The Golden Ticket

Well, it would not be an Olympics without some kind of problem in the build-up. Back in 1996, Atlanta was overly commercialized, its opening ceremony deemed far too garish and vulgar. Security was questioned, and the Olympic village was overcrowded. Salt Lakes 2002 Winter Games where a great success. However, whilst there was sympathy for the US post-9/11, there was round criticism that the opening ceremony was overly patriotic, and veering away from the Olympic ideal to push for a community of nations. Also, there was a massive outcry after it was discovered that Salt Lake had won the bid by bribing many of the voters.

Athens in 2004 saw a return to the Olympics birthplace. The games themselves where an amazing success. New technologies. lots of improvements for the city, BUT the games themselves where not without problems. Venues where rushed to completion after falling behind in construction, beautification projects where subsequently unfinished, then the legacy of the games saw many of the venues fall into disrepair and abandonment.

With the Turin Winter games, the games themselves where well planned, and executed. Even with weather problems. Attendances where lower than expected, but the main problem was with the cities new Metro line. Which was late in construction, so was shorter than anticipated, did not reach any of the venues, and shut down at 6pm, making it useless for later events. It was finally finished well after the games.

The 2008 games in Beijing where well-planned, organised, and executed. Which was not a surprise, given how desperate the Chinese where to put on a show. And the massive unofficial budget used to throw at it. The games themselves saw protests around the world against China for its policies on human rights, Tibet, and many other issues. There was also media criticism that the Chinese government reneged on a pledge to open properly to allow real access for the media. Also, unlike other Games, the Olympic village was usually a venue for festivities and fun. Because of The Chinese governments paranoia and fear of protest and other action seen as an attack on the state, the village became heavily ringed in security, and overly sanitized.

Vancouver was ultimately a successful winter games. However, in the build up, Vancouver quietly took over large swathes of financing to pay for the Olympic Village, which led to the cancellation of some of the plans to use the village post-games for low cost housing.

Also, during the games, the choice of Cypress mountain was not a popular choice given how frequently the mountain suffered from a lack of snowfall due to El Nino. Also, the fact that people could not get close to the Olympic cauldron to view it was also heavily criticized.

So. What problems with London?

Over budget? No

Behind schedule? No

Transportation issues? None that I am aware of right now

So, with construction apace, venues being completed ahead of time, and either on or under budget, what have been the problems with the games. Well, the birth of the logo has been less than sparkling, with the design being heavily attacked for its simplicity, and all round ridiculousness. Also, with the introductory video, there where reports of those suffering epilepsy enduring seizures because of sequences in the video.

So, Salt Lake had its vote buying, Athens had its massive delays and overruns, Beijing had the huge protests, and London has a slightly iffy badge.

Anything else?

Well, ticketing for the games has proven to be an issue. With ballots being run to win tickets to events. Some events being heavily over subscribed, leaving many disappointed. Also, the lack of information ab out which ticket you won was not revealed until AFTER money had been withdrawn. Still, with there only being so many seats, and far more people wanting to go, then any system was going to leave many annoyed and angry.

Also, the games have come under criticism for failing to hit its eco-target of 20% energy coming from renewables. Originally the idea was to use hydroelectric power from the river, and wind power. Many of these plans where abandoned on safety grounds. Since then, other, smaller steps have been taken.

These all seem far smaller than issues afflicting other cities. However, a new one has arisen. With Libya being granted several hundred tickets. Whilst these tickets have not gone to Libya's government, but to the NOC, Gadaffi has the right to claim one as head of state, and his son Muhammad al-Gadaffi also, as head of the Libyan National Olympic Committee. 

Now, this is a pickle. Both men do have the right to claim tickets. However, Britain (along with France) is in a lead role in bombing Libya in support of the UN backed NATO mission against Gadaffi's forces to stop them indiscriminately attacking civilians.

So, it would be politically embarrassing to have the top two from Libya, one the ruler and leader of its armed forces who are attacking its own, as well as his son, who is the head of the NOC, Libya's main telecoms company, and also supposed to head up the Revolutionary Guard.

The IOC has a stated a-political aim, which does limit the host city in its ability to govern itself truly. London will still have to welcome the likes of Robert Mugabe to the party (or at least, extend an invitation). However, to allow some wiggle-room, the Libyan NOC will have an allocation of tickets, and then, they will present a list to London to pass on the Foreign Office. The FO will then vet the list, and strike off people from the list deemed a security risk.

With both Gadaffi's being under travel bans, this automatically means that they will not gain entry to the UK. They are, of course, a "security risk" since Britain is pounding their forces from the air! Anyone deemed not a risk, will have their names left on the list, and then the list goes back to LOCOG who will print off the tickets.

I have a feeling that the list will end up quite short, and mostly lacking in governmental figures.

But still, it is an embarrassing moment for London. One not of their making.