Commonwealth Games 2006... *Vent*

**KatherineIV** · 15-03-2006 21:53

*Jums onto Soap Box and clears throat* uhhumm... (okay that's better)

Alright so I need to vent about this and with DP (who usually cops my weird spells) still not home yet I thought I could do it here...

I am disgusted with how competitive broadcasters have become. Ian Thorpe and Netball Player ____ Ellis (Sorry I can't for the life of me remember her first name.... blood brewing too much) are not allowed to be part of the 2006 Commonwealth games or even allowed to visit their team mates at the Athletes Village and need to purchase their own tickets (even though they are meant to be competing and are out with injury / illness) because Channel Nine is broadcasting and both of these athletes are working with Channel Seven during the games...

Am I the only one who finds that utterly ridiculous???

I have seen it reported in the papers and on the television during the day....

Does anyone else have thoughts to share on this.... I just don't get it... and I don't even know why it's got my blood boiling... especially because I am not a sports person by any stretch of the imagination..

Okay... after that little spit I feel alot better....

On a positive note... the opening cermony was fantastic and I am looking forward to cheering on the Aussies during the next 11 days!!!

**Ana Gram** · 15-03-2006 23:03

I am actually looking forward to watching the Simpsons instead.

**JnA** · 15-03-2006 23:31

I think it's prefectly acceptable for them not to allow Ina and Liz (

) into the village. They are not competing.. and their teammates need to concentate on their sport (although I have heard some wild things go on in the athletes village).
Having to pay full price for their tickets though, seems a bit rough.

I thought the opening ceremony was ok.. and I'll be watching some of the sports, but I'll also be waving the flag and cheering for the Simpsons Marathon hehehehe

**razzle** · 16-03-2006 08:28

Why should they be allowed into the village? They're not competing. Isn't Liz Ellis a commentator contracted to channel 7? And don't channel 9 have the viewing rights? I wouldn't be letting her in there either quite frankly!

On another note - I though the opening ceremony was awful. And the ads that they HAD to squeeze in was disgusting. We heard major fireworks going off at around 10pm last night and yet the final fireworks weren't televised until almost 10.30. Why was it on delay? So they could fit the ads in? I was very disappointed....

Another thing that made me laugh out loud was an article in the Herald Sun a little while ago about Nikki Webster having a tanty because she wasn't "invited" to the opening. One minute she was the darling of Australia and before the Olympic's cauldron was cold she was being bagged.

**veve** · 16-03-2006 08:32

Originally Posted by boomtish

Another thing that made me laugh out loud was an article in the Herald Sun a little while ago about Nikki Webster having a tanty because she wasn't "invited" to the opening. One minute she was the darling of Australia and before the Olympic's cauldron was cold she was being bagged.

umm hasn't she heard of the tall poppy syndrome??? come on... she IS australian... of COURSE we bagged her (doesn't help that her one hit was (gag) strawberry kisses... )

xx

**fee's** · 16-03-2006 08:33

I agree with KatherineIV it is just a joke - do Chan 9 OWN the commonwealth games????

**Sarie** · 16-03-2006 08:40

I can understand why, they pay a lot of money to have the rights to broadcast the games, if it were me I wouldn't give the competition an inch either.
Grant Hackett has not been given access to the pool deck because he is also working for 7.

**razzle** · 16-03-2006 08:44

Originally Posted by fee's

I agree with KatherineIV it is just a joke - do Chan 9 OWN the commonwealth games????

Yeah - actually they do. They paid big bucks for the rights to telecast it.

**ThomasMum** · 16-03-2006 09:39

Originally Posted by KatherineIV

*Jums onto Soap Box and clears throat* uhhumm... (okay that's better)

Alright so I need to vent about this and with DP (who usually cops my weird spells) still not home yet I thought I could do it here...

I am disgusted with how competitive broadcasters have become. Ian Thorpe and Netball Player ____ Ellis (Sorry I can't for the life of me remember her first name.... blood brewing too much) are not allowed to be part of the 2006 Commonwealth games or even allowed to visit their team mates at the Athletes Village and need to purchase their own tickets (even though they are meant to be competing and are out with injury / illness) because Channel Nine is broadcasting and both of these athletes are working with Channel Seven during the games...

Am I the only one who finds that utterly ridiculous???

:

FYI ( as I know wee bit about Ch 9)

Here we go: It's not true. Thorpe works for Foxtel, not Seven. He may be doing stories for Seven for the games, but he's contracted to Foxtel and if you check, Foxtel are doing 7 comm game channels. So they could easily get him on the ground.

The decision on who gets admitted is not the choice of the broadcaster but the Commonwealth Games organising committee. Simple reality check, but there's more than 1 broadcaster of the event (it does get aired in other Commonwealth countries) so anyone can invite the athletes onto the grounds.

If Thorpey, etc. aren't going onto the grounds it's definitely not because he hasn't been invited. If he is doing stuff for Seven he could be restricted by Seven from going because they don't want Nine or foxtel showing him on air.

Plus final reality check, if he is ill then maybe he's not going out of respect for other athletes. Wouldn't want to make them sick

Go Aussie!!!

**~Chick79~** · 16-03-2006 10:45

Originally Posted by ThomasMum

Plus final reality check, if he is ill then maybe he's not going out of respect for other athletes. Wouldn't want to make them sick

I agree with everything you said - particularly the comment where is Thorpey is sick maybe it is a good thing he can't spread the germs throughout the village!

However, Ian, Liz, Grant & Hayley having to buy their own tickets cause they work for rival networks.... If that is true it is a bit rough! I can understand them not having full access to all areas (such as pool decks etc) but I would have to assume that the tickets would be included in their contract with the network wouldn't they??