What did you do when the Olympic Torch passed by?

[Flyfisher]

Although this child may not have been carrying a bomb, although he could have done.

If the child, or that other guy, had been carrying a bomb then throwing them to the ground wouldn't have made much difference would it?

In both cases, the two people were quickly apprehended and restrained. Fair enough. But why throw them to the ground (or into a hedge)? It's over-zealous and unnecessary at best and can cause ill-feeling and injury at worst.


I'm afraid it's all a bit 'control freakery' for me. Below is the sort of information being sent to ticket holders. The visa-only credit card thing is quite astonishing and I've read reports of non-visa cash machines in the vicinity of venues being disabled during the games. I've also read that long lenses won't be allowed so no-one at the back of a stadium is going to get any decent photos anyway . . . or perhaps it's to protect the rights of professional snappers who have paid for the privilege?

But, of course, the Olympics are now so big and so expensive that the sponsors can increasingly call the shots, which is why these sorts of ridiculous things are allowed, nay encouraged by statute, to happen: http://www.businessinsider.com/london-olympics-advertising-restrictions-2012-5

It's all very sad but a reflection of the times. It's also the reason I didn't apply for any tickets.



Be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport. It will be busy, so aim to be at the venue up to two hours before your session starts. Please note: there will also be an additional search at the entry to the arena inside the venue, which is when your ticket will be scanned.

Bring as little as possible with you: one small soft-sided bag is allowed per person – this must fit under your seat. There are no storage facilities available. You can bring food, provided it fits in your bag, and an empty plastic water bottle to fill up inside the arena. You cannot bring in liquids over 100ml. Read the full list of prohibited and restricted items

Leave plenty of time to travel: London will be extremely busy and very different to what you’re used to. Use the spectator journey planner to plan your journey and, where necessary, book your travel in advance. When planning a return journey, be aware that sessions may end later than the scheduled finish time. Don’t forget your free Games Travelcard for London zones 1–9 on the day.

Remember the only way to pay is by Visa (debit, credit or prepaid card) or cash: for details of the services and facilities available in your venue, read the venue information online.

You may have to wait to enter the arena: unless your session is the first of the day, you won’t be able to enter the arena until all spectators from the previous session have left. You can visit the shops, bars and restaurants inside the venue while you wait – but the prohibited and restricted items lists still apply for entry into the arena and you will not be able to bring in take-away food purchased from these outlets.[/list]

Ticketing Terms and Conditions also apply. Ticket holders aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Please keep your ticket with you at all times. If you decide to leave the arena or venue, you won’t be allowed back in.
Things change, so check online!
View the latest sports schedule now as there may have been changes since you received your tickets. Just before you set off, check your journey for any delays or disruptions.
You should also check the weather forecast – you may have to queue outside the venue to go through security.
Best wishes
London 2012 Ticketing team
Follow us @L2012spectators

PS: Please forward this email to all London 2012 ticket holders in your group. Between now and your event, keep checking london2012.com/spectators for the latest news and updates.

 

[skier-hughes]

Although this child may not have been carrying a bomb, although he could have done.

If the child, or that other guy, had been carrying a bomb then throwing them to the ground wouldn't have made much difference would it?

Yes, very quick inervention, throwing them off guard could hve stopped a disaster. I'm not with you on this, as I didn't see anything over physicaly dangerous to either person.



I'm afraid it's all a bit 'control freakery' for me. Below is the sort of information being sent to ticket holders. Yep, I've had these emails. The visa-only credit card thing is quite astonishing and I've read reports of non-visa cash machines in the vicinity of venues being disabled during the games. Think this might be untrue just like the "you can't bring food in, you have to buy it inside" rumour. I've also read that long lenses won't be allowed so no-one at the back of a stadium is going to get any decent photos anyway . . . or perhaps it's to protect the rights of professional snappers who have paid for the privilege? Pictures for personal use are allowed, but thre is a restriction on long lenses, - Large photographic and broadcast equipment over 30cm in length, including tripods and monopods. You cannot use photographic or broadcast equipment for commercial purposes unless you hold media accreditation

But, of course, the Olympics are now so big and so expensive that the sponsors can increasingly call the shots, which is why these sorts of ridiculous things are allowed, nay encouraged by statute, to happen: http://www.businessinsider.com/london-olympics-advertising-restrictions-2012-5

It's all very sad but a reflection of the times. It's also the reason I didn't apply for any tickets.


Bring as little as possible with you: one small soft-sided bag is allowed per person – this must fit under your seat. There are no storage facilities available. You can bring food, provided it fits in your bag, and an empty plastic water bottle to fill up inside the arena. You cannot bring in liquids over 100ml. Read the full list of prohibited and restricted items

]

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Still, at least you can rest assured that if someone tries to fly a plane into the stadium, the RAF will shoot it down "as a last resort".

Thereby ensuring that those not in the stadium can enjoy the experience of being showered with burning debris over a far wider densely-populated area than if they didn't bother and just let the thing crash into the Royal Box...

 

[skier-hughes]

But what if it as heading for Red Ed?

 

[MatthewC]

{Edited down)

• Be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport...
  Bring as little as possible with you...
  You cannot bring in liquids over 100ml. Read the full list of prohibited and restricted items...
  You can visit the shops, bars and restaurants inside the venue while you wait – but the prohibited and restricted items lists still apply for entry into the arena and you will not be able to bring in take-away food purchased from these outlets.

Ticketing Terms and Conditions also apply... If you decide to leave the arena or venue, you won’t be allowed back in.
Things change, so check online!
View the latest sports schedule now as there may have been changes since you received your tickets. Just before you set off, check your journey for any delays or disruptions.
You should also check the weather forecast – you may have to queue outside the venue to go through security.
Best wishes
London 2012 Ticketing team

I'm surprised that they didn't end this with "Enjoy yourself!"

 

[FamilyWiggs]

But what if it as heading for Red Ed?

We can but hope.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Security seems a bit heavy-handed to me . . .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18128245

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOADzgjO8GI

I'm not suggesting they don't need security but these examples don't seem proportionate. Why the 'take down' when the 'threat' has already been blocked?

I have to say both of those look entirely proportionate and professional tackles to me. People entering the envelope are swiftly and skilfully removed back outside it. Everything keeps moving, everything is kept safe, including the spectators.

Move along folks, nothing to see here.

 

[Flyfisher]

I must have been watching a different video . . . the one where a boy on a bike is stopped by a security guy on the left-hand side of the road, thereby immobilising him while the procession could have gracefully passed by, but then for some reason deciding to drag him into the middle of the road, in front of the yellow BMW causing the driver to stamp on the brakes to avoid running over the bike (watch the bonnet dip), then throw him to the ground in the middle of the right-hand lane, requiring other security people to be distracted by having to deal with a bigger incident then if the first guy had just kept the boy where he was originally stopped.

That may be how professional security people deal with such things, but it certainly doesn't look proportionate.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Looks to me more like the momentum of the officer, youth and bike swung them round like that.

But these things are hard to second guess from YouTube. So far the whole thing has largely passed without incident.

Rule one is not to try and rike your bike through the cordon. You might get run over. :shock:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Something we probably could all agree on is this little chap's superb charity effort:

https://www.facebook.com/logansolympictorch

 

[biffvernon]

My mate has been involved in this: http://endurancelife.com/RealRelay/ which is following the torch on foot the entire 8000 miles which each runner doing approx 10 miles each. It shows that it would have been possible to run the torch around the country...

Excellent - this is how it should be. It's passed us a few days ago. The true Olympian spirit.

The other one, with the McCola Bank lorries and a zillion policemen was just a corporate pr-fest. No way was I going anywhere near it.

 

[Flyfisher]

The other one, with the McCola Bank lorries and a zillion policemen was just a corporate pr-fest. No way was I going anywhere near it.

What makes you say that then? :wink:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18182541

 

[FamilyWiggs]

My mate has been involved in this: http://endurancelife.com/RealRelay/ which is following the torch on foot the entire 8000 miles which each runner doing approx 10 miles each. It shows that it would have been possible to run the torch around the country...

Excellent - this is how it should be. It's passed us a few days ago. The true Olympian spirit.

The other one, with the McCola Bank lorries and a zillion policemen was just a corporate pr-fest. No way was I going anywhere near it.

Did you go and see the other worthy one biff? Or did you boycott both?

It's quite simple to ignore the sponsors. You'll notice I didn't remember to mention them once in describing the community event the torch relay was in Wrexham. But if they want to pay for he stage, PA system and provide some music to jolly it all along, then fine. At least it didn't cost me as a council tax payer.

 

[Lime]

It's quite simple to ignore the sponsors

Is it?
I find them so ugly.

 

[skier-hughes]

Well my glass is half full

 

[biffvernon]

Did you go and see the other worthy one biff? Or did you boycott both?

I didn't know about it until the day after it had come through my area (during the night, as it happened).

When the official panjandrum passed through free bottles of cola were distributed to all children watching. Bad.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Well my glass is half full

Must be due to all the lovely summer weather, Graham. 8)

Sponsorship is fine with me - a lot of our young athletes depend upon it for kit and facilities; from Olympians right down to the local cricket club my two boys play for. Which reminds me, I must rush out and open a new bank account, buy a phone and eat a Ronaldburger!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Did you go and see the other worthy one biff? Or did you boycott both?

I didn't know about it until the day after it had come through my area (during the night, as it happened).

When the official panjandrum passed through free bottles of cola were distributed to all children watching. Bad.

A shame they couldn't afford a publicity machine. :wink: if only they'd secured an advertising tie-up...

Are you sure about the cola? I haven't seen them or their branding anywhere near the relay anywhere else, and the only things handed out in our stages were green streamers and TeamGB sweatbands with a horse logo too. Maybe the cola is one of these urban myths - but bad if true.

Edit: you're right. http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1127599/ but we didn't seem them. harrumph!

 

[skier-hughes]

The three main sponsors decide where they go, some none attend, we had all 3 and had Coke Cola given out at our event. What's bad about it?
Okay it's sugary and will rot the teeth, but 125ml? What harm is that going to do, certainly not enough to get you addicted to coke.

Do all the doubters not watch ITV, Channel 4, Five, Sky or any of the other sponsored channels on tv?

 

[Flyfisher]

I don't think most people disagree with sponsorship in principle, well I don't anyway, but it's all a matter of degree.

My feeling is that the games are now so big and expensive that sponsorship is no longer a nice-to-have but an absolute necessity. This gives them a great deal of power and, naturally, they'll use it.

Look at all the fuss over McD's attempted insistence that only they could sell chips/fries in and near venues (now, thankfully relented after bad publicity). Look as Visa insisting they are the only credit/debit payment system in/near the venues. And there are many other similar examples.

Still, I've been known to shop in Tesco (who are sponsoring the GB kayakers) so what do I know?