May 23, 2012
Going For Gold or Going For Cash?
Maybe it's the Olympics thing, maybe it's the jubilee thing, maybe it's the warm weather a union jack bag and a can on diet irn bru with a chippy (lots of salt, sauce and vinegar please) thing, cucumber sandwiches, pork pies and staffies wearing union jacks. Who can tell and who knows?
Anyway, I was reading about all these people in Great Britain who have been nominated to carry the Olympic torch for us all to see it. My normal self wouldn't have given a hoot about it but some reason, it actually meant something to me. The ploy of installing some degree of national pride worked for a change.
I read some of the stories about the people carrying the torch and thought that it was such a huge honour to do something like that. 8,000 torch bearers are taking 8,000 torches 8,000 miles all around the UK. According to a London Olympics organiser, 95% of the population will be within 10 miles of the torch route.
I never thought I'd say this, but I actually want to go to see the Olympic flame. Part of me thinks it a bit tragic that I'm going to make the effort to go along to the edge of my small town to see it pass by, carried along by a deserving person who has been an inspiration or given something positive to their community.
However, some of the torches that have carried the Olympic flame are being sold on eBay. Ok ok, I know that they have been bought by the 'runners' so technically they are free to do what they want with them.
But is it right to sell them?
The going price (some with and some without the official torch bearer uniform) is around £9,000 although there is one advertised at £90,000. No I haven't typed too many zeros it is actually £90k now THAT is a life changing amount of money.
I will add that Sarah Milner Simonds sold her torch for £153,100 with a portion of the money going to help with her community gardening project, however it's a huge slab of dosh. Part of me is horrified that something so special and unique is being sold on eBay, while the other part of me thinks that if you aren't sentimental you are as well to have the money while it's worth something.
After all, what would you do with it anyway? Would it sit on the mantelpiece waiting to be dusted or in a gallery where people can be inspired?
Best I can do is get a glimpse of history on 13th June.
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