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Brand Olympics: do the famous rings deliver value to host countries?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-greenland-2064">Steven Greenland</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-joseph-gill-1530152">Robert Joseph Gill</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>The cost of hosting Paris 2024, the 33rd Olympics, is predicted to be <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/paris-lean-olympics-wont-blow-any-budgets-credit-rating-firm-sp-says-2024-03-11/">more than A$14 billion</a>.</p> <p>So what’s in it for the French?</p> <p>Will this oldest of sporting events shine for them, or as has happened with some previous Olympics, will it prove to be <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-07/what-japan-learned-from-olympic-white-elephants/100329488">a massive white elephant</a>?</p> <h2>The power of the five rings</h2> <p>The Olympic brand is <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/the-olympic-brand-maintains-its-global-strength-and-recognition">massively powerful</a> and gives the host nation a global platform to strengthen their international reputation and standing.</p> <p>The Olympic brand heritage goes back 2,800 years to southern Greece, when games were held to honour the Greek god Zeus at Olympia. Starting in 776 BC, these ancient games were held every four years and continued for more than 1,000 years.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VdHHus8IgYA?wmode=transparent&start=11" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">The Olympics began as part of a festival honouring Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The modern Olympics began in 1896 in Athens. Since then, the games have been hosted in 23 cities and 20 countries.</p> <p>Paris 2024 will welcome around 10,500 athletes from more than 200 countries <a href="https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports">competing in 32 different sports</a>. Around <a href="https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/nov-2023/olympic-games-2024-set-to-boost-tourism-spending-in-paris-by-up-to-eur4-billion-euromonitor-international">4 billion people will watch on</a> around the globe.</p> <p>The Olympics’ five rings (<a href="https://discover.sportsengineplay.com/olympics/history-of-they-rings#:%7E:text=They%20first%20appeared%20in%201913,to%20accept%20its%20fertile%20rivalries.">created by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin 110 years ago</a>) is one of the most recognised logos on the planet.</p> <p>It represents unity across the five continents (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania).</p> <p>It is this familiarity and <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/INTR-07-2018-0324/full/html">positive Olympic brand associations</a> – which include excitement, fairness and being elite – that some argue justifies the billions spent.</p> <p>Host nations hope this Olympic sparkle rubs off on their nation’s reputation – but that’s not always the case.</p> <h2>Benefits of hosting an Olympics</h2> <p>Broadcast rights, sponsorships and advertising from organisations that want to be associated with the Olympic brand can <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/funding">generate huge revenue streams</a>.</p> <p>The Olympic brand adds considerable value for sponsors and advertisers, and there are also benefits that France (and the world) will gain long after the event.</p> <p>Responsible marketing and attracting sponsors that complement Olympic brand values can <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2230487">promote positive, sustainable attitudes and behaviour</a>. Examples of this include promoting unity, a sense of national pride, and social and health gains from <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-sports-participation-boom-during-or-before-or-after-the-olympics-227773">increased sports participation</a>.</p> <p>The event also generates huge revenue from domestic and international tourism – 15 million spectators are anticipated for Paris 2024. Most are locals and domestic day trippers but <a href="https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/nov-2023/olympic-games-2024-set-to-boost-tourism-spending-in-paris-by-up-to-eur4-billion-euromonitor-international">around 3 million additional visitors</a> are expected in Paris during the games.</p> <p>Increased infrastructure and updated civil works as a result of the city getting ready for the Olympics provides many lifestyle benefits: a reinvigorated host city can benefit from upgraded transport, accommodation, hospitality, sports facilities and streetscapes.</p> <p>Other significant benefits relate to strengthening the host country’s geographic and cultural brand. For France, this includes reinforcing and promoting many of its registered geographic indicator products that relate mainly to wine, agricultural products and foodstuffs, as well as spirits and beers.</p> <p>Champagne is perhaps the most widely recognised geographic indicator product. It illustrates how connection to its place of origin assures consumers about regional and French cultural values and <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-quite-a-lot-if-its-prosecco-parmesan-or-mozzarella-209505">the products’ characteristics and quality</a>.</p> <h2>What about the pitfalls?</h2> <p>Many Olympics have failed to turn a profit, meaning countries and citizens are <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02665433.2019.1633948">left to pay off debts</a> for decades after the event (for example, Rio, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/06/40-year-hangover-1976-olympic-games-broke-montreal-canada">Montreal</a>, Beijing and Athens).</p> <p>Also, many cities are left with <a href="https://theconversation.com/looking-back-at-the-olympic-venues-since-1896-are-they-still-in-use-229606">purpose-built infrastructure</a> created specifically for the games but left idle afterwards, including athlete accommodation, aquatic centres and major stadiums.</p> <p>What will determine the success of Paris 2024 and justify the massive investment in hosting the event?</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_m1x5JaC37E?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Is hosting the Olympics worth the investment?</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The success of the Olympics for the host is often determined by the financial revenue it can generate. The Olympic brand plays a significant role in generating this financial support.</p> <p>However, the brand’s reputation can be tarnished by issues leading up to and during the games, which may reduce the positive impacts.</p> <p>The Olympic brand’s reputation can be affected by issues like:</p> <ul> <li> <p>high-profile athletes and national teams cheating or doping</p> </li> <li> <p>world sporting authorities placing restrictions on competitors <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1143198/restrictions-transgender-paris2024-games">based on gender and status</a></p> </li> <li> <p>incompatible sponsors jumping on the Olympic bandwagon. For example, manufacturers of harmful products whose negative brand associations could tarnish the Olympic brand, such as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2176532">soft drink and alcohol sponsors</a></p> </li> <li> <p>negative publicity associated with unethical practices of host and participating countries <a href="https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/sports-politics-brands-volatile-mix-olympic-games/">with human rights issues</a>. This includes others using the event to publicise these</p> </li> <li> <p>politicising the event – including “<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-saudi-arabia-using-sportswashing-to-simply-hide-its-human-rights-abuses-or-is-there-a-bigger-strategy-at-play-208468">sportswashing</a>”, protests, boycotts and image protection, as seen with <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13216597.2017.1347101">China</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/kidspost/2021/12/16/us-protest-olympics-is-nothing-new-politics-have-been-mixed-with-sports-decades/">the United States</a>, and <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/declaration-by-the-ioc-against-the-politicisation-of-sport">Russia</a></p> </li> <li> <p>unforeseeable events – the COVID pandemic delayed the Tokyo games and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/money-money-money-cost-tokyos-pandemic-delayed-olympics-2021-06-10/#:%7E:text=Organisers%20said%20last%20December%20that,has%20risen%20to%20%243%20billion">pushed the cost to A$18 billion</a></p> </li> <li> <p>other negative associated risks for the host city such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/will-the-paris-olympics-be-a-terrorist-target-these-three-factors-could-be-key-229110">terrorism</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/extreme-heat-is-a-killer-for-outdoor-sporting-events-lets-plan-properly-to-keep-everyone-safe-229998">heat waves</a>, and civil unrest.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Fingers crossed for France</h2> <p>With close to half the world watching Paris 2024, France’s National Olympic Committee will be anxiously hoping for positive outcomes to ensure a strong return on the A$14 billion invested. But since Sydney 2000, virtually every games host has suffered <a href="https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/economi">significant financial blowouts</a>.</p> <p>For their sake, and the Olympics’ reputation, let’s hope the Paris games sparkle - or we may be left with a very limited number of potential future hosts with very deep pockets.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/228497/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-greenland-2064">Steven Greenland</a>, Professor in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-joseph-gill-1530152">Robert Joseph Gill</a>, Associate Professor in Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/brand-olympics-do-the-famous-rings-deliver-value-to-host-countries-228497">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

“Greedy” woman slammed after being “disappointed” with engagement ring

<p dir="ltr">A woman has been dubbed “ungrateful” and “greedy” online after sharing a lengthy post about how she was “pretty disappointed” with the ring her boyfriend proposed with. </p> <p dir="ltr">The bride-to-be took to Facebook to say that while she still loves her fiancé, she was upset at being given a lab-made diamond as opposed to a natural one. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm not going to lie, I was pretty disappointed, especially since my future husband has enough income to afford a real diamond,” she said in the lengthy post. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also confessed to feeling like “a spoiled brat for complaining”, but went on to compare how her fiancé was previously engaged to another woman and proposed with a ring costing more than $75,000, so the cheaper diamond left her feeling “second best”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman’s post was met with ridicule online, as thousands of people commented on her post to express their disbelief. </p> <p dir="ltr">One person quipped, “I require my diamonds to be exploitative.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“People sure do get upset when their diamonds aren't the result of human rights abuses and environmental destruction, huh,” another said, slamming the woman's “entitled attitude”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another woman was quick to agree that the bride-to-be's “greedy” disappointment was in bad taste.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Carbon is carbon,” another person said, referring to the material that diamonds are made of, whether from the ground or in a lab. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Such a weird hill to die on! I told my husband I wanted a lab created diamond for this exact reason: because diamond mining claims lives! Having a chemically perfect diamond is a bonus,” another woman said. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Relationships

"Meant to be": Magical moment mum finds lost ring 15 years later

<p>Some stories are so unbelievable that it seems like divine intervention played a part in making them happen.</p> <p>Samantha was only eight or nine years old when she lost a ring that her parents gave her for Christmas, only to miraculously find it 15 years later. </p> <p>She recalled the remarkable story of her lost ring on <em>Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie</em>. </p> <p>"So when I was about eight or nine, it was Christmas time, and we were holidaying up at Umina Beach Caravan Park," Samantha began.</p> <p>"I was in the surf, and my mum and dad had bought me this beautiful little first diamond ring for Christmas, and I was sort of in the waves up to sort of my knees, and I thought, Oh, I better take my ring off and put it around my necklace, because if I get dumped or under the waves, I might lose it."</p> <p>Samantha recalled that she was in the middle of taking her ring off when a "freak wave" came and knocked her over, causing her to drop the ring in the ocean.</p> <p>"I'm crying... my mum's crying, we're all crying, and I lost the ring," she said.</p> <p>15 years later she returned to the same beach with her own kids, when things took a turn for the better. </p> <p>"My daughter's collecting shells, and she picks up this big shell, and I said, 'Oh, that's beautiful. Like, that's a big one. We don't find them up this way'," she told the radio hosts.</p> <p>"And she said, 'Oh, hang on. I think there's like a creature or something in it'... So I said 'Put it down, put it down', and I picked it up and just make sure she wasn't going to get bitten or anything.</p> <p>"And I looked inside, and my ring was inside the shell."</p> <p>Samantha told the hosts that she remembered her mum giving her the ring and telling her "when you grow up and you have a daughter, you can give this to her."</p> <p>"When we found it, I think I cried for like, a week, it's a story that we still don't believe."</p> <p>Radio hosts Kate, Fitzy and Wippa were all in shock, with Kate telling the mum that the ring was "meant to be" with her. </p> <p>"Well, the funny thing is, my mum, actually, at the moment, is palative," Samantha shared.</p> <p>"She's very, very unwell, and out of everything that she does remember, she still remembers that story.</p> <p>"She'll still say to me, 'don't you ever get rid of that ring'. And I'm like, my daughter's got it in a box at home, and she's not even allowed to wear it."</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Domestic Travel

Woman shares fury after unknowingly paying for her engagement ring

<p dir="ltr">A new wife has shared her fury after she discovered her husband had been paying off her engagement ring from their joint bank account. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 28-year-old woman was overjoyed when her partner proposed to her with an $8,000 two-carat lab diamond ring, which he bought on a payment plan because he “didn’t have the funds available” when he bought it. </p> <p dir="ltr">The couple got married just three months later at the courthouse after they realised they could not afford a big, fancy wedding. </p> <p dir="ltr">After their big day, the new wife was shocked and annoyed when she discovered she had “unintentionally partially paid for two instalments”, which now makes her a “part owner of the ring”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I found out after we married and merged our finances that he has been withdrawing funds from our joint account — we make roughly the same — to finance this ring,” the furious woman shared in a Reddit thread.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have been having some arguments lately and he feels that the ring is a wedding expense and it’s only fair that I contribute towards it too, and that as a woman of this day I shouldn’t hesitate to be an equal partner.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She took particular issue with her husband for making her pay her share on what was supposed to be a gift from him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was just taken aback and honestly put off by the fact he is making me pay for a gift he gave to me. You don’t make the recipient of a gift pay for the damn gift,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman said if she had known her husband was going to make her pay for the ring, she wouldn’t have agreed to “buy it”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mutual consent is essential when a couple is deciding to invest in an asset. Owning a house or a car jointly requires two ‘yeses’ and I wouldn’t certainly have said yes to jointly owning a ring he was supposed to give to me as a gift,” she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although the woman admitted that she had asked her partner for a “nice” ring before he proposed, saying that she “deserved a quality piece symbolising our love”, she said she wished her partner talked to her about the big expense before signing her up for payments. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My then-fiancé knew about the expectation I had of him and was upfront about things from the get go,” she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He could’ve discussed things with me and we could’ve seen if we were truly compatible like that. What I didn’t know was that he was plotting to ‘get even’ with me by taking out a payment plan and using our funds to finance it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t mind splurging for him, but this whole situation has left a very bad taste in my mouth.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Now she’s demanding her husband return her engagement ring to the jewellery store because she refuses to pay for it.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Reddit post has racked up thousands of comments, with some people jumping to the woman’s defence. </p> <p dir="ltr">One person wrote, “I’d be livid if I found out I was diamond poor instead of house poor.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, not everyone thought the wife’s actions were justified, with one person writing, “You’re married, there is no ‘my money’ and ‘his money’. Money he spends towards the debt for the ring is money that can’t be spent on other things for your lives together. You wanted an expensive ring, they aren’t free”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

Jeweller shares the cost of Albo's custom engagement ring

<p>A jewellery expert has shared the estimated cost of the custom diamond ring Anthony Albanese bought to propose to his long-term partner Jodie Haydon. </p> <p>The Prime Minister shared the heart-warming news of the engagement on Valentine's Day, sharing a loved up snap of the happy couple, as Jodie showed off her ring. </p> <p>Albo revealed he chose Nicola Cerrone’s Leichhardt-based Cerrone Jewellers store to design the diamond ring before popping the question.</p> <p>Now, a different NSW jeweller has shared their estimated cost of the impressive diamond, telling NCA NewsWire the ring could be worth up to $240,000. </p> <p>The jeweller, who wished to remain anonymous, admitted diamonds are incredibly varied in terms of pricing depending on colour, cut and clarity and difficult to evaluate from an image, but they confirmed Mr Albanese didn’t appear to spare any expense. </p> <p>“This looks to be roughly a 3ct Round Brilliant Cut Diamond on an 18ct Rose Gold Band,” the jeweller said.</p> <p>“The ring is a four prong solitaire with a slightly wider band - definitely a very popular style at the moment!”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3W8CdZyXd5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3W8CdZyXd5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anthony Albanese (@albomp)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The jeweller said Mr Albanese chose a classic style ring but noted the personal touches. </p> <p>“A round brilliant cut solitaire is one of the most classic styles of engagement ring and is consistently the top pick regardless of current trends - however the rose gold band is definitely a more personalised pick,” they said. </p> <p>“As far as pricing goes, assuming the diamond is a natural stone rather than lab grown it could be worth anywhere from $60,000 to $240,000.”</p> <p>Mr Albanese told Triple M radio on Friday that he enlisted the help of the local jeweller in his electorate, with his dog Toto in tow for moral support. </p> <p>“They made it – it’s bespoken. One-off,” the Prime Minister said. </p> <p>“They took different aspects and came back to us with different text messages, photos, and put it together – and Nic was just amazing, the artistry that’s it's got.”</p> <p>“I know what I like – but I don’t know what any of it’s called,” he said. "Toto was with me too.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Extraordinary cost of Delta Goodrem's engagement ring revealed

<p>A jewellery specialist has revealed the extraordinary cost of Delta Goodrem's stunning diamond engagement ring. </p> <p>The Aussie pop princess <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/delta-goodrem-is-engaged" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced her engagement</a> to her partner, Matthew Copley, in a heartfelt Instagram post last week, as her partner asked the big question while they were on holiday in Malta.</p> <p>Now, a jewellery specialist at UK retailer Steven Stone has shared the estimated cost of the impressive ring. </p> <p>Zack Stone told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12554633/Delta-Goodrem-diamond-ring-engagement.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail</em></a> that the sparkling diamond ring is worth about $123,000.</p> <p>He said the three carat round cut diamond in a solitaire setting is "timeless" and is "believed to signal everlasting love and eternity".</p> <p>"The diamond is sat in a solitaire setting, which is a timeless choice for those in search of a style that will always be on trend," Stone said.</p> <p>"The timeless diamond is sat on a pave diamond band, which means that the shank of the ring is lined with small diamond that give it that extra element of radiance."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxcsmWPhGaF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxcsmWPhGaF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Delta delighted fans with the engagement announcement, as she shared the heart-warming post to Instagram.</p> <p>With the sun setting in the background, the couple embraced each other while holding glasses filled with sparkling bubbles, with Delta captioning the image, “My best friend asked me to marry him.”</p> <p>The subsequent slide featured a video capturing a live musical performance in what appeared to be a secluded grassy area, adorned with a sea of white rose petals.</p> <p>As the video unfolded, viewers were treated to a glimpse of Delta Goodrem's stunning engagement ring.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Sam Burgess' pregnant fiancée flaunts engagement ring

<p dir="ltr">Newly engaged couple Sam Burgess and his pregnant fiancée, Lucy Graham, are not afraid to show off their love in a series of pictures from their babymoon in Fiji.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 33-year-old hairdresser took to Instagram to flaunt her massive diamond ring for the first time ever on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Saaaaa cute 🥰,” she captioned the series of photos.</p> <p dir="ltr">Graham was pictured with a huge grin on her face as she cuddled close to her beau at a beach in front of a gorgeous tropical background.</p> <p dir="ltr">She posed in a brown bikini with her baby bump peaking through in one of the photos.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtqY1e2yMWe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtqY1e2yMWe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Lucy Graham (@lcygrhm)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The pair have reportedly known each other for 20 years, and went public with their relationship last October at the premiere of Russell Crowe's film Poker Face in Rome.</p> <p dir="ltr">They announced their pregnancy news just five months after going public with their relationship and are expecting to welcome their first child together in September.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans have taken to the comments to congratulate the newly engaged couple.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Best news. So happy for you two lovers. Can’t wait to celebrate ❤️” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congrats lovebirds xx 💋” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Awww massive congrats Lucy! X,” wrote a third person.</p> <p dir="ltr">Burgess, who was a former professional rugby league player, is now a coach for the NRL and shares two kids with his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses used in entertainment

<p>The recent <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/rings-of-power-horse-death-lord-of-the-rings-peta-1235564884/">death of a horse</a> on the set of Amazon’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631058/">The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power</a> is the latest incident raising questions about how humans use horses for entertainment and sport.</p> <p>While a statement from producers said the horses’s cardiac arrest occurred before the day’s filming began, animal rights activists PETA used the death to call on all screen producers to replace on-set horses with CGI and mechanical rig alternatives.</p> <p>The incident feeds into growing public concern about horse welfare on film and TV sets, at the track and in equestrian sports.</p> <p>But improving horse welfare is about more than just reputation repair – too often it’s about survival for horses and humans.</p> <h2>Horse welfare in film and TV</h2> <p>The riding of a horse over a cliff to its death for the movie Jesse James (1939) led to the establishment of <a href="https://humanehollywood.org/about-us/">American Humane</a>, which now oversees around 100,000 animals on more than 1,000 productions each year.</p> <p>While things have improved since the early days of film and television, deaths and mistreatment of horses still occur.</p> <p>In 1987, on the set of <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118307194">The Man From Snowy River II</a>, a seriously injured horse was killed using the blunt end of an axe.</p> <p>More recently, the high-profile series <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-real-story-behind-hbos-cancellation-of-luck">Luck</a>, starring Dustin Hoffman, was cancelled following the deaths of three horses.</p> <h2>The good and bad of unprecedented global exposure</h2> <p>In 2021, the Tokyo Olympics beamed to a global audience the excessive <a href="https://7news.com.au/sport/olympics/peta-calls-for-abusive-equestrian-events-to-be-axed-from-olympics-c-3703388">whipping and punching</a> of modern pentathlon horse Saint Boy and show jumper Kilkenny’s <a href="https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/kilkenny-suffers-nosebleed-during-olympic-individual-final">spectacular nosebleed</a> during the controversial show jumping program.</p> <p>While the bleed must have been obvious, officials did not intervene to stop the ride.</p> <p>Confronting images, and the perceived failure of organisers to protect the horses involved, brought into clear and global focus the indisputable welfare issues faced by horses competing at the elite level.</p> <p>The global outcry led to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9892093/Name-price-Kaley-Cuoco-offers-buy-horse-cruelly-punched-Olympics.html">actress Kaley Cuoco offering to buy Saint Boy</a> and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/02/modern-pentathlon-votes-to-ditch-horse-riding-after-tokyo-olympic-turmoil">withdrawal of the equestrian phase from modern pentathlon</a>.</p> <h2>Risk to humans and horses</h2> <p>Horse welfare does not just impact animals.</p> <p>Since the 1840s, 873 jockeys are known to have <a href="https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/2062/facts-and-figures-jockey-fatalities-australia/">died in race falls</a> in Australia.</p> <p>Internationally, the sport of eventing (where competitors complete three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country) reported 38 rider and 65 horse fatalities during or after competition between 2007-15.</p> <p>Riding horses is considered one of the most <a href="https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.13934">dangerous of all sporting pursuits</a>, and the deaths of riders and jockeys, usually from falls, are common.</p> <p>Public concern about risk to horses and humans through horse racing and equestrian sports, as well as screen production, also <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/1987">threaten these industries’ social licence</a>.</p> <h2>Better horse welfare is related to better rider safety</h2> <p>Our research offers hope for the horse industry and for those passionate about riding horses.</p> <p>Last year, we <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159121003269">published a paper</a> demonstrating the link between horse welfare and rider safety. We asked riders how they cared for their horses and how their horses behaved when ridden – for example, we wanted to know how often horses were bucking or rearing.</p> <p>From this information, we calculated a relative welfare score for each horse. We also asked riders about their accidents and injuries.</p> <p>After analysing the data from over 400 riders, we found the higher the horse welfare score, the fewer accidents and injuries a rider reported.</p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927936.2023.2176589">subsequent study</a>, we found horses with better welfare scores are more enjoyable to ride, most likely because they perform better and riders feel more in control, creating a win-win for horses and riders.</p> <h2>Good horse welfare means more than good health</h2> <p>Often good welfare is thought of in terms of an animal being healthy.</p> <p>While this is part of good welfare, good health alone is not enough – especially for a horse competing at the elite level or taking part in a film.</p> <p>Horses are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159117300710?casa_token=5E77h_TYKGEAAAAA:EUBGz7BTnACvpvB_3iYM-urXpBxJbS95G0-05yMRJEbMTg_SEeb_VnSoVgn35su8_aNOZEpSqctL">neophobes</a> – this means they find new things frightening – so most horses are likely to find a movie set or travelling to a new location stressful. The most up-to-date <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1870/htm">understanding of welfare</a> tells us that stress and poor mental health means poor animal welfare.</p> <p>When a horse is stressed or in pain they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159117300692">behave in a very predictable way</a> – they run away, panic, kick out or buck and rear.</p> <p>Yet, anecdotally and in the media, people seeing a horse behaving in this way often claim the horse is crazy, unpredictable or just plain mean.</p> <p>More likely, an “unpredictable” horse is suffering from poor welfare.</p> <p>As part of our research program, we have developed a <a href="https://hub.rspca.org.au/attachments/88">new framework</a> to help horse owners identify aspects of their care and training that diminish horse welfare.</p> <p>This information can be used to make modifications to improve horse welfare, and, importantly, can be applied to horses in any equine sector, including racing, sport and film and television.</p> <h2>Investing in the future of horses in entertainment and sport</h2> <p>Although a veterinarian assessed the recent horse death on the set of The Rings of Power as “unlikely to be associated with the horse’s participation in the film”, more can be done to protect horses and the industry.</p> <p>In Australia, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1986">no specific standard exists for the use of animals</a> in filmed media, and each state and territory has differing risk management guidelines.</p> <p>An opportunity now exists for the industry to set a new standard for horse care and training.</p> <p>An easily executable first step for the industry could be to insist a scientifically trained and credentialed equine behaviour expert be involved in the recruitment and supervision of horse actors and their trainers at all stages of production.</p> <p>This would ensure horse actors are appropriately trained to be on set and that horses are trained using the most up-to-date ethical methods.</p> <p>Horse behaviour experts could also help in scene design to minimise horses’ exposure to stressful situations and identify tasks that are incompatible with good horse welfare.</p> <p>If these suggestions were to be adopted, the film and television industry would be setting the benchmark for horse welfare – and pressure other horse industries to follow suit.</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-horse-died-on-the-set-of-the-rings-of-power-more-needs-to-be-done-to-ensure-the-welfare-of-horses-used-in-entertainment-202939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: The Rings of Power / Amazon</em></p>

“We only wish Dad was here to see it”: Kylie Gillies' heartfelt gift for her mum

<p>Kylie Gillies has shared a heartwarming video to her social media of the moment her mother received a very special gift from the family. </p> <p>As Kylie explained in her caption, where she paid tribute to the love her parents had shared over the course of their 57 year marriage, the story behind the gift was near as dear to them all as the present itself. </p> <p>In the clip, Kylie’s mother - Marg - can be seen sitting at a table in a luxurious jewellery store, with a box in front of her. She opens it to reveal a ring, and immediately turns to the camera, overwhelmed. </p> <p>“A story 50 years in the making,” Kylie wrote. “In the 1970’s my Dad gifted Mum a sapphire. A loose stone - from Inverell. It remain[ed] wrapped in a little brown envelope in Mum’s drawer for decades.</p> <p>“I recently asked her why? She said ‘well we’re not the sort of people to get jewellery made. And there were always other priorities I guess.’</p> <p>“I’m sure those other priorities were my sister and me. All those things that young girls need. And want! And Mum and Dad never put themselves first.</p> <p>“So with Dad’s recent passing our thoughts turned to that sapphire. Mum said Dad had always loved them and actually wanted Mum to have a sapphire engagement ring. That was 1963!</p> <p>We thought it was time to do something.”</p> <p>She started to wrap up her caption by thanking the House of K’dor for “turning that little stone into something big for our family”, and for the love that had gone into designing the meaningful gift, telling them “you were as excited as she was.”</p> <p>“We only wish Dad was here to see it too,” she said, in what was surely a sentiment echoed by the entire family, who Kylie gave individual mention to after declaring, “we love you Mum.” </p> <p>Kylie’s father - and Marg’s husband - passed away in 2021 at the age of 91. At the time, the TV host wrote that he was “a much-loved husband to my mum” and that he “looked after us all for so long.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cp9moHHpZVs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cp9moHHpZVs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kylie Gillies (@kyliegillies)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Her friends and fans’ hearts were warmed by the significance of the gift for the family, and took to Kylie’s comments section to let her know. </p> <p>“Just perfect,” wrote her <em>The Morning Show </em>co-host Larry Edmur. </p> <p>“So precious,” agreed Melissa Doyle, with Natalie Barr contributing a single teary-eyed emoji. </p> <p>“This story made me tear up,” shared one follower, “I'm sure your dad was watching from above elated knowing his wish came true 50 years later.”</p> <p>And in addressing two of her friends, one fan wrote, “this is what we were talking about, the past generations sacrificing and prioritising a need and want.”</p> <p>“Oh I love this … I have a very similar story,” said another. “I received a beautiful sapphire from my aunt and uncle when I was 18. They found it while prospecting in the ‘60s. My uncle cut and polished it all by himself. They never had children of their own so held onto it until I was old enough to appreciate it. I still have it wrapped in a tissue in my jewellery box just waiting for me to do something with it.”</p> <p>“Thank you for entrusting Tarick and I with something so precious,” said Zena, one of the two who had worked on the ring. “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work on this creation with you for your beautiful mother Margaret. It’s moments like this I pinch myself with just how lucky I am to be able to do what I do, seeing your mothers face light up brought me so much joy.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

"Yeehaaa": Olympic champ Emily Seebohm flashes engagement ring

<p><em>Married At First Sight’s</em> Ryan Gallagher has announced his engagement to Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm.</p> <p>The news comes just three months after the couple confirmed their relationship on social media.</p> <p>Sharing the news of the engagement on Instagram, Ryan posted a picture of Emily flaunting her new ring with the caption, "Yeehaaa ❤️”.</p> <p>The post was flooded with congratulatory messages and well wishes from friends and fans.</p> <p>Ryan, 34, proposed to Emily at a dam on his farm just outside of Golbourn in NSW.</p> <p>"I thought it was the right spot to do it – she loves the horses and she often swims in the dam," he told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/ryan-gallagher-emily-seebohm-engagement-76958" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woman's Day</a>.</p> <p>"I did get nervous though. The box was making a bit of a bulge in my pocket. So either she knew I was proposing or she just thought I was happy to see her.”</p> <p>Ryan proposed to Emily with a trilogy diamond that features two small diamonds, symbolising Emma and himself, while the central diamond represents their love.</p> <p>The pair met while competing on Network 10’s The Challenge Australia in 2022, although Emily had a partner at the time.</p> <p>"Obviously it wasn't a nice call to make, but I told him what was going on and that there was something there with Ryan and I didn't see the point in wasting any more time." she said.</p> <p>The couple first went public with their relationship in December 2022.</p> <p>Emily broke the news of the engagement to followers by sharing an image of the two, paired with the caption, "Letting you in on a little secret."</p> <p>It seems as though Ryan and Emily’s chemistry is undeniable with many friends and co-stars commenting that they saw the relationship coming.</p> <p>"We all knew wasn't a secret 😜 called it after week 1," MAFS' Cyrell Paule commented.</p> <p>"I called this and honestly the most humble two people that bounce off each other .” one fan wrote.</p> <p>The pair are yet to announce a date and location for the wedding.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Ash Barty makes history while flashing her stunning wedding ring

<p dir="ltr">Ash Barty has once again made history when she became the first person to win a fifth Newcombe Medal at the Australian Tennis Awards.</p> <p dir="ltr">The retired tennis player turned heads when she arrived at Melbourne's Crown Palladium on Monday night where she was honoured for her Australian Open success.</p> <p dir="ltr">All eyes were on the 26-year-old as she stunned in a black dress and massive $14,000 diamond wedding ring as she walked down the red carpet with her husband Garry Kissick.</p> <p dir="ltr">The former world No.1 was then presented the highest individual honour in Australian tennis by John Newcombe following her success at the 2022 Australian Open - 11 singles and four doubles victories.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s obviously an amazing way to cap off what has been an incredible journey,” Barty said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The journey of a lifetime, the journey of me chasing after my dreams and exploring what was possible out in the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Barty beat six Newcombe Medal nominees including: Hunter, Ajla Tomljanović, Nick Kyrgios, Alex de Minaur, Matt Ebden and Max Purcell.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley was also honoured that night receiving the Spirit of Tennis Award.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Full list: 2022 Australian Tennis Awards recipients as per Tennis Australia</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Newcombe Medal: Ash Barty (QLD)</p> <p dir="ltr">Spirit of Tennis Award: Evonne Goolagong Cawley (NSW)</p> <p dir="ltr">Female Junior Athletes of the Year: Talia Gibson (WA) and Taylah Preston (WA)</p> <p dir="ltr">Male Junior Athlete of the Year: Edward Winter (SA)</p> <p dir="ltr">Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability: Heath Davidson (VIC)</p> <p dir="ltr">Most Outstanding School: Aitken Creek Primary School (VIC)</p> <p dir="ltr">Most Outstanding Tennis Club or Venue: Collaroy Tennis Club (NSW)</p> <p dir="ltr">30+ Tennis Senior of the Year: Jarrod Broadbent (VIC)</p> <p dir="ltr">Coaching Excellence – Club: David Grainger (SA)</p> <p dir="ltr">Coaching Excellence – Development: Luke Bourgeois (NSW)</p> <p dir="ltr">Coaching Excellence – Performance: Craig Tyzzer (VIC)</p> <p dir="ltr">Excellence in Officiating: Robyn Tucker (SA)</p> <p dir="ltr">Most Outstanding Tournament: Euroa Lawn Tennis Club Labour Day (VIC)</p> <p dir="ltr">Volunteer Achievement Award: Julie Polkinghorne (SA)</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Hidden message in JLo’s engagement ring

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Lopez has shared a heartwarming detail that her husband Ben Affleck did to her engagement ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">The two lovebirds finally <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-and-ben-affleck-finally-tie-the-knot-20-years-later" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tied the knot in an intimate ceremony</a> in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now the singer has kept her fans entertained revealing that her engagement ring has a secret message from her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not.going.anywhere,” the words on her ring read.</p> <p dir="ltr">"That's how he would sign his emails when we started talking again. Like 'Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere,'" Lopez told host Zane Lowe during the interview.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 53-year-old recently revealed that she has decided to take her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-defends-taking-ben-affleck-s-surname" target="_blank" rel="noopener">husband’s last name</a> and that it wouldn’t make much of a difference.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People are still going to call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs Affleck because we’re joined together. We’re husband and wife. I’m proud of that,” she told Vogue for the December issue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think that’s a problem... it’s not traditional. It doesn’t have any romance to it. It feels like it’s a power move, you know what I mean?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person. I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s okay, too.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair married in a stunning wedding where JLo wore <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/finally-jlo-shares-pics-of-her-three-stunning-wedding-dresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three wedding dresses</a>, where each dress cost around $1 million.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Woman lists engagement ring for sale

<p dir="ltr">A woman has caused quite the stir when she listed her engagement ring for sale. </p> <p dir="ltr">The gorgeous Tiffany engagement ring was listed on a private buy-sell Facebook group after the seller decided it was time to part ways with it. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Selling this for obvious reasons. I do now I don't," the seller wrote on the listing. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Compared to current Tiffany pricing of a 1.0 Carat ring at $23,600, I am letting go of this beauty at $18,500. Condition is close to brand new - never worn much." </p> <p dir="ltr">Her listing however raised questions on who the engagement ring belongs to if a relationship ends. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Legally you can't sell this and have to give it back if you didn't proceed with the marriage," one woman commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">"If he paid for it, it's his, and he should get all the $$$," another user agreed. </p> <p dir="ltr">Someone defended the seller saying it was unnecessary for people to comment about the woman’s circumstances. </p> <p dir="ltr">"OMG, why do [people] feel the need to comment on this? You don't know the circumstances. If you don't want to buy it, why bother adding your two cents?" </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Relationships

Bride wears engagement ring with blood in it

<p dir="ltr">A bride-to-be has caused quite a stir after sharing a photo of her engagement ring that apparently has her fiancé’s blood in it. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman shared the photo to the popular Facebook group “That's it, I'm wedding shaming” and at first glance it looks like a normal ring with a red stone.</p> <p dir="ltr">To everyone’s shock, she revealed that the “red stone” was in fact her fiancé’s blood.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Has anyone else opted out of a wedding band? I love my engagement ring so much, it has my fiancé’s blood in it and it is so special to me,” she began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’d rather that be put on my finger at the wedding instead of a band. I would have to get a custom one to fit my ring and I don’t know, I just don’t want to.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the comments were not nice about the $300 ring, with many questioning why anyone would do that. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m glad she loves it and is happy. It is heinous though,” one wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m fine with one ring…as long as it’s not filled with BLOOD! What in the actual f**k?” someone else commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I hate it here," another simply wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Relationships

Bride-to-be throws fit over engagement ring

<p dir="ltr">A bride-to-be has slammed her fiancé for the hideous engagement ring he proposed with despite her explaining which one she wanted.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman vented her frustration in a Facebook group explaining how she tried hard not to hate the ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">She then shared two images - one of the ring she was given, and another of the $8,859 mint sapphire ring she wanted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was very excited for the proposal, then this thing came out of the box,” her post read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“First thing I said was ‘omg that's massive’. I didn't like it at all but I spent a few hours trying not to hate it so much.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To make matters worse, the sizing of the ring was completely wrong to the point where it got stuck on her finger.</p> <p dir="ltr">This might have been a sign as the bride-to-be had to be taken to hospital to have the ring cut from her finger. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The pegs were trying to cut me at every opportunity, and it was way too tight. I did get measured, twice, and I sent him my measurements from every country, but the jeweller f****d up still.” she continued in her rant. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm devastated and crying. He can't get me another ring because it won't be possible before the wedding. I'll never be engaged for real.” </p> <p dir="ltr">She asked other group members to make her laugh but instead they advised her to reconsider the relationship after not getting what she asked for. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Sounds like you are compromising a lot and not getting any of what you want in return. Postpone the wedding. Don't do it this way. If he isn't even listening or caring now... well.. I speak from experience and a divorce,' one woman said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This was obviously important to you and if he can’t listen and respect you enough to do this right it sounds like there might be bigger issues at play,' one person wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Would you consider postponing the wedding for a while. Is this a one off? The fact that he didn’t listen to what you had expressed you would like to receive doesn’t bode well. I get he may have been coming from a place of well meaning but you told him exactly what you would like and he totally disregarded it. Please don’t rush into marriage,” another suggested.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you still feel this is the man you want to spend your life with tell him you would like a long engagement with the ring of your choice and if he can’t respect that then you have a pretty good idea of what you are getting in to,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman was not having any of it and replied to the comments in defence of her future husband. </p> <p dir="ltr">“In general he's amazing. I genuinely thought I'm going to get a beautiful ring. I was actually in shock how bad it is because I never saw it coming,” she began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I also blame the jeweller a lot more than him, I mean I'm sad he didn't get me the one I wanted as it is for sale but the jeweller did everyone dirty the most in this scenario.” </p> <p dir="ltr">She also revealed that they eventually went shopping together and purchased a new ring. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Relationships

Avril Lavigne shows off massive engagement ring in Paris

<p dir="ltr"><em>He was a sk8er boi she said YES</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne has shown off her huge and absolutely stunning engagement ring. </p> <p dir="ltr">After just one year of dating, Derek Ryan Smith who goes by the name Mod Sun, got down on one knee in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower and proposed. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Oui! Je t’aime pour toujours. Dimanche. 27. Mars. 2022,” Avril wrote in a series of heartwarming photos of the proposal. </p> <p dir="ltr">A simple translation from French, Avril’s message reads “Yes! I love you forever” along with the date.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mod Sun went a step further and wrote a loving message to his now fiancée also sharing sweet snaps of the treasured moment. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The day we met I knew you were the one. Together forever til our days are done,” his message began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had a dream where I proposed in paris. I pulled out a ring + asked you to wear it. I was on one knee as I looked in your eyes. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You’re too beautiful for my words to describe. I grabbed your hand + took one last breath…I said “will you marry me?” + she said “yes”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I love you Avril.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The endearing photos show the loved-up couple kissing, smiling at one another, as well as Avril showing off the heart-shaped engagement ring which glows on her left finger. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

“No, I hate it so much”: Woman’s reaction to engagement ring goes viral

<p dir="ltr">A woman who hated the engagement ring her fiancé bought her has forced him to swap it out for one that’s DOUBLE its price. </p> <p dir="ltr">The bride-to-be took to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@beefinnagain/video/7073846184753827115?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> and shared the story to her 450 followers about how she was “not being too much” for asking to swap the ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I asked him to replace it, so I’m probably going to get a lot of hate for this and honestly, I’m OK with that; I’m aware I’m a lot,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">She explained the pair had been dating for a while but the whole time she was in “marriage headspace”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman said she explained to her boyfriend specifically what she wanted: “I want a ring with a halo. I want the little diamonds around the main ring.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t talk to me about marriage,” she claims he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman however said that she would not move in with him unless he proposed. </p> <p dir="ltr">She emphasised that she “didn’t care about the size, cut, or clarity of the diamond” and that all she wanted was a “little halo on the inside diamond”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The time comes, he proposed and it literally was a princess cut diamond with no halo. It was a beautiful diamond, but it was just not what I wanted,” she rambled on. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So after he proposed I literally went home and my mum was like, ‘Do you like the ring?’</p> <p dir="ltr">“And I like bawled, I was like, ‘No I hate it so much and I have to wear it forever.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">It took her a week to tell her boyfriend that she was not happy with the ring and that she wanted a new one.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I called him and was like, ‘Hey this is going to be a hard pill to swallow but like I hate the ring – it is just not what I wanted and I am willing to wait for something that I do want but like I just need you to know that. Can we try and fix this?” she asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All is well in the world. He was able to get a refund and swap it out and it was fine … I made him pay double for the ring because he took me to the store and I told him what I liked.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

Kyle’s fiance shows off million-dollar engagement ring

<p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p> <p>Personal Assistant turned fiancé, Tegan Kynaston has flashed her stunning engagement ring on Instagram, after the couple confirmed they were getting married following an elaborate proposal on the NSW North Coast.</p> <p>Kyle confirmed the news yesterday on-air, after reports of their engagement surfaced over the weekend. “I apologise to the women of the world, as I am officially off the market,” Sandilands announced on the Kyle and Jackie O Show.</p> <p>He said Kynaston, his partner of two years had no clue the engagement was coming, making it a complete surprise. A video shared to the radio show’s social media showed Kyle spared no expense and even hired a venue and organised fireworks during a trip to Port Douglas.</p> <p>The radio show shared a snap of the emerald-cut diamond, made by Sydney’s House of K’dor jewellers, to Instagram.</p> <p>“Look at the rock the future Mrs Sandilands is sporting!!” the caption read.</p> <p>Tobias Kormind, the managing director of Europe’s largest online diamond jeweller, 77 Diamonds, told the Daily Mail the ring would be “worth over $1.14 million for a decent quality diamond, at least F colour, VS1 clarity”.</p> <p>Mr Kormind noted that a key feature of Kynaston’s ring is the split shank, which is a style featuring a band that separates as it reaches the centre setting.</p> <p>“Split shank rings are relatively unusual …[they] are very elegant and actually are more secure,” he added.</p> <p>This will be the second time Kyle walks down the aisle, after his first wedding to Popstars singer Tamara Jaber in 2008.</p> <p> </p>

Relationships

Man destroys girlfriend’s family heirloom, doesn’t understand why she’s upset

<p dir="ltr">A man has been left scratching his head after online commentators tore him to shreds for destroying a family heirloom belonging to his girlfriend.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man posted to Reddit’s ‘Am I the A******’ forum, where people go to ask strangers to adjudicate their interpersonal disputes, deciding who was in the wrong in any given situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">This man wanted to propose to his girlfriend using a ring that had sentimental value, so when he found out that her late grandmother had left her a ring, he decided to remove a diamond from the ring and use that in a new engagement ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, when he proposed with the new ring, the girlfriend hated it. Her grandmother had only recently passed away in September, and the pair were close as she was her only granddaughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man asked his girlfriend’s mother if she thought his idea was a good one, and the mother said that as much as she loved the idea, she didn’t know if her daughter would, and told him to think about it.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite this caution, he went ahead with his plan, as he “couldn’t find anything else [he] liked as much”. He said that the resulting ring was beautiful, and he thought she would love the sentiment of it.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he proposed and she immediately accepted, he was thrilled, until she saw the ring and her reaction changed. He wrote, “She told me I’d practically vandalized and ruined the only meaningful thing of her grandmothers that she had and that I should have asked. I went to her mom for support, but she just kept saying she warned me that my girlfriend might not like the idea. She said yes to my proposal but refuses to wear the ring, which I just think is disrespectful considering how much money and thought went into it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Commenters were quick to side with the now-fiancée, with one writing “YOU DESTROYED her one family heirloom! You were disrespectful and STOLE her property and then had it destroyed,” while another wrote, “This dude deserves no sympathy, and I cannot even believe he can even question whether he’s wrong,” and several users suggested she dump him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The best laid plans of mice and men…</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Tetra Images/Jamie Grill</em></p>

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Revealed: Who this Lord of the Rings orc was based on

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elijah Wood, the actor who played Frodo Baggins in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Lord of the Rings</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, has revealed that one particular orc </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://happymag.tv/lord-of-the-rings-orc-harvey-weinsteins-appearance/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">was modelled</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> after a real person in an act of revenge.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Appearing on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Armchair Expert</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, hosted by actor and comedian Dax Shepard, Wood shared that it was the orc named Gothmog, who made an appearance in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Return of the King</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, after Jackson was threatened to be replaced if he didn’t condense the trilogy into one film.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But who was the subject of the revenge?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One of the orc masks - and I remember this vividly - was designed to look like Harvey Weinstein as a sort of f**k you,” Wood said.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844672/orc-weinstein.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2b7b8ba14511436eb31235973ddb06b5" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gothmog the orc (left) appears to be the character that most resembles Weinstein (right). Image: New Line Cinema, Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Wood, it was a way for the film’s production team to take revenge against the entertainment mogul and convicted sex offender after he made their lives hard during production.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Initially, Weinstein’s company Miramax was set to produce </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>The Lord of the Rings</em></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, Weinstein refused to make three movies, demanding that director Peter Jackson condense them into just one.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weinstein then threatened to pass the film on to fellow directors Quentin Tarantino or John Madden if Jackson didn’t do as he asked.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After Jackson reportedly asked for permission to get a different producer, Weinstein agreed but only gave him one weekend to do so.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The window of time was insane,” Wood said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They shopped it around town. Peter made a pitch video that’s pretty impressive, taken to a variety of places. Most people were balking at the notion of doing more than one film. The popular opinion was, ‘No, you have to see how [the initial movie] does and then invest the rest of your money’.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The franchise was later scooped up by Bob Shaye, the founder of New Line Cinema.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think the lore is that they were coming with two and it was Bob Shaye who said, ‘We have to do three,’ which is insane,” said Wood.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trilogy would go on to make $2.92 billion at the box office, and is considered to be one of the most successful franchises of all time.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: New Line Cinema</span></em></p>

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Revealed: Who this Lord of the Rings orc was based on

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