Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva (Post 5146758)

It was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime honour granted to the great and the good in Britain.

And the 8,000-mile Olympic torch relay across the UK has been cheered on by thousands since it set off just days ago after arriving in the country accompanied by David Beckham.

But the privilege of taking part in the Olympic torch relay for this summer's games is also providing an opportunity for participants to cash in - with eBay auction bids for the prized torches already reaching up to £150,000.

A number of the torches - which are given to bearers in the relay for a discount price of £295 - have already been put up for sale on the internet auction site.

One seller, whose listing has reached a price of £111,000, has not even completed their leg of the relay yet, with the eBay user promising to post the torch 'as soon as the run is completed and the funds have cleared'.

Andrew Bell, 32 - who completed his relay leg in Marazion, Cornwall - was one of those to put his torch up for sale on eBay, saying he hoped the auction would provide some much needed income for his family.

Mr Bell told the Sun newspaper: 'I understand some people may find the idea of selling an Olympic torch offensive but we could genuinely use the money.
'Without giving you a sob story, we've a lovely baby boy and my wife has just gone back to work after maternity leave.'

Mr Bell, who has since taken down the listing of his torch, added: 'Also, the torch is nearly a metre long, and looks weird on the mantlepiece.'

Although the astronomically-high prices of many of the auctions suggests the sales have been targeted by hoax bidders, Olympic organisers have refused to condemn those people planning on selling their torches.

A spokeswoman for London 2012 said: 'The majority of people will want to keep their torch, but ultimately it's their property and for them to decide what to do with it.

'We hope the torches and uniforms find good homes.'

Although some runners have tried to cash in on taking part in the relay, the excitement of other torch bearers seems to be enough on its own.


Daily Mail


Ebay


Do you think it's morally wrong or do you say good luck to 'em?

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva (Post 5146848)

I don't see a problem with it personally, especially as they were charged £295 for the honour of keeping one. If they were given them as a souvenier of their experience, then I might feel a bit different. If people want to pay thousands of pounds for one, that's up to them really.

Originally Posted by Pyramid* (Post 5146905)

Have any of these torches being sold - actually passed hands and money paid up?

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva (Post 5146971)

We don't get to see that information, but I saw a report about this story on the news before. This has got 50+ bids currently with just over 2 hours to go and the bid stands at just over £21,000 currently. I cannot see them all being hoax bids.

Originally Posted by Harry! (Post 5147007)

I just think it is wrong so many torches were produced, it takes the whole "bringing the torch to London" aspect away when so many people have torches. You are basically owning "a" torch rather then "the" torch which is a different thing altogether.

Originally Posted by Harry! (Post 5147007)

I just think it is wrong so many torches were produced, it takes the whole "bringing the torch to London" aspect away when so many people have torches. You are basically owning "a" torch rather then "the" torch which is a different thing altogether.

Originally Posted by Pyramid* (Post 5146983)

Oh I agree, ... but it would be interesting to find out if and when monies actually change hands.

I do agree that the chances of all 61 (and counting) bidders being hoaxes is pretty much nil !

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 5147101)

Surely it'd be a great thing to keep so you can tell stories to the grandchildren while they're not playing Hyperreality 3000 on their Whizzboxes in 2060 odd, but each to their own I guess

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 5147658)

I thinking that, if you consider it as "just a piece of metal" and have no qualms about selling it to the highest bidder, perhaps you're not the ideal person to have been chosen to carry it in the first place.

Originally Posted by Shaun (Post 5147660)

Indeed, which raises the question: who selected the runners and why :tongue:

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 5147662)

150k is 150k..........that's a mortgage free house. I don't think I'll ever be asked to carry one anyway :laugh:

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 5147663)

I have no idea. I assumed that people would be chosen to whom being able to carry the torch in the relay would mean something more than cash. Quite naive of me really, I suppose.