You need more surveillance? Buy the Olympics

I'm really eager to see how much are the Olympic Games in London going to affect the surveillance of regular people in London. The place is already the most tightly guarded city in all Europe and I think no city in US can be compared to it either.

It's strange that the media and politicians always say that Olympic games and politics should never be mixed and that is why China should be allowed to hold the Olympics despite it's political situation. Still leaders of many countries are going to attend the opening ceremony and they are going to be shaking China's political representatives at every possible change.

Somehow all that feels like it's in conflict with the principals of the Olympic movement, what ever that is these days.

"According to the Olympic Charter, established by Pierre de Coubertin, the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." (www.olympic.org)

"In 1992, the first initiatives were launched by the IOC, in collaboration with the United Nations, allowing athletes of the former Republic of Yugoslavia to participate in the Barcelona Games. In 2000, during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Games, the South and North Korean delegations paraded in the stadium together under the flag of the Korean peninsula." (www.olympic.org)

"without discrimination" is funny phrase when in fact the IOC can decide which countries are welcomed to the Olympics according to their political situation. Again they are mixing sports and politics.

So the London issue... The idea that police and other authorities are given more power over free citizens because of the Olympics (the movement that is against all discrimination) for me might very well be the final straw. Silencing and observing people because the Olympics are coming to town is not the way to build a better society. Of course we're not still there and what I'm writing is just speculation but usually I'm right on these things :P

What do you think happens to all those surveillance cameras and other spying equipment across London after the Olympics in 2012? Do think they are going the remove all those gadgets? Think again.

The best way to ensure that the future Olympic games can be organised without the fear of terrorism and demonstrations against human right issues is to start using diplomacy in stead of waging war. It's not going to happen immediately but after decades the tactic should start paying off. If it doesn't then we might as well forget the Olympics for just a little while and concentrate on bigger problems we're probably facing.

If all this is too much to ask then maybe at least the media could stop making the Olympic games this huge fight between nations. I dare to say that a Finnish athlete isn't feeling proud of Finland when he wins an Olympic medal. He is feeling proud of himself and proud of the fact that all the hard work has paid off.

Ooops... This post is derailing (as usual) but I guess what I'm trying to say is that long gone are the days when the Olympics were about fair play and respect for other nationalities, if it ever has been about that. I'm quite young so I'm not sure.

Are you dear reader the leader of some rich country (natural resources, industry, banks) with problems with terrorism or some guerrilla movement or just some minorities that are really making your everyday life harder? Don't worry! Just send your application to organise the Olympics in some of your major city and you too are entitled to close your borders and start arresting everyone who looks suspicious.

Our calendar is quite full for the next 3 Olympics but 2020 might be your lucky year!

ps. Your views on commercialism have to match with ours.

Yours truly,
International Olympic Committee. Sponsored by China.


2016 is a tricky year for the IOC.
Wikipedia and the list on nominees.
My guess is the underdog Brazil will be elected given the fact that they have so much forest for industrial use. Of course at the end of the day it all comes down to current WTO negotiations in Geneva between developing countries and first world countries concerning western agriculture benefits and opening borders to international companies in countries like Brazil.

Brazil needs to find a POLITICAL solution to that problem fast since the decision of the Olympics will be made in October 2009. No terrorists there but maybe some "drug dealers" and organised crime could need some extra surveillance.