‘Igniting our passion for the Games’

Published on 12/06/2012 12:00

with a little over six weeks to go until the start of the London Games, it is fair to say that Edinburgh has yet to be gripped by Olympic fever.

So far, there has been a real lack of excitement, bordering on indifference in many quarters. Ticket sales for the only events on our doorstep, the eight Olympic football matches at Hampden Park in Glasgow, have been extremely slow.

And much of the pre-Games debate has centred on whether or not the Saltire would be allowed to fly over the national stadium at those games.

But tomorrow the Olympic torch arrives in Edinburgh for its historic first visit to the Scottish Capital.

Carried by a string of inspiring Scots, this will be the only chance most of us will ever get to see the iconic Olympic flame on our home soil.

Hopes are high that once the Games are under way as many as 60 Scots, including several from Edinburgh, will win medals.

Surely, it is only a matter of time before we do get excited. Will tomorrow be the moment that ignite our passion for these Games, making it a day to remember for all involved? We certainly hope so.

Station stand-off

WHETHER you accept the reasons behind Network Rail’s plan to ban taxis and cars from Waverley Station, one thing is clear – it will cause massive disruption.

Moving the rank to an area outside the station will not only impact on surrounding streets, it will also be a major inconvenience for many passengers, particularly the disabled or those with young children.

A bit of inconvenience, of course, is acceptable if it can be proved the move is necessary to guard against a real terror threat. Network Rail points out that Waverley is now the only major station to still have a set-up where vehicles have direct access under the station roof. If evidence of the threat is needed, you need look no further than the 2007 terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport.

At the same time, the city council is also right to raise questions over the plan and it is right to insist that the needs of passengers are considered at the same time as the need to ensure security.

It is also reassuring that transport leader Lesley Hinds today insists that the costs of the project, if it goes ahead, is not borne by Edinburgh taxpayers.

We have all, after all, had quite enough of paying for major city centre traffic shake-ups.