Chit-chatting on how Canadians REALLY feel about Aussies flying Olympic banner

[ThermomixBlogger]

Hi to all the Aussies on the forum.

I'm chit-chatting here to set the record straight about how Canadians REALLY feel about the Aussies flying their controversial banner at the Olympic village in Whistler, BC.

We, the real people who live here are ECSTATIC    about the Aussie mascot banner being flown in the face of the International Olympic Committee. (the IOC).

Contrary to how it may appear in the news, we, the real people with their feet on the ground are very much in DISagreement with just about everything to do with the Olympics. You probably won't see it in the news Down Under, but most people here would never have let the games take place here if they had their way. These games have been a HUGE controversy from the day they were announced and the IOC has been extremely problematic for all concerned. The IOC has banned the use of the Olympic rings and the word "Olympics" in any signage, period. I think they didn't even allow school children to make posters with the word Olympics. The IOC is an iron hand controlling everything and the result is that people who live here are not able to feel positive about the games. On a phone-in show today in Vancouver all callers were hugely supportive of the Aussie team flying their Roo and also, really excited to simply have Aussies playing in the games at all. The Aussies have done a huge job in raising the spirit (albeit controversial one) of these games.

As I am typing this now, it's on the news again. People are offering to wrap their homes in the Roo flag in order to protest and IOC and support of the Aussie team and mascot! The entire issue is embarrassing  and I have to wonder how the Aussie press is handling it. You Aussies are much loved here and much supported. You've become the darlings of these Olympic games and the competition hasn't even started yet!

Just wanting make sure the truth is out there...
Sending warm woolly hugs and a cup of hot-cocoa to you all!
(okay, I know the weather's not right for hot-cocoa, but you get my meaning...)

.... TMB

[Nay-nay]

I think most Aussies think it's abit of a laugh really and shrug it off.  On the 7pm Project last night (quite funny if you watch the link) they just said Canadians were jealous of how big and 'in your face' it was hanging up there.
http://7pmproject.com.au/video.htm?vxSiteId=7a6ab1fe-cd90-4143-bf79-ba376a096b2e&vxChannel=7PM%20Catch%20Up&vxClipId=2689_7pm-seg1-050210&vxBitrate=300&vxTemplate=7PM_Index.swf

[brazen20au]

thi is the first i'd heard about it 

[cookie1]

I'm pleased to read that Thermomixblogger. It has received quite a bit of air time here in Western Australia.
I thought it was a bit petty and now I know that Canadians are supporting it.  I think it looks good hanging there.Thanks.

[katesjoy]

  houses wrapped in fighting kangaroo!! that would be a great site thermomixblogger!!!  Sounds like the IOC is going WAY overboard and should just concentrate on the sport, not the hype.  Perhaps Canadians should make some fighting moose flags - start a new tradition! 

[the_vermins]

Meh.  I don't think much of it all.  It has been in the news a fair bit but the only thing that gets up my nose about it is the fact they keep calling the Kangaroo a HE when in fact it is a SHE. 

The original boxing Kangaroo was called Matilda and first appeared at the 1983 America's Cup when Australia II won the cup. 

I just want them to get the sex of the kangaroo right! LOL!

THat's great the Canadian's are supportive of the flag being up.  Nothing like a bit of friendly rivalry.

[meganjane]

  That's so good to know TMB! I don't pay much attention to these things. And yes, she is definitely a doe, not a buck!

[foodiepep]

Matilda was the Mascot for the 1982 Commonwealth Games. 
TMB watch that link in Nay-nay's thread, it's very funny.

[TheCrone]

There's an Olympics on? 

[Nay-nay]

I think the main concern is if they actually get some snow in time!! 

[the_vermins]

foodie pep- For the record, Matilda was used for the 1982 Commonwealth Games but she was an animated Kangaroo who winked.

The Boxing Kangaroo flag version of Matilda was the America's Cup.

In 1983 the boxing kangaroo received national and international prominence when it served as the symbol for the successful Australian challenge for the America's Cup, where the boxing kangaroo flag, a red-gloved golden kangaroo on a green background, was flown from the yacht Australia II. Alan Bond (owner of the Australia II yacht) owned the image and licensed it for mass production. The image was later bought by the Australian Olympic Committee, and is used as a mascot to represent the Australian Olympic team and to promote sport and fair play in schools.

From Wikipedia.

[Nay-nay]

And Matilda didn't have gloves!! 
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/20/Matilda,_the_winking_kangaroo.jpg/250px-Matilda,_the_winking_kangaroo.jpg

[andiesenji]

Hey, I think it's great. 
I am still rankled about the IOC making life miserable for some people at the '84 Olympics here in L.A.
During the Olympics, the Santa Barbara Kennel Club (a very prestigious show) had to move their show from Univ. Calif at Santa Barbara to the next county north because the IOC had demanded that there be NO competing "amateur" sporting events during the Olympics in the southern California counties. 

Professional sports were exempted but the Dodgers vacated Dodger stadium and were on the road the entire time.   

I have great respect for Olympic athletes and the organizers in the host countries, but not the IOC big wigs. 

[ThermomixBlogger]

Thanks for all the comments and info! 

I for one, will refer to the Roo as a "she" and will do so loudly enough for all to hear.

Sad to say the link from Nay-nay doesn't play for me... it is BLOCKED      I guess the IOC has more muscle than any of us realized.



We will all be so very glad when it's all over. I do like watching the Olympics for all the pretty colours on TV. (Like a magpie, I'm drawn to shiny, colourful objects...) and like Andie, I sure appreciate all the hard work the athletes put into it... but I can do without all the pomp, circumstance, and politics.   

Grrrr....

[Nay-nay]

It's BLOCKED!!??    I thought you lived in Canada!! I must say I was very unaware of all this politics! - I thought it was all about sports - How very naive!