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| Tjmiler2000 |
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Why is Seb not a favorite for lighting the flame? Former world records, two Olympic titles in a prestigious event, plus a former Olympic record. What are the other criteria they are looking for? |
| ardh |
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I suspect that Lord Coe is underquotafied for the job. The UK has plenty of females of color who could do a smashing job, and would look better while doing it. Also, his role in organizing the Games would make his having that flame-lighting role look pretty tacky. |
| Odds Checker |
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Roger Bannister is the favourite. http://www.oddschecker.com/olympics/to-light-olympic-flame |
| 1955 |
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+1 |
| redgrave |
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Look at what Steve Redgrave has accomplished and then try to convince me he doesn't deserve to light it... |
| trollism |
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Not sure the public would like it too much if he essentially picked himself to light the flame. He's too involved with organisation for it to be an option. You know what people are like over here, not to mention the press. |
| ardh |
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Well, Sir Roger can no longer run. I realize that wouldn't keep him from lighting the flame (see Muhammad Ali, 1996, and others). |
| iso |
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How many could you name from previous Olympics? I couldn't remember any of them tbh. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_lit_the_Olympic_Cauldron Redgrave is good shout. |
| good gambler |
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some of us got on sir roger a year ago when he was 100 to 1 :-) |
| not a real american |
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Ummm...Coe isn't even a real American. He's just a transplant like Lagat. |
| mynexthandle |
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Hard to believe he's such an overwhelming favo(u)rite. He's an iconic guy, but not really because of the Olympics. Surely there are some other worthy Brits? |
| Good Rick |
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As he should be. Bannister is an icon for what he did. I don't think Steve Ovett or Daley Thompson would be bad choices, though. I looked at that betting site a little closer, and if they pick David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, or a member of the royal family I might have to eat a bowl of my own poop. |
| hmmidk |
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why does it have to be a track athlete? |
| Barakus'Obama |
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Dwain Chambers. He's back and clean. He's the fastest Brit. He paid for his sins. He's the face of redemption. He personifies the rehabilitation after a mistake. People have spoken in favor of forgiveness. He's America. |
| Good Rick |
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I guess it doesn't have to, but track and field is the most visible set of events at the Olympics and the Brits certainly have names to choose from. You want to make sure you choose someone that people recognize and who is relevant to the Games. I know that Bannister never got a medal, but breaking the 4 min. barrier was one of the top sporting achievements of the 20th century. |
| ryan foreman |
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He's an icon for what he did? He held the world record for less than two months. Big deal. Bannister is by far the most overrated distance runner in history. Prefontaine doesn't even come close.
As he should be. Bannister is an icon for what he did. I don't think Steve Ovett or Daley Thompson would be bad choices, though. I looked at that betting site a little closer, and if they pick David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, or a member of the royal family I might have to eat a bowl of my own poop.[/quote] |
| Trollist |
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0/10 |
| Walt George |
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“He held the world record for less than two months. Big deal” He did though go on to beat that new world record holder two months later in the first true race over a mile that was run under 4 minutes. People forget that Bannister ran in the ‘amateur era’ and Bannister was as amateur an international runner as it is possible to be. Virtually a pastime on the road to becoming a neurologist, his training regime by our standards today was laughable and his running career as such only lasted a couple of years - one couldn’t earn a living at athletics back then. Even with ‘under the table payouts’ from race organisers, the likes of Herb Elliot and Peter Snell back then still struggled financially and had short athletic careers in consequence. |
| ryan foreman |
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-10/10 Obviously you can't even dispute what I said.
0/10[/quote] |
| argg |
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I could remember four (or three and a half, perhaps): Nurmi, Clark, Johnson, Ali. - Can't imagine why no one's put this forward (or perhaps someone has): Charlotte Rampling. Her father won OG gold, and she still seems to be fairly fit. Okay, I believe she's a lifelong smoker, but she doesn't have to actually run, does she? |
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