The Telegraph has suggested the 2012 Olympics will provide a key test for the new Bribery Act. Corporate hospitality is supposed to come under scrutiny. Really? The whole point about this kind of event is the bidding war which requires nations to chuck goodies at international sports bodies. Freebies are what the IOC and others expect while sponsors and businesses have always used tickets to arts and sports events as a way to make friends and influence people.

The Commercial Games - How Commercialism is Overrunning the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

"The Olympics claim to stand for pure ideals, for sports, culture and education. Unfortunately, the overwhelming cultural influence at the Olympics is now commercial culture; and the overwhelming informational message is: buy, buy, buy."

Steve Easterbrook, McDonald's chief for Northern Europe, on Mcdonalds and the Olympics: "One thing we are not seeking is brand awareness,"

Locog just can't keep track of the time. They've already got an Olympic clock in Stratford to countdown to 2012 but now it wants another one in Trafalgar Square. Stratford's icon deficit has already been remarked on and this is further evidence that East London is losing ground in the Olympic icon wars.

Just a few miles up the Lea Valley in Edmonton, Olympics TOP partners (ie top level sponsors) have a factory. This report of the current strike is reposted from Harringey Solidarity Network

An Olympic source has said organisers are having 'fruitful discussions' about how much to charge for tickets with some in LOCOG and the government favouring £3,000 for the best seats at the opening ceremony and other key events. However, it seems some idiots have been making "public statements that the tickets would be affordable and that is causing some disquiet.”

Clare Sambrook - co-author with Andrew Jennings of The Great Olympic Swindle - was kind enough to email us recently pointing to a post on her site (now listed in our Blogroll) linking to her article at open Democracy written following the death of Samaranch Senior -

Buses will be diverted, side roads and pedestrian crossings closed, parking bays and delivers spaces will be suspended and taxis barred from entering Olympic VIP lanes.