China is setting up special anti terror police squads in 36 cities, in readiness for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
This is partly in response to the terrorist threat, and also in response to the increased domestic unrest.
Land disputes are becoming more common and violent. Some 74,000 protests and riots occurred nationwide last year.
The authorites have no intention of allowing these land dipsutes to disrput the Games.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
It's The Money Stupid
In a fine example of greed, the organisers behind the London 2102 Olympics have published a bill designed to outlaw the use of "illegal" words such as "Gold" and "2012", by anyone other than accredited organisation.
The Olympics Bill lays out strict rules to prevent the use of Games-related words, and images by non-official advertisers.
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has complained, saying that it will prevent most companies benefiting at all from 2012.
The bill was drawn up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to establish the legal framework for London to stage the Games.
Existing legislation already prevents non-official sponsors from using distinctive "Olympic marks" like the Olympic rings.
But the new bill will make it illegal to use words such as "games", "medals", "gold", "2012", "sponsor" or "summer" in any form of advertising.
When it comes to greed and money, the Olympics is world beater.
The Olympics Bill lays out strict rules to prevent the use of Games-related words, and images by non-official advertisers.
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has complained, saying that it will prevent most companies benefiting at all from 2012.
The bill was drawn up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to establish the legal framework for London to stage the Games.
Existing legislation already prevents non-official sponsors from using distinctive "Olympic marks" like the Olympic rings.
But the new bill will make it illegal to use words such as "games", "medals", "gold", "2012", "sponsor" or "summer" in any form of advertising.
When it comes to greed and money, the Olympics is world beater.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Ferret Olympic Name Change
In a display of bully boy tactics the US Olympic Committee, ever mindful of how much money it can wring out of the Games, has forced the Ferret Olympics to change its name after 9 years of successful competition.
Approximately 75 ferrets will compete for medals at the Ferret Agility Trials this year, in events including; the tube run and the paper bag escape.
The Ferret Olympics were started in 1996, and gained publicity in 2004 after a local newspaper story was picked up by the mass media.
Consequently the US Olympic Committee threatened the games with legal action. Needless to say, small organisations do not have the deep pockets of the US Olympic Committee and therefore have to back down in the face of such a threat.
As I have always maintained, the Olympics has nothing to do with sport; it is only about money.
Approximately 75 ferrets will compete for medals at the Ferret Agility Trials this year, in events including; the tube run and the paper bag escape.
The Ferret Olympics were started in 1996, and gained publicity in 2004 after a local newspaper story was picked up by the mass media.
Consequently the US Olympic Committee threatened the games with legal action. Needless to say, small organisations do not have the deep pockets of the US Olympic Committee and therefore have to back down in the face of such a threat.
As I have always maintained, the Olympics has nothing to do with sport; it is only about money.
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