Prix three years running. The were the highlight of the weekend for me and tbh that included the damn race too.

[stephenleak]

Signed.

 

FFS.

 

I accept that the Red Arrows are a military outfit but, even discounting the obvious modern archery and rifle shooting, the classical olympic sports of javelin and discus were originally based on skills with weapons.

 

Who else would they suggest? The "Utterly Butterly" wingwalking team? Actually, now that I come to think about it, they might be more appropriate after all ...

 

I despair.

[webman]

My mum loves the Reds, she will be disappointed! Signed..

[localzuk]

How stupid is that!! I dislike displays of military strength as much as the next person but this is, to use a common term, 'political correctness gone mad'.

[ReverentCreature]

Ive signed it too.

[FN-GM]

what a load of rubbish im signing

[Dos_Box]

Ahem...

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/15/red_arrows_rumpus/

[Domino]

This is what happens if you mistake the sun for a newspaper....

[tech_guy]

This is what happens if you mistake the sun for a newspaper....

 

..... I thought it was for wiping bottoms on?

[Domino]

and wrapping chips in!

[Grommit]

This is not true

[srochford]

Aaaaaarrggh!!

 

You expect to see "joe public" believing things like this, but surely everyone here knows how to use a search engine.

 

If one of the kids (or a member of staff) came up with a story as stupid as this we'd all laugh at them. Why is it that so many people fall for such an obviously false story and don't even bother to check?

[GrumbleDook]

I wonder how long it will be until we see an online petition to ask for online petitions to be stopped.

[Oops_my_bad]

bloody disgrace! :x

[tech_guy]

I wonder how long it will be until we see an online petition to ask for online petitions to be stopped.

 

And then you'll have an online petition against that one as well!

[FN-GM]

[EduTech]

This is so unfair.. countryist lol i like the red arrows SIGNED!!

[Dos_Box]

Excuse me but...

 

The only problem with this splendid story was that it was a load of old cobblers. The powers that be moved with lightning speed to quash the rumour.

 

Red Arrows spokeswoman Rachel Huxford clarified: "We have had no discussions about the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics whatsoever. We are still planning our 2008 season at this stage and that is a long way off. We understand that no decision has yet been made about the ceremony. We performed when London won its Olympic bid in 2005 after we received a standard request from the Olympic organisers."

 

Well, we spotted this piece of silliness at the time, but thought nothing more of it. What had escaped our notice, though, was how the might of The Sun could mobilise no less than 165,000 people to sign a petition "to Allow the Red Arrows to Fly at the 2012 Olympics".

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/15/red_arrows_rumpus/

 

Again, this is a non-story.

[localzuk]

Aaaaaarrggh!!

 

You expect to see "joe public" believing things like this, but surely everyone here knows how to use a search engine.

 

If one of the kids (or a member of staff) came up with a story as stupid as this we'd all laugh at them. Why is it that so many people fall for such an obviously false story and don't even bother to check?

 

Ah well, we have some level of trust in the other members of the site to have not just posted nonsense on here...

[beeswax]

Again, this is a non-story.

 

I don't know if any of you saw QI on Friday night, repeated next Friday on BBC2 at 22:00, where they took apart a few euro myths. Very instructive.

[Dos_Box]

Again, this is a non-story.

 

I don't know if any of you saw QI on Friday night, repeated next Friday on BBC2 at 22:00, where they took apart a few euro myths. Very instructive.

 

I missed it. What was said?