London Olympics Etiquette

Just finished reading extracts of the guidelines released by the UK’s national tourism which advises Londoners on how to deal with visitors during the 2012 London Olympics.

When I heard there was a guide – I thought it was a joke – guess the joke was on me!

Some of it is just common sense – which makes you wonder – who dreams up this stuff? The guide is lame not to mention a waste of good money at a time when we need every penny for serious stuff.

Things like stop snapping your fingers when you meet Belgians – don’t wink at people from Honk Kong – don’t make the OK sign to Brazilians – and don’t hug or touch Indians, oh dear!!! This is madness, why don’t we focus on show casing London, dress her on her best and let the people work out how to communicate and behave with each other. After all English is a universal language – and most people speak a little of it plus we are a well traveled bunch of people.

I lived in London half of my live and in that time I have been to all 32 boroughs, never once have I seen someone snapping their fingers, winking at and hugging strangers while making the OK sign, never in almost 20 years!

Even smiling if it wasn’t natural looks fake and insincere and that is more offensive than mistaking a Canadian for an American!