Olympics: Is it all
Page 8
Call Sign March 2012
When London heard that it had been selected
an IOC jolly???
to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games,
some celebrated, some said no thank you and
one famous Mayor said it would cost every per-
son in the UK the cost of a walnut whip on
their council tax! But there was always an
underlying sense of excitement.
In July 2009, Call Sign was invited to go the
Olympic village to see how much building
work had been achieved and yes, there was a
lot of mud, but it was nonetheless impressive.
Then, again last month we were invited to see
the progress made. This time we sent Tom
Whitbread to take a look and even though
security dictated that everyone stayed on the
bus, Tom admitted that the building work was
incredible and the buzz of hosting the world's
most prestigious and exciting sporting occa-
sion was definitely there.
And that's how it stayed until the evening of
Valentine's Day 14 February. On that evening,
Channel 4 put out one of their occasional
Dispatches programmes this one called
Olympic Tickets For Sale and it has raised
doubts over the legitimacy over anything
approaching fairness regarding ticket distribu-
tion or more importantly to us, usage of the
Olympic Route Network.
In a recent Call Sign article, Brian Rice said
he believed that sponsors would be given
Does use of the ORN depend on whether you can afford to buy use of it?
access to the ORN lanes and that has hap-
pened, but according to Dispatches, that is just
could be purchased via separate deals with
Priority Lanes.
a small part of the problem. Introduced by
other companies. That's ok then! Dispatches
Tory London Assembly Member, Andrew
Antony Barnett, the program said that British
also obtained an official paper showing the
Boff said that if you were in your taxi or even
taxpayers had spent £9billion on putting on
International Olympic Committee's demands
riding your bike and you saw chauffeur driven
the Games, adding that organisers claimed
that have to be met by the host country. They
BMWs sweeping past you, you could get rather
London 2012 would be an accessible and
include the use of only 5 star hotels including
annoyed! United Cabbies Group spokesperson,
affordable Games that would leave a lasting
free room service, only air conditioned limou-
Jonathan Myers, told the program that taxi
sporting legacy. He went onto say that 1.8 mil-
sines to be used for the IOC bigwigs with dri-
drivers would suffer with the closure of The
lion British people had applied for tickets in
vers who must wear hats! Is that because they
Mall etc and described the Olympics not as the
the public ballot with over a million applying
might ask the driver to cook them a meal as
premier sporting event it has been called but as
for the 100 metres final alone - yet the vast
they whiz along the traffic-free ORNs that are
a `jolly' for its organisers. He said we had all
majority were disappointed. That begged the
naturally included on the list.
been "mugged off!"
question: Who got the tickets and for what
Jonathan Myers words that the Olympics are
Lord Coe called the lanes essential, but
events because 75% of the tickets were said to
just an IOC `jolly' suddenly seem remarkably
Antony Barnett wondered whether everyone
be going to the public.The question, according
correct. Dispatches has certainly put a dampen-
using the lanes really needed to because the
to Dispatches, is what the other 25% included?
er on this so-called once in a lifetime event,
program said the majority of the 10,500 ath-
The answer seems to have been all the top
because for the IOC, it's appears to be a once
letes only needed to make the half-mile trip
events and as Baroness Doocey told the pro-
every four years jolly-up with mugs like us who
from the Olympic village to the stadium. The
gram, so far as the opening ceremony or 100
have to cough up to pay for it. Of course, we can
rest of the 39 miles would appear to be for offi-
metres final was concerned, just 36% went to
still use the lanes because providing the pas-
cials staying in Park Lane, together with the
the public and not the advertised 75%.
senger coughs up the possible £200 fine on top
Games sponsors and the media, who obviously
Some considerable time after the ballots
of the fare, then what the hell! After all, every-
can't allow extra time like the rest of us.
ended and those applying were probably sent
one else seems to be on the make!!!
Both the hospitality providers the program
tickets for the synchronised swimming rather
spoke of were secretly recorded and both said
that the athletics or swimming finals,
Baghwat Singh
that use of the ORN was included in their pack-
Dispatches discovered that if you booked
ages even for non-Olympic events in the
Call Sign Online
exclusive packages through two agencies, you
evenings assuming the
could still get best seats for the top events,
lanes
had
not
including that 100 metres final! The only down-
reopened. The High
side was that they could cost you in excess of
Street
hospitality
£3000 per person, with one company asking
provider claimed that
for up to £9000 for just one ticket! In fact, that
the lane usage needed
company a well-known High Street tour
to be kept quiet in
agency also offered 6-night packages includ-
case people said that
ing 5 star hotel and the top Olympic events for
you could buy access
just under £20,000 per person!
to the ORN. Really?
But that part is for the mainstream
Call Sign would never
press to look at, Call Sign was more inter-
have thought that!
ested in the section involving the ORN
LOCOG denied that
because according to Dispatches, many of
access to the ORNs
those ultra-expensive corporate packages
could be bought, but
also included access to the Olympic
admitted that access
