The Olympics from other perspectives

I hadn't wanted to say anything more about the Olympics - I can't say today's announcement was of any great concern to me - but I've just had a look at TF1, one of the French television channels, to see what they had to say. (If you understand French, the article is here.)

I'm sorely tempted to say "bad losers". After a stunned silence, reactions picked up from the crowds included accusations of lobbying by Tony Blair, claims that the London bid had a much greater budget and, most incredible of all, a suggestion that "it's the Hundred Years' War all over again".

I felt morally obliged to attempt to put the record straight so decided to add to the comments: two of them thus far, one going on (and on) about corruption while the other suggests the problems are closer to home. I've got no idea if they'll post my two hap'orth - do they frequently get views from abroad, I wonder? and do they appreciate them? - so here it is for prosperity. In French, with an English translation.

J'ose espérer que l'extrème amertume dont fait preuve les réactions outre-Manche (par rapport à moi) est dû principalement à un sentiment de déception, qui est parfaitement raisonnable. Seul un pays indifferent à la décision du CIO puisse véritablement y porter commentaire neutre, les pays candidats ayant tous des préjugés qui les empêchent de traiter la chose avec un esprit ouvert.

Quoi qu'il en soit, les relations franco-britanniques ont continué leur nivellement par le bas, mais n'allez surtout pas croire qu'il y aurait une meilleure entente entre nos pays si Paris avait été sélectionée.

Et de grâce, que quelqu'un comprenne enfin que l'Angleterre et la Grande-Bretagne ne sont pas synonymes! L'Ecosse, le Pays de Galles et l'Irlande du Nord devront aussi payer les JO ...

Trans.: I would like to hope that the extreme bitterness in French reactions [to the announcement] is down primarily to an understandable sense of disappointment. Only a country with no interest in the IOC's decision could really comment neutrally, the candidate nations' prejudices preventing them from approaching the matter with an open mind.

Regardless, franco-british relations have worsened further, but don't go thinking things would be any better had Paris been chosen.

And for pity's sake, would someone please understand that England and Great Britain are not synonyms! Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also have to pay for the Olympics ...

(The content of the last paragraph is a particular bug-bear of mine. Sadly it's not just the French who do this, but I refuse to give up.)

Madrid plans to give it another go in a few years' time (good for them), while the Moskovites seem torn between disappointment and wondering if it was all a PR stunt on the part of their leaders. What of New York?

Well, I've yet to find any reactions on an American blog - was there really so little interest in the outcome? That said, I gather there was much rejoicing at Paris not being selected, which reminded me all too much of the scenes of jubilation in some parts of the world in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Schadenfreude is horrendous, people. Don't do it.

UPDATE (00:38, 15/08/2005) Courtesy of my friend Marcus, the BBC's response to the "100 Years' War" accusation.