The Olympic torch won't be visiting Wycombe

I don't know about you but the days seems to be whizzing by at the moment.

Last Christmas the major events of this year, like the digital switch over of the TV signal, seemed an eternity away but time has marched on BBC2 on analogue has faded into the history books.

This evening I found out there are only 106 days, or less than four months, to go until the Olympics start in London.

Those hundred or so days will probably go by at tremendous speed and before I know it the closing ceremony will be taking place.

Walking around Wycombe at lunchtimes who would even know that just over thirty miles away the greatest sporting event in the world will soon be taking place?

In days gone by it would be a reason to celebrate and much ado would be made of the spectacle but nowadays nobody seems to bother and historic events just seem to pass us by.

The same can be said for the Queens Jubilee as well.

What on earth is the world coming to? Have our lives become so exciting that even the worlds greatest sporting event isn't worth a mention?

Of course there is the procession of the Olympic torch which is supposed to whip up a furore of support for the event but even that isn't coming close to Wycombe.

The route of the torch has been carefully planned to pass by 95% of the people in the UK during its 70 day procession around the country however it is only passing by rather than actually visiting and that's a big problem.

The nearest it will come to Wycombe is Maidenhead, Bisham and Henley. Even Marlow, home to the greatest Olympian ever, has been omitted from the route.

The Olympics could have been a catalyst for community events in Wycombe and every town in the country however sadly the opportunity has not been advantage of.

Travel back in time a hundred years and there would probably have been a large celebration in Wycombe High Street to mark the jubilee and Olympic celebrations but not this time.

Visit any Council in the country and you will find it has departments for refuse collection, planning and housing however there is no department for celebration or creating a community atmosphere.

Maybe its time that a central department was created in each town to co-ordinate celebrations for national and significant occasions whose sole purposes was to put on events to bring everyone together?

Instead we are left to fend for ourselves and due to apathy the bulk of the population will probably end up watching the sports while eating food in front of the television and end up getting fat.

We may live in a world full of modern gadgets but it seems we have lost the means, desire or ability to celebrate the good things in life. To me this seems a shame.

Is it any wonder the sense of community spirit has disappeared from Wycombe?

What do you think?

*Don't forget to read my regular column in this Friday's edition of the printed version of the Bucks Free Press!

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