The Red Arrows banned from the 2012 Olympics

**waverider** · 04-10-2007

This an e-mail petition going round at the moment. Strangely enough I think it would be interesting to see how our non-UK members here would respond!

Unbelievable....

We have to take our country back from the maniacs running it!!!!!!!

> Subject: Sad news - Red Arrows
>
>
> > Hi Folks,
> >
> > At least this is sad news of a different type to my usual messages!
> >
> > You might wish to sign up to this petition ... What is England becoming?
> >
> > The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012
> > London Olympics because they are deemed "too British".
> >
> > Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be
> > "offensive" to other countries taking part in the Games. The display
> > team has performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the
> > Department of Culture, Media and Sport has deemed the display team "too
> > militaristically British". Red Arrows pilots were said to be "outraged",
> > as they had hoped to put on a truly world class display for the Games,
> > something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a
> > British-based event for being "too British" is an insult - the Arrows
> > are a symbol of Britain .
> >
> > The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas
> > trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over the
> > world.
> >
> > The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was
> > announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly
> > spectacular.
> >
> > It is to be hoped that common sense prevails!
> >
> > If you disagree with this decision, sign the petition on the link :-
> >
> >
> > http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows...=redArrows2012
> > <http://petitions.PM.gov.UK/RedArrows2012/?ref=redArrows2012>
> >
> > Forward this to everyone you can.

**rolfw** · 04-10-2007

Yes, have already signed this, there is a reply from the Government on the petition page:

The e-petition asking the Prime Minister to "to Allow the Red Arrows to Fly at the 2012 Olympics" is ongoing. This is a response in advance of the closing date from the Government

This allegation is not true. The Government has not banned the Red Arrows from the London 2012 Olympic Games. The organising committee of London 2012 will decide what to include in the Opening Ceremony and other celebrations - but with almost five years to go, decisions are yet to be made on what these will look like.

And of course the Red Arrows played a memorable role in the celebrations for 2012, when they flew over Trafalgar Square to mark London winning the Games.

The problem is, that if it is left to the Olympic organisers as the above suggests, they will go with their original opinion and that is one of a liberal elite, who are paranoid about the possibility of causing the slightest offense to any of the competing countries governments.

In my opinion, no countries will be offended by the Red Arrows display and will take them for what they are, a breathtaking display team of world renown, who do not perform in military livery.

You've only got to look at the tourists in Britain who come here specifically to see the changing of the guard, trooping of the colour, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

These things are what we are famed for, they are military, but not militaristic.

Come on, what do non-UK members think, would you be offended if the Red Arrows performed a display at the opening ceremony, are the GB Olympic committee justified in their fear? I am interested to see the international opinion in the poll.

**waverider** · 04-10-2007

Hi Rolfw, Yes I have signed it as well, wasn't too sure though how old this doc was! It was my cousin who forwarded to me.

Like most people today I hate politics and dislike politicians. Still lets not go there eh?

**Topper** · 04-10-2007

And the government are wondering why 389,000 people left the UK last year.

***2cvbloke*** · 05-10-2007

I voted wrong, can I change it please?

I've also signed the petition, cos as people are coming to Britain, then why can't we show what the British can do?

**rolfw** · 05-10-2007

OK, done that for you.

I would really like to see the votes of the non-UK members.

**TJExcalibur** · 05-10-2007

There won't be anybody at the 2012 Olympics because the cost will over run and the tickets prices will be sky high. Its bad enough getting around in that area now, just imagine in 2012.

***2cvbloke*** · 05-10-2007

Originally Posted by rolfw

OK, done that for you.

Thanks, I only got it wrong cos I thought it meant "Will cause offence if banned" until I re-read the thread afterwards...

**Salty25** · 06-10-2007

I'm tempted to say it wouldn't cause offence, but I really have no idea, perhaps the IOC should take a vote on it at their next conference/meeting. It would be a shame, from a British perspective, if it didn't happen.

***Yeshi*** · 06-10-2007

I'm offended, not because the of fact stated above but the fact that theyre ripping everything british out of us.

It seems in this country the meaning of british is,

Terrorism
NHS
Benefits
Imagrants
High prices

I still say a civil war in what is needed...

For the past few months i have been contemplating leaving the country as the thought of daily crap coming from the goverment makes me mad, and i mean really mad.

The latest laws to come from the goverment, i have totally ignored them and carried on and if i was under 18 i would break another aswell.. Taking away the red arrows and a few other things is the last straw for me...

**waverider** · 07-10-2007

Originally Posted by Topper

And the government are wondering why 389,000 people left the UK last year.

Makes you wonder then how elections are honestly won!

The Tories have no chance if thier voters are leaving in such numbers.

This last ten years have been very confusing and frustrating, with our civil libertys been eroded away!

**Topper** · 07-10-2007

I wish I was young enough and fit enough to spend 13 years pedaling around the world, I would imagine things would be very different by the time I returned in 2020.

Just think my passport would have expired.

**Channel Hopper** · 07-10-2007

Originally Posted by Topper

I wish I was young enough and fit enough to spend 13 years pedaling around the world, I would imagine things would be very different by the time I returned in 2020. Just think my passport would have expired.

[Pedant Hat on]

Not very fit if it took 13 years to circumnavigate the planet - approx .22 miles per hour or 5 miles a day taking time to sleep/search out the sights.

You could walk it in 2 years.

[/Pedant Hat on]

paranoid87 · 15-10-2007

I havent yet signed tho will soon..

Must say having lived here for almsot a decade..its been one of my *most* wonderful experiences seeing the Red Arrows here way back in 2001,

this is really shocking to me..and it sounds so ridiculous..

they are just Awesome!

**T_G** · 03-04-2008

Those Germans need a reminder who the boss is in the air at least, after they stole football from the brits. Seriously though, if Britain was a faschist country then I would object, but I cannot see who will be offended by a nice display of some planes??? For sure normal Germans would not mind, and the old Nazis who do mind, well who cares about them anyway. The only objection I have against these flying displays are on the grounds of cost and also it is quite dangerous, if a stunt goes bad and two planes collide it couls hav devastating results, unless they fly over the sea.

***Zorba*** · 10-04-2008

No worries about that. They come to Cyprus at least twice a year to practise. Its about this time before it gets too hot and hazy and its great to watch.We get a free display over Akrotiri every couple of hours and can be seen from most of Limassol.

geordiejohn · 17-07-2008

Well,i suppose i am not going to win many mates in this post but here goes.

IMHO a military display hardly fits in with the olympic ideal! The red arrows are there to present a positive view of our armed forces and to promote our arms industies abroad.Nowt wrong with that,but hardly suitable for the olympics.

Also ten seconds of reseach would have shown this to be a hoax.

_http://www.hoax-slayer.com/red-arrows-petition.shtml

_http://www.london2012.com/news/archive/2007-10/no-truth-in-red-arrows-rumour.php

Sorry for putting live links in at first,i forgot to change them!

**rolfw** · 17-07-2008

Well firstly it isn't actually a hoax, but someone pre-empting a decision which was possibly going to be made, the suggestion did not come out of thin air. This has been outlined in my first post in the thread.

Secondly, the Red Arrows, aside from the fact that they are using 30 year old aircraft (hardly a shop window for the UK arms industry), they are not considered as military and do not fly in military livery. They are what they are, an aero display team and an internationally respected one at that.

The countries where they have displayed to date:

Code:

Country . . . . . . . . Displays

Austria . . . . . . . . . 9
Australia . . . . . . . . . 3
Bahrain . . . . . . . . . 3
Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . 1
Belgium . . . . . . . . . 81
Brunei . . . . . . . . . 3
Canada . . . . . . . . . 17
Cyprus . . . . . . . . . 58
Czech Republic . . . . . . . 2
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 19
Egypt . . . . . . . . . 4
Eire . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Finland . . . . . . . . . 11
France . . . . . . . . . 62
Germany . . . . . . . . . 170
Gibraltar . . . . . . . . . 6
Greece . . . . . . . . . 4
Hungary . . . . . . . . . 1
Iceland . . . . . . . . . 2
Indonesia . . . . . . . . . 12
India . . . . . . . . . 5
Italy . . . . . . . . . 40
Jordan . . . . . . . . . 12
Libya . . . . . . . . . 1
Luxembourg . . . . . . . . . 2
Malaysia . . . . . . . . . 30
Malta . . . . . . . . . 21
Monaco . . . . . . . . . 2
Morocco . . . . . . . . . 1
Netherlands . . . . . . . . . 22
Norway . . . . . . . . . 7
Oman . . . . . . . . . 3
Pakistan . . . . . . . . . 3
Phillipines . . . . . . . . . 1
Poland . . . . . . . . . 4
Portugal . . . . . . . . . 3
Qatar . . . . . . . . . 3
Romania . . . . . . . . . 1
Russia . . . . . . . . . 2
Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . . . 4
Singapore . . . . . . . . . 8
Slovakia . . . . . . . . . 4
South Africa . . . . . . . . . 7
Spain . . . . . . . . . 6
Sweden . . . . . . . . . 15
Switzerland . . . . . . . . . 24
Thailand . . . . . . . . . 3
Turkey . . . . . . . . . 8
UAE . . . . . . . . . 22
UK - England . . . . . . . . 2751
UK - Scotland . . . . . . . . . 142
UK - N Ireland . . . . . . . . . 34
UK - Wales . . . . . . . . . 123
UK - Isle of Man . . . . . . . . 90
UK - Channel Islands . . . . . 86
USA . . . . . . . . . 35
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . 2
Total Countries . . . . . . . 52
Total Displays . . . . . . . 4004

I suppose we could always scrap the display and have Dwain Chambers carrying the torch instead.

**compufunk** · 17-07-2008

Hoax or not,
Non-UK citizen - Wouldn't offend me,

I don't see the big deal! Sending secret service bullies around the world with the Olympic torch is a different matter.

geordiejohn · 17-07-2008

Originally Posted by rolfw

Well firstly it isn't actually a hoax, but someone pre-empting a decision which was possibly going to be made, the suggestion did not come out of thin air.

Where in the origional email does it say

Originally Posted by rolfw

pre-empting a decision which was possibly going to be made

?

Using this presumption you could have an email petition about anything!

The post was titled "Red arrows banned from 2012 olympics"

Originally Posted by waverider

> > The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012
> > London Olympics because they are deemed "too British".
> >
> > Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be
> > "offensive" to other countries taking part in the Games.

Have the oranisers said this?

the email said the decision had been made.

For what reasons do you think our Govt use our money to pay the RAF to operate the red arrows?

It's a fishing expedition to wind people up.A hoax.

geordiejohn · 17-07-2008

sorry,more or less a double post

Jumile · 18-09-2008

Just received a reply from Downing Street about this petition. Apparently the rumour was all bollocks: RedArrows2012 -epetition response

**rolfw** · 18-09-2008

Yes, but doesn't that fall under the title of "Well they would say that wouldn't they", particularly when they are so low in the polls.

Having said that, the thread has gone well past its sell by date, so going to close it now, the poll is certainly no longer relevant.

View Poll Results: Red Arrows at the 2012 Olympics, offensive?
UK Citizen - Will cause offense	4	5.19%
UK Citizen - Won't cause offense	64	83.12%
Non-UK Citizen - Would offend me	1	1.30%
Non-UK citizen - Wouldn't offend me	8	10.39%
Voters: 77. This poll is closed

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