The Olympic Games is supposed to promote harmony between nations. Now though
comes an unexpected spat between Danish and Australian officials over a visit
by Crown Princess Mary to the Australian Olympic village.
Controversy has erupted over the appearance by Tasmanian-born Mary and her husband,
Crown Prince Frederik, at the birthday party of Aussie basketball player Patrick
Mills.
As previously reported here, the royal couple led a rendition of 'Happy
Birthday' during Monday’s visit to the Australian team in the Olympic village.
However, whilst this royal support was widely covered due to the presence of TV
cameras from Australia’s Seven Network, a separate visit made by the couple to Danish
athletes in their Olympic village was less widely promoted.
Denying that officials linked to the Danish camp are upset by the fact Mary
visited the Australian team, Denmark’s media officer, Morton Hansen, explains: "What
we have complained about was that there was a television station, against the
rules in the village, putting cameras in front of them."
"If the story is that we have complained that she was there with the
Australians, that’s not true. We had promised the royal couple that they could
be at peace in the Olympic village, where, of course, television stations are
not allowed to film. That’s the complaint".
Referring to the fact the Danish camp is very happy to have seen the royal
couple visiting both camps, Hansen continues in relation to Mary’s support: "She
was with the Danish first, then we took her to the Australian team. We asked the Australian team if they would
like her to pass through when we had her in the camp and they said yes. So we
had them visit us first and then the Australians."
Damping down speculation of a rift between Danish and Australian officials, Australian
Olympic chief John Coates backed up Hansen’s declaration that the only concern
related to the presence of the Australian network’s cameras during the royal
visit, saying of the princess: "She certainly visited us, and it seems there were
concerns raised by the chef de mission of the Danish team, who accompanied her,
that it was a condition of the visit that it be private and there be no filming
in the residential area."
"We certainly weren’t aware of that condition, and if that was the case, we’re
sorry we didn’t comply."
No doubt aware of the threat of unwelcome commentary pertaining to her
level of support for Denmark over Australia, Princess Mary has already said
that she will support the athletes from her homeland...but only if they don’t
come up against Denmark during the 16-day Beijing Games.
Comment: It is not the company's fault. They used the name which was on the death certificate. I just found out, even though my mother always seemed to spell it the other way if I remember right, the way I knew it to be spelled was on the University Women's Federation past presidents web site, and my cousin was away for a week without the phone etc, she said it was always seemed to be spelled wrong,the gravestone company spelled it right, they used the spelling found on the death certificate to protect themselves. I think it is possible my mother used to spell it the other way to look less German during the war, I don't know for sure.I have never seen it spelled that way. The stone is nice. I guess this stuff only comes up at the end.
Name: anyacat
Comment: Usually, when a company makes an error, such as misspelling a name on a gravestone, that company will correct the error. Why not take the US approach and threaten to sue them for millions because of the mental anguish caused by their error. On the other hand, my name has been consistently misspelled and mispronounced for my entire life, I just accept it as one of the pitfalls for having something other than the acceptable Anglo-Saxon Smith and Jones.
Name: exploora
Comment: I think though people have to care enough to win, and I think in this country we rely on big government so much, we don't even appear to have in our culture a feeling that it is ok to have enough confidence in oneself that you can win. There is also a part of our culture I think, which makes a person feel guilty if they are winning when other aren't. The problem with these games, you can only have one who comes in first.
Talk about examples of being careless, the gravestone that we had made for my grandparents and mother, was made with my grandfather's name spelled wrong.
No one phoned me back, and I am supposed to be studying for an exam. I feel I have to go to an official, so they can complain for me, just to be listened to.Of course the officials don't phone back either, and now all I do is look at the picture of the gravestone instead of my text book.
That kind of thing redirects a person's energy so it is harder to focus enough to win.
Name: exploora
Comment: And we have curling
Name: anyacat
Comment: Well, at least Canada still has ice hockey...and three medals at this Olympics. I have always admired Canada, and never thought of it as a nation of losers, it just that they excel at some sports other than those showcased in the Olympics.
Name: exploora
Comment: Well if there was more team work, we wouldn't just have better communication and better teams but we would also have a better world.
Look at our country, Canada, we have no medals, why? Because we are the losers. We lose every time we play.
Often as people die of hungers, others are gorging themselves.
Instead of shaking hands and saying well done, because the opponent gave a better performance, people are walking off like cry-babies.
There is so much tension in the world no wonder our young princes appear to need to drink themselves silly before they can drop their military pout and have a good laugh.
"If you had spent your life in a warship you would not know about taste"
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's response to a snob who questioned her grandson Prince Andrew's taste due to the supermarket style design of his Sunninghill home
