Monday, August 13, 2012

Party Planning Without Consulting The Guest of Honor

Let's welcome home our Olympians the politicians said, and throw a party so that all of Ireland can celebrate.

Grand idea, but normally one consults the guests of honor prior to setting the date of the party.

And so, another debacle is launched.

The Irish are proud of their five Olympic medal winners. It's such a rare thing, and of course you'd expect a surge of excitement and a desire to do something special to mark the occasion.

The Olympic Council of Ireland made plans to welcome the athletes in Dublin with a parade and an open-topped bus. The parade would take place immediately, as soon as the Olympians stepped off the plane.

Sorry, said the athletes, your party is grand and all but we would like to see our families first?

Adding to the chaos were rumours that boxer Katie Taylor's father was against the bus and it was his fault that the plans were falling apart. So of course he had to go public to declare it wasn't him at all, but that sort of talk just makes the whole party planning crew seem out of their depth.

Not to worry. After speaking to the athletes, it's been decided that they can all go home first, where their local towns will celebrate a triumphant return. Katie Taylor will indeed ride an open bus, but it will be driven through Bray.

The national celebration will take place when the athletes are available, on Wednesday. The party will be held at noon on Wednesday, so those who have jobs can take their lunch break at the Mansion House and join in.

It's all worked out in the end.

For the citizens watching the event unfold, however, it doesn't instill confidence in a government that's supposed to be solving a deep financial crisis. If they can't even plan a small party, how can they plan a workable budget?

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