NB: I know this is not technically a footballing matter, but I was keen to get your views and I also think that the ramifications of organisers using 'safety' as a means to take advantage of fans could be large. Yesterday LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) announced that it would ban spectators from taking more than 100 ml of liquid and food into arenas in an attempt to tighten security at the London 2012 games (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15110730). With the games taking place in the height of summer and with some competition sessions being up to four hours in length many are questioning the organisers decision to implement this policy, suggesting that other motives are behind this a move. The authorities in charge of running the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics outraged customers yesterday by outlining plans to prevent fans from taking water and sun tan lotion into the Olympic stadia. This will be of great concern to family spectators, the vulnerable and the old who could suffer as a result of this decision. LOCOG said the move was to keep security tight at the venues. However, the cynical amongst us could suggest that this nightmarish decision for those who have already bought tickets is just a pretense to allow corporate sponsors free license to sell their wares at exorbitant prices and can draw similarities to the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006 where fans were prevented from taking water into the stadiums. In 40 degrees of heat I remember having to queue for Coca cola water at 2 euros a cup in the name of security at the 2006 World Cup, because FIFA claimed that fans could otherwise use bottles as missiles to assail the players. In retrospect this claim seems unlikely and that instead of protecting the fans it was the sponsors who were being shielded. The corporations, who pay a hefty fee for the honour of advertising at such a prestigious event such as the World Cup, were evidently out to make their money back and FIFA were keen to oblige, even in one instance making a number of Dutch fans take off their trousers before entering the stadium as they bore the crest of a rival company to one of the main sponsors. Surely the matter cannot solely be a security one, after all, no one will prevent people taking water onto the tube or into a building of great national importance and spectators will be allowed to take baby food and other paraphernalia into the arena. News that McDonald's is to be the exclusive branded food retailer in the Olympic Park coupled with the fact that possible plans to provide drinking water somewhere in the stadia is still not completely decided also adds weighting to suggestions of ulterior motives. So why has London 2012 gone down a such a route? After all the games, dubbed 'The Peoples Games' by organisers, was meant to be a show case for the public to enjoy and benefit from the legacy. However, with the government keen to keep costs down the 'Olympic legacy' promise is looking much more flimsy and it seems most likely that the main objective is to rake back as much money as possible to cover hosting costs. Despite many peoples worries about the spiraling costs of hosting The Games the Olympic tickets have been in huge demand and sold like hot cakes. I myself have purchased tickets and even applied to volunteer at the events. People were so desperate to get tickets to a once in a lifetime opportunity that they were prepared to stretch their budgets for tickets, not to mention the additional transport fares and accommodation. But the decision to prevent fans from taking food and drink into the stadium is only going to add to the fiscal woe of many families attending the events, especially as the decision has only come to light after many of the ticket sale phases have finished. Early on LOCOG promised that tickets would be made affordable so that everyone would be able to afford to attend, with special discounts available. Nothing was said that once you arrived you would have to fork out a small fortune in order to enjoy the basics necessities of life while watching the games. So much for The Peoples Games, it looks more likely to be The McPeoples Games.
Should be made into an Article. Very good post. I suspect your cynicism is well founded. I have little doubt that the public will be fleeced in some form or another.
Excellent read. Now I have a ST, I take sandwhiches and a carton of drink for my lad. This is because the prices are so extortionate at a game that every week could cost me an extra £5-10 a game. The laws of supply an demand are one thing, but to blatantly be creating them is appalling. I bet a bottle of water will be a fiver at the Olympics
They have to recoup their money somehow The bigger con was applying for tickets in.advance but not knowing the event you would be seeing You think mp's, footballers and pop stars had to do this? Im only going to watch Jessica Ennis anyway
It will be interesting to see how much food and drink is priced at the Olympics. Whilst an inconvience, I completely understand the security issues, and if food and drink is fairly reasonably priced, then I'll happily accept that these measures are nothing more than security measures. However if they use the Rose Bowl-type pricing (who makes St Marys' prices seem like Iceland or the 99p store!), then my view will definately change. It is good to see that, with regards to the Olympic Park (where a large amount of non-football sport will take place), it appears that these checks will happen upon entry into the Park itself rather than the individual stadia within the Park. This should make things slightly easier, as they'll be more food and drink outlets to choose from (both in the open Park itself and inside whichever stadium you have tickets for) and access into the individual stadia should be quicker. As for McDonals being the only licensed food seller, again I see this as an inconvinience but one that I understand. Like Coca-Cola, they have paid a lot of money for these rights - money which is being used to help fund the games. And I'm sure they'll be something decent amongst the non-licensed outlets. Should see if my local Chinese can get their stall there! Very good article by the way OROW. Out of interest, what events do you have tickets for? So far, I have a morning session of Athletics (including Bolt, Idowu and Turner), the men's football semi-final at Wembley (the other semi is at Old Trafford), and a session of caneo sprint.
Excellent post. I have to admit one of my first thoughts after we won the Olympic bid was that security was going to have to be bloody tight, and I do agree that it should be, but there really should be access to free water at all times as we need it to...you know...live.
Great post. There is no security factor at all, it's all about making some money off gullible customers. The way the government has organised the olympics, we're likely to make a huge financial loss on it, so to try and bring in extra income, daft measures like this will be implemented. P.S. All olympic games have either made a profit or broke even for the country staging them. We'll be the first to make a net loss.
I heard somewhere that LOCOG got heir sums wrong with security. They need twice as many security guards as they 1st predicted -some 20,000 at a total cost of hundreds of millions. You cant put a price on public safety. This will be the greatest sporting event this country has ever held. i hope we can look back on it as a succesful olympics, with good competition, an impecable safety record and the everday person who gets to be part of the spectacle coming away feeling the whole experiance was enjoyable and not being ripped off. i fear for the latter.
Hi St_brendy, I really do not think is going to be effected at all by these measures. I mean to be honest can you see why 101 ml or a dangerous substance is any worse than 100 ml. I am sure you could do enough damage with that or numerous other ways. I don't think this measure is anything to do with protecting us it is just to protect the corporate sponsors and if we call it the peoples games then it should be just that, I mean what has McDonalds ever done for the fitness of this country?!
By the way St_Brendy I have tickets for the mens football final, the womens volleyball.... and the womens football semi final. No athletics tickets but I did apply for the finals of the paraolympics as I wanted to go to the main stadium, perhaps that was a mistake now...
Being a music fan you are prob aware that Glastonbury is off as a result because the 'security' is being used for the Olympics. My main issue is that much of the 'security' are just like bouncers on a Friday night officious and trained to pick on those who look different, which I think is a strange thing to be encouraging in a society claiming it wants equal opportunities, but just an opinion. If the 'security' is anything like the man who tried to intimidate me whilst searching me at Wembley the last time I went it will be a complete waste of time and just allow egos to be massaged.
At the last game, we bought a packet of crisps and 3 drinks outside the ground costing £3.50 In the ground, we bought another 3 drinks and a pack of crips, costing around £7-8 Its a total rip-off, add to the fact they remove your lids makes it awkward when your busy jumping around celebrating
