2012: A Blogging Top 10 - Part 3

Here is the third - and final - part of my list of the most popular posts on my blog this year, including the all-important Number 1*. As previously noted, this list only reflects those posts written and published over the course of 2012 - as it happens, the top 3 (even allowing for the perennial favourites, were all from 2012. Stats, again, courtesy of Google Analytics.

At Number 3, pop-pickers, is this piece on Stella McCartney's kit designs for our Olympics and Paralympians. I ended by saying I wanted to see many, many athletes wrapped in the flag come the actual games - and I wasn't disappointed!

My review of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows proved very popular - particularly, I seem to remember, with readers in Turkey!

Finally - big fanfare, please - at Number 1: my (then) newly discovered love of Dexter. Since I wrote this, I've seen all 6 series currently available in the UK - it truly is one of the best things on telly. I will be much disappointed when it comes to an end at the end of series 8.

Andrew

*By which I mean not at all important, obviously!

36 hours... and counting...

It may only have been just over two weeks, but the Olympics seems to have been ages ago. A fortnight of sporting brilliance, in which Britain proved it could both efficiently organise and host the world's largest sporting festival and win bucket-loads of medals. Ah, the Games of the XXX Olympiad were truly Britain's Golden Fortnight...

Should you still be suffering from the post-Olympic blues, fear not, it's just two days until elite sport returns to the East-End of London and just 18 hours to the Opening Ceremony of the XIV Paralympic Games. It's another chance for Britain to shine on the international stage - and for us to bask in the reflected glory of our Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners - and all the others who perform to and beyond their expectations.

If, like me, you forgot there were other broadcasters than the BBC whilst the Olympics were on, you need to check that "4" button on your remote still works... It's time to meet the Superhumans on Channel 4. 

(aside: I'm really annoyed that that video has embedding disabled - I have no idea why Channel 4 wouldn't want to facilitate it's dissemination as wide as possible and can only imagine it's to do with licencing restrictions in relation to the backing track.)

In case you haven't seen them, Channel 4 have compiled a range of videos introducing both Paralympians and Paralympic Sports.

Here, for example, are some of our Wheelchair Rugby athletes describing the full-on nature of the sport and the injuries it can cause. Like it's able-bodied counterpart, it's not a game for the feint-hearted but as Kylie Grimes says "I've broken my neck, what more can I do?":

And here's (the rather cute) Jonnie Peacock speaking about Oscar Pistorius:

You can find these videos and many more on Channel 4 Paralympics You Tube Channel - go have a browse! And remember, the Opening Ceremony kicks off at 1930hrs tomorrow.

Andrew

5 on the 5th - Summer Reprise

Stephen has dusted off 5 on the 5th for a Summer Special!

My photos are from my trip up to London yesterday. I wanted to try and soak up some of the Olympic atmosphere, see the Damien Hirst exhibition (review to follow at some point), and take the Cable Car across the Thames from Greenwich.

I succeeded in two of those aims and also met my Uncle, Sister and Brother-in-Law for drinks and a lovely meal. An enjoyable day which has generated stories a few family stories - thanks to my lateness in meeting the others and then a trek across the Greenwich peninsula.

Anyway, my pictures of the day have an Olympic theme. It was ironic that the very day I was in London, I was least in touch with what was happening - doubly ironic given that it was a record-breaking day!

Buckingham Palace ahead of the Woman's Triathlon and Men's 20K walk

The Mall

Hyde Park - Who'd have thought Triathlon would be so popular?!

Olympic Rings (with St. Paul's behind)

Arty Wenlock

Andrew

Empty Seats and Corporate Sponsors

I wonder if McDonalds will be reconsidering this element of their current "We all make the games" ad campaign...?

Andrew

London 2012 Torch Relay Videos

On Tuesday I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Olympic Torch Relay as it reached Bristol for an overnight stop on it's tour of the UK - and shared them here. Today, I'm sharing a couple of videos: the BBC's trailer for coverage of the tour and the London 2012 animation which features many of the landmarks it'll visit on it's way to the Opening Ceremony in just 64 days time!

Andrew

The Torch Relay Reaches Bristol...

With days to go to the 66 days to go until the Olympic Games and 99 to go until the Paralympics*, the Olympic Torch Relay reached Bristol.

After work, I took a walk through Millenium Square which had hosted an afternoon of enterntainment as well as broadcasting BBC coverage of the relay on it's big screen. I then took a wander up the route from the Harbourside, through Welsh Back to Castle Park to find myself a vantage point.

Once the flame had passed me, I followed it and, by judicious use of a number of shortcuts, I managed to get a number of other photos as I made my way to Millenium Square. Once there, I was able to watch footage of Blaire Hannan (local sailor and reserve member of the Team GB's Paralympian Squad) light the Olympic Cauldron. Unfortunately, I couldn't see this first hand as it was in the ticketed area of Bristol's "Ampitheatre" - an obvious venue for such an event; I'm sure it is entirely coincidental that it is bounded by offices of Lloyds TSB - one of the Torch Relay Sponsors!

Anyway, this is supposed to be a photo-post, so I shall not rabbit on too much other than to say that it was a wonderful experience which I greatly enjoyed - when the flame passes you, go see it, especially if it's doing an overnight stop.

Andrew

*Yes, I know that the Paralympics will have it's own Torch Relay but this is the big nationwide event and bearers include people nominated from communities up and down the country as well as high profile sportsmen and woman including our Paralympians.

Wrapping Ourselves In the Union Flag...

Much as I love the Union Flag, I'm not normally a fan of wrapping ourselves in it in a jingoistic or protectionist sense. But I am all in favour of flying it at public venues and major events and not being ashamed of proclaiming that goods or services have been "Made In Britain". 

I like to see British Athletes do well on the world stage and - for all my republican credentials - I like to hear the National Anthem played when our representatives win. Here's hoping we'll hear it again this weekend in Malaysia after Button's win in Melbourne last week, but I digress...

This year, of course, our athletes won't just be on the world stage - Britain will be the world stage. In 125 days the Olympics will be opened in London, followed by the Paralympics some 158 days hence. Our Olympians and Paralympians will be competing in front of a home crowd and chasing every medal possible. Our ability to host what is, arguably, the biggest show on earth will be front and centre. This year, more than most, Britons will be being judged and it presents the opportunity for us all to be proud to be British.

I fully expect that, come the Games, we'll see the flag flying proudly. Indeed, there already is a London 2012 logo which uses the flag...

This week, the Team GB Olympic kit - designed by Stella McCartney and Adidas - has been unveiled. The various versions are based on a monotone version of the flag, with differing shades of Blue and Indigo taking the place of the traditional colours, and red flashes are featured elsewhere.

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of all iterations but I'm pleased that there is a consistent look across all sports and disciplines - and for Olympic and Paralympic athletes alike. It is smart, it is different, it is distinctive and the athletes (and fellow blogger Stephen Glenn) seem to like it.

Here a few of pictures of where I think the kit works:

Andy Murray, Tennis

Jack Rodwell, Football

Lizzie Armitstead, Cycling

And one where it works less well - I don't really get the X-Factor/X-Men girdle/cummerbund...

 

Jonnie Peacock, Athletics (Track)

I started by saying I wasn't a fan of people wrapping themselves in the Union Flag, come the summer, though, I want to see many, many athletes wrapped in the flag - and maybe some of them will be like that gorgeous golden version in the pictures above.

Andrew

Hats off to Sainsburys

Next year, as I'm sure you know, London will host the Games of the XXX Olympiad and the XIV Paralympic Games. 

As they get nearer, the various sponsors and partners of both the Olympics in general and London 2012 in particular are increasingly promoting the games and their connection to them. Some, like Lloyds TSB, are even incorporating the 2012 Olympic logo in their branch fascias!

Many of the principal sponsors are supporting both events, the organisation of which is being fully integrated for the first time. That said, a number of these are choosing to only, or at least mainly, display the Olympic version of the logo on their paperwork, vans and websites. That's why I found it refreshing on Friday to note that my local branch of Sainsbury's had the Paralympic prominently displayed in their window.

A little detective work (O.K., a visit to their website) reveals that they are the first ever Paralympic only sponsor. Aside from the games sponsorship, they are also sponsoring Channel 4's coverage of Paralympic sports.

So, hats off to Sainsbury's for raising the profile of the Paralympics.

Andrew