Tuesday 16 October 2007

Sports News Part II

Welcome back. In part II:

Broken Glass

Another dangerous school sport involved propelling glass objects into one another. This was marbles, which I believe is even more internationally known than conkers. It is a game I remember playing much more often, especially with my sister. Often people played "for keeps", getting to keep the opponent's marbles that they won. Which leads me nicely to today's International Contest.

United Kingdom: 32    Greece: 0

I am, of course, I'm talking about the Elgin Marbles. In the early 1800s, Lord Elgin removed large chunks of marble friezes and sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens and flogged them to the British Government. The Greeks have been trying to get them back ever since. The issue is in the news at the moment, because they have just started transferring artefacts to the newly built Parthenon Museum in Athens, and would like to put the Elgin Marbles in there as well.

Referee!

The British Museum says that the marbles should stay where they are because (i) the Museum is a centre containing treasures from many different cultures under one roof, (ii) there's a law forbidding them from giving away their exhibits, even if it's later decided they were "stolen", and (iii) Ner Ner! We've got them so what are you going to do about it? (All right, they might not actually have said that last one...)

Crowds

On last night's news they did a vox pop. outside the Museum. A couple of people said the marbles should go back to Athens, but another Brit summed things up very eloquently: "They're better off here.", he said, "Not everyone can go all the way to Greece". Nicely put. It's a long way just to see some slabs of stone. And they speak funny, and don't know how to make decent fish and chips.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL!!!

And to think a major news thing such as the home place of Elgin Marble hasn't crossed my path at all!

Really.

I need to become more internationally aware, don't I?

Btw, Love the blog :-D

Bee said...

::sigh::
My streak is over!
I'm going home!

Bee said...

Well, I'll go after I leave my comment.

Guess who was the Marble champ of the Imperial Valley????

No, it wasn't me but I was really good! Ask my brothers!

I was great until I lost my marbles...

Bee said...

Sorry Brian but I'd rather go to Greece to find my marbles than to Britain...

Jean Knee said...

I've often wondered wh people are always telling me I've lost my marbles, now I know they think I'm a marble loser. sigh




well? you knew there would be a lot of lost your marble jokes

Bee said...

Η ΛΕΣΧΗ ΑΝΕΜΙΣΤΗΡΩΝ ΣΑΣ!

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

No streaking on my blog, please ;-)

London:

I've been to the Acropolis, but not to the British Museum. But remember, it's hot in Greece. And Egypt.

Το κλαμπ μου:

Μπορείς κι εσύ να γίνεις μέλος, Αν θέλεις. Δεν είμαι σνομπ!

;-)

Brian o vretanos said...

Chris:

Thanks for the comment! You should watch more Greek news ;-)

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

Lost marble - actually, it didn't occur to me. I'm glad you told me that was a joke - took me three read-throughs to get it. Ha, Ha.

Which probably means I've lost mine too...

Bee said...

Ήμουν του πρώτος!

Brian o vretanos said...

Anyone know the Greek for "awesome"?

Bee said...

AWESOME= 33B

Brian o vretanos said...

I'd have said that was a bit on the small side ;-)

Brian o vretanos said...

To be "Awesome", I mean...

Bee said...

Yeah, it's hot in Greece but I can just jump in the ocean to cool off...

After all, when I'm old-er and never gray, I'm retiring to Hawaii!

Brian o vretanos said...

Hawaii: Nice flag ;-)

Senior Citizen:

I hope Hawaii's ready for you...

Bee said...

Hawaii:
They better "batten down the hatches"! uh... not sure if that's the term.
Once I'm there I'll make them change their flag. I'm thinking flowers.

Brian o vretanos said...

Flowery flag:

Yes, that would work. The Union Jack goes with about everything ;-)

[Some Brit will no doubt tell me it's not the Union Jack, or something. Never could get the hang of that]

Jean Knee said...

did brian just say something about your bra size?

Oh my. I see I'll have to run more interferance, I can't spell--so?

Bee said...

Nah he can't be talking about me because I'm very blessed in that area...

Jean Knee said...

don't look at me, I shop in Jr Miss

Jean Knee said...

see brian this is what it would be like to have us as sisters, intriguing, no?

Bee said...

jean knee, he's sleeping right now probably having nightmares about being chased by a bee with polka dots!

Jean Knee said...

awww, that's so sweet

Bee said...

No, no, jean knee...

SCARY!