Why I don't envy you lot living in London, volume 30:
In essence, London has abdicated all rights and responsibilities to the International Olympic Committee, and implemented legislation which creates radical new spatial demarcations not only within the Olympic Park, but because of the distributed nature of the Olympic venues, across the whole of central London. London has surrendered the traditional rights to the city to the demands of the Olympic 'family' and their corporate paymasters. What the IOC want, London will give. London will be on brand lockdown.
The most carefully policed Brand Exclusion Zone will be around the Olympic Park, and extend up to 1km beyond its perimeter, for up to 35 days. Within this area, officially called an Advertising and Street Trade Restrictions venue restrictions zone, no advertising for brands designated as competing with those of the official Olympic sponsors will be allowed...This will be supported by preventing spectators from wearing clothing prominently displaying competing brands, or from entering the exclusion zone with unofficial snack and beverage choices. Within the Zone, the world's biggest McDonald's will be the only branded food outlet, and Visa will be the only payment card accepted.
Now we know what the SAMs are for. Firing at people making unofficial snack choices.
There's going to be 13,000 troops on the streets too. What kind of cap badges are they going to be wearing?
Posted by: ajay | May 25, 2012 at 04:34 PM
What kind of cap badges are they going to be wearing?
Who's the official military cap badge partner of the 2012 Games?
Posted by: nick s | May 25, 2012 at 10:17 PM
Any one else here read Morrison's Seaguy comics? All hail Mickey Eye!
Posted by: hellblazer | May 25, 2012 at 11:54 PM
"...and Visa will be the only payment card accepted."
Who are these Visa guys exactly? Last couple of years they appear to have buried Mastercard under their patio and established monopoly control over everyone's money without attracting much attention at all. Quite an achievement.
Posted by: Strategist | May 26, 2012 at 12:15 AM
They seem to have had an IPO a few years ago, which might have given them a big war chest.
Posted by: Nick L | May 26, 2012 at 12:51 AM
Great article. I hope Londoners don't take this lying down and go out and fight for their right to er...drink Pepsi or something.
Posted by: Barry Freed | May 26, 2012 at 01:48 AM
One side effect is that the Olympic venues feature multiple non-branded food outlets with modest, plain signage. Like 'Indian' or 'Fish and Chips'. Normally at a festival you see major signwriting efforts: billboards that say 'Roast Meat Carvery' in multicoloured three foot serif caps. And at least one 'Jamie Oliver's Fabulous Feasts'. That's free market competition, that is.
Not sure which approach I prefer, to be honest.
Posted by: Charlie W | May 26, 2012 at 09:36 AM
Stupidly, forgot to add that the competition you see at regular festivals is as managed as the monopolistic arrangement you'll see at the Olympics. A large festival has a catering office: their job is to make sure that enough of the correct sort of vendors show up, and put on a right good display.
Posted by: Charlie W | May 26, 2012 at 09:39 AM
I hope Londoners don't take this lying down and go out and fight for their right to er...drink Pepsi or something.
Barry, our hopes are entirely pinned on these freedom fighters coming to our aid.
The Grauniad reports
Posted by: Strategist | May 27, 2012 at 02:27 AM