It is reported that the US Olympic Committee (USOC) will be supplying gas masks to all 500 of their athletes and entourage, who will be attending the Olympics 2004 in Athens.
The emergency escape masks (gas masks to you and I) are designed to provide protection against tear gas, and other noxious agents.
It is estimated that the USOC bought around 1000 of these, at $150 a piece.
They might come in handy if the summer winds, needed to disperse the Athens smog, don't appear.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Friday, August 06, 2004
Greedy, Gutless Meanmindedness Update
Regarding my earlier post on the use of the word "Olympics" on my products; I have made an adjustment to the design which I think neatly sidesteps the problem, whilst giving my view of the absurdity of the issue.
Check out the new design at www.theolympicswarehouse.com
Ken
Check out the new design at www.theolympicswarehouse.com
Ken
Greedy, Gutless Meanmindedness
In a crushingly meanminded and gutless act, my third party on line store provider has disbarred me from selling my "Big Fat Olympics" T shirts, as they contain the word "Olympics".
It seems that they are worried that the use of the word "Olympics" may upset the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who are desperately seeking ways to milk this event for every penny that they can get their hands on.
I would make a small point here, the word "Olympics" is used in the media on a regular basis; are they asking each paper, TV and radio station that use the word to pay a fee everytime the word "Olympics" is used?
I regard this as absolutely pathetic.
If anyone out there with more brains and balls than my current shop provider, would like to host my T shirt emporium please feel free to drop me a line.
In the meantime I will redesign my T shirts to exclude the word Olympics, oops said it again!...
Please feel free to come up with suggestions for an alternative wording that excludes the word "Olympics", I will; be keeping the Owl design.
Note, there is one product remaining in my Olympic store if you are interested you can see it at www.theolympicswarehouse.com
In other news, it appears that the street signs being erected in Athens for the forthcoming Olympics (oops there I go again, I am not meant to use that word!!!) are pointing the wrong way.
That should help the Athens traffic flow!
On the environmental front, Athens authorities are praying for some summer winds to blow the smog and pollution away from the city; if there is no wind, there is a risk that the athletes may have a little trouble breathing.
It seems that they are worried that the use of the word "Olympics" may upset the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who are desperately seeking ways to milk this event for every penny that they can get their hands on.
I would make a small point here, the word "Olympics" is used in the media on a regular basis; are they asking each paper, TV and radio station that use the word to pay a fee everytime the word "Olympics" is used?
I regard this as absolutely pathetic.
If anyone out there with more brains and balls than my current shop provider, would like to host my T shirt emporium please feel free to drop me a line.
In the meantime I will redesign my T shirts to exclude the word Olympics, oops said it again!...
Please feel free to come up with suggestions for an alternative wording that excludes the word "Olympics", I will; be keeping the Owl design.
Note, there is one product remaining in my Olympic store if you are interested you can see it at www.theolympicswarehouse.com
In other news, it appears that the street signs being erected in Athens for the forthcoming Olympics (oops there I go again, I am not meant to use that word!!!) are pointing the wrong way.
That should help the Athens traffic flow!
On the environmental front, Athens authorities are praying for some summer winds to blow the smog and pollution away from the city; if there is no wind, there is a risk that the athletes may have a little trouble breathing.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Budget Busting Debt
It is reported that the cost of the Olympics 2004, which are being held in Athens, will exceed $7BN. I understand that the original budget had been set at just under $6BN.
Petros Doukas, Greece's Deputy Finance Minister, is reported to have said that these costs (being 4% of GDP) are likely to put Greece in violation of the EU fiscal rules on debt; which state that member nations should not have a debt burden in excess of 3% of GDP.
The costs are being paid by the Greek taxpayer who, if predictions that the total cost will exceed $12BN are correct, will be paying for the Olympics for more than a decade after they have ended.
Petros Doukas, Greece's Deputy Finance Minister, is reported to have said that these costs (being 4% of GDP) are likely to put Greece in violation of the EU fiscal rules on debt; which state that member nations should not have a debt burden in excess of 3% of GDP.
The costs are being paid by the Greek taxpayer who, if predictions that the total cost will exceed $12BN are correct, will be paying for the Olympics for more than a decade after they have ended.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
What Did You Do in The War Daddy?
The children of today's Greek armed forces will get an unusual answer to the timeless question "What did you do in the war daddy?".
Their fathers will say "I went to the Olympics".
Instead of being dispatched to the corner of a foreign field, the Greek armed forces are on war alert in their own country.
Is there a threat of invasion?
No
Are they at war?
No
This high state of alert is due to the forthcoming Olympic Games being held in Athens, which are scheduled to kick off on 13th August.
All problems, costs and security issues are being blamed (as with everything else in the world that goes wrong, or is used as an excuse for increased government intrusion) on September 11th.
The cost of the security arrangements for the Olympics 2004 will exceed 1.2BN Euros.
It seems that every member of Greece's armed forces will be involved, one way or another, in protecting the Games. The operation is code named "Ifitos", after the king who founded the Olympic Games. Greece's Patriot missile defence system will be on alert, and around 70000 security personnel will be on duty during the Games.
On top of the home defence forces, Greece has also called on NATO to lend a hand. NATO AWACS surveillance aircraft will patrol the skies, NATO's Mediterranean fleet will patrol the seas and an emergency biochemical and nuclear warfare unit will be on standby.
Let us trust that with the confusion, delays and use of illegal labour in the Olympic construction projects; that terrorists have not copied the IRA's bomb attack in Brighton 1984, which was an almost successful attempt to kill Margaret Thatcher during the Conservative Party conference being held in Brighton.
The IRA planted the bomb, a good few weeks before the detonation, in the paneling of a hotel bathroom. No amount of body searches of delegates, or "ring of steel" security measures prevented that attack.
To read about the 1984 bomb, please visit 1984 Brighton bombing.
Their fathers will say "I went to the Olympics".
Instead of being dispatched to the corner of a foreign field, the Greek armed forces are on war alert in their own country.
Is there a threat of invasion?
No
Are they at war?
No
This high state of alert is due to the forthcoming Olympic Games being held in Athens, which are scheduled to kick off on 13th August.
All problems, costs and security issues are being blamed (as with everything else in the world that goes wrong, or is used as an excuse for increased government intrusion) on September 11th.
The cost of the security arrangements for the Olympics 2004 will exceed 1.2BN Euros.
It seems that every member of Greece's armed forces will be involved, one way or another, in protecting the Games. The operation is code named "Ifitos", after the king who founded the Olympic Games. Greece's Patriot missile defence system will be on alert, and around 70000 security personnel will be on duty during the Games.
On top of the home defence forces, Greece has also called on NATO to lend a hand. NATO AWACS surveillance aircraft will patrol the skies, NATO's Mediterranean fleet will patrol the seas and an emergency biochemical and nuclear warfare unit will be on standby.
Let us trust that with the confusion, delays and use of illegal labour in the Olympic construction projects; that terrorists have not copied the IRA's bomb attack in Brighton 1984, which was an almost successful attempt to kill Margaret Thatcher during the Conservative Party conference being held in Brighton.
The IRA planted the bomb, a good few weeks before the detonation, in the paneling of a hotel bathroom. No amount of body searches of delegates, or "ring of steel" security measures prevented that attack.
To read about the 1984 bomb, please visit 1984 Brighton bombing.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Multinationals 1 - Greek Government 0
It is the nature of life that it can, on occasions, throw up a few surprises. One such surprise relates to the forthcoming Olympic Games, which are being held in Athens.
It is reported that Greenpeace, scourge of multinational polluters throughout the world, have complemented Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Unilever for their contribution to the environment in respect of the Olympics 2004.
However, they have taken "a pop" at the Greek government's less than spectacular contribution to the environment. It seems that once the Olympic party is over, the Greek government is going to have a lot of cleaning up to do; in order to repair the environmental damage that the Olympic Games have inflicted on Athens.
One area that has been marked out for special criticism is the Olympic Village, which will house 2300 athletes, this does not use renewable or efficient energy sources.
To be honest that doesn't really matter, as the evidence suggests that Athens will probably be enveloped in power blackouts on a regular basis; thus saving dwindling energy resources and the environment.
On the "cosmetic front", the much vaunted trees and shrubs that were planted to "beautify" Athens, have died; they were planted out of season.
In effect the "third pillar", the promise that the Greek government made to protect the environment when bidding for the Olympics, has been ignored; as with everything, where an excuse is needed for failure, September 11th is being blamed.
Not good enough!
In my view, if they were unable to meet their promises, then they should have forfeited the Games.
However, the Greeks do try to spread the blame; they also accuse the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of failing, the IOC naturally refute any shortcomings.
That's the true Olympic spirit of competitiveness!
It is reported that Greenpeace, scourge of multinational polluters throughout the world, have complemented Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Unilever for their contribution to the environment in respect of the Olympics 2004.
However, they have taken "a pop" at the Greek government's less than spectacular contribution to the environment. It seems that once the Olympic party is over, the Greek government is going to have a lot of cleaning up to do; in order to repair the environmental damage that the Olympic Games have inflicted on Athens.
One area that has been marked out for special criticism is the Olympic Village, which will house 2300 athletes, this does not use renewable or efficient energy sources.
To be honest that doesn't really matter, as the evidence suggests that Athens will probably be enveloped in power blackouts on a regular basis; thus saving dwindling energy resources and the environment.
On the "cosmetic front", the much vaunted trees and shrubs that were planted to "beautify" Athens, have died; they were planted out of season.
In effect the "third pillar", the promise that the Greek government made to protect the environment when bidding for the Olympics, has been ignored; as with everything, where an excuse is needed for failure, September 11th is being blamed.
Not good enough!
In my view, if they were unable to meet their promises, then they should have forfeited the Games.
However, the Greeks do try to spread the blame; they also accuse the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of failing, the IOC naturally refute any shortcomings.
That's the true Olympic spirit of competitiveness!
Monday, August 02, 2004
Not Long Now
With less than 2 weeks to go until the start of the Olympics 2004 in Athens, the final "touches" are being put to the Olympics infrastructure.
Despite the dead bodies of the construction workers, see yesterday's article, the organisers are beginning to feel proud about the achievements they have made.
Greek minister Voulgarakis is very optimistic that everything will be ready in time, for the start of the Games. Most importantly of all, the computer system that is meant to protect the Olympics; has finally been delivered, at a cost of $350M.
All they have to do now, is sell the remaining 5 million unsold tickets.
Brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Despite the dead bodies of the construction workers, see yesterday's article, the organisers are beginning to feel proud about the achievements they have made.
Greek minister Voulgarakis is very optimistic that everything will be ready in time, for the start of the Games. Most importantly of all, the computer system that is meant to protect the Olympics; has finally been delivered, at a cost of $350M.
All they have to do now, is sell the remaining 5 million unsold tickets.
Brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Sunday, August 01, 2004
The Olympics Body Count - The True Cost of the Olympics
As has been noted on this site many times, the construction projects for the Olympics 2004 in Athens are seriously behind schedule.
In order to speed things along, something which had the planning and construction work been done in a professional manner would not be necessary; the Greek authorities have employed thousands of illegal labourers from Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
It is reported that their working conditions are squalid, to say the least; a 14 hour day in 40 degrees, with no water or electricity. The workers have no insurance or permits, they earn around 20 Euros a day (the minimum wage in Greece is 30 Euros a day).
This "slave labour" is no overnight phenomenon, but has been in place for the last four years. Where was to International Olympic Committee (IOC) during this time?
Aside form the squalid conditions, the safety aspect is also a disgrace; to date 14 workers have died, and there have been 180 serious injuries (Sydney recorded 1 death and only a handful of serious injuries).
Is this something that the IOC, the Greek authorities and the Olympic sponsors should be proud of?
I don't think so.
Precisely how many dead bodies does it take to expose the disgraceful organisation of this event, and to get official sponsors and competing nations to do some serious soul searching about attending the Games?
In case you are wondering, the official response from the Greek government is that "accidents happen, people die".
How very compassionate!
Brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
In order to speed things along, something which had the planning and construction work been done in a professional manner would not be necessary; the Greek authorities have employed thousands of illegal labourers from Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
It is reported that their working conditions are squalid, to say the least; a 14 hour day in 40 degrees, with no water or electricity. The workers have no insurance or permits, they earn around 20 Euros a day (the minimum wage in Greece is 30 Euros a day).
This "slave labour" is no overnight phenomenon, but has been in place for the last four years. Where was to International Olympic Committee (IOC) during this time?
Aside form the squalid conditions, the safety aspect is also a disgrace; to date 14 workers have died, and there have been 180 serious injuries (Sydney recorded 1 death and only a handful of serious injuries).
Is this something that the IOC, the Greek authorities and the Olympic sponsors should be proud of?
I don't think so.
Precisely how many dead bodies does it take to expose the disgraceful organisation of this event, and to get official sponsors and competing nations to do some serious soul searching about attending the Games?
In case you are wondering, the official response from the Greek government is that "accidents happen, people die".
How very compassionate!
Brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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