The Cursed Olympics - Jaguar Shot Dead During Flame Ceremony

In what will doubtless prove to be a highly unfavourable augury, a 17 year old jaguar called Juma (used for a photo shoot for the Olympic torch's passage through Brazil's Amazon) was shot dead shortly afterwards when it escaped its handlers and threatened a vet.

Killing the Olympic mascot does not bode well for the Games at all!

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Mascot Problems

Locog are investigating allegations that soft toy versions of the London 2012 mascots (Wenlock and Mandeville) are being made by poorly paid workers in a Chinese factory.

Golden Bear, based in Telford, has a licence to produce them. However, an inquiry has been launched after media reports about the pay and conditions of the workers making the toys at a factory in China.

AFP reports that Golden Bear and the London organisers, LOCOG, said they were taking "seriously" the allegations that workers making the mascots were working for more than 11 hours a day for as little as 26 pence an hour.

Locog are quoted:

"We have asked our independent monitor to carry out a comprehensive investigation and review of these allegations.

The outcome of this investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

We have contacted all of our licensees to reiterate to them the importance we place on the sustainable sourcing code they have each signed up to."

Golden Bear said it was also conducting an immediate investigation, but confirmed that the factory in question had passed inspections by the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI).

Golden Bear are quoted:

"Golden Bear is extremely concerned about recent reports that a factory involved in a small amount of the production of the company's Olympic product could be in breach of workers' rights.

We are a family-run business that takes these issues very seriously indeed and has in place certificates of compliance at all factories used to produce our products.

We are therefore in the process of conducting an immediate investigation and will be able to comment on these findings as soon as they are known to us."

In March 2010 I wrote the following:

"Olympic chiefs are keen to emphasise the legacy of the London Olympics 2012.

What they haven't specified until now is exactly which country's legacy they mean.

This question has now been answered, it is China's economic legacy that is being underpinned by the London Olympics.

That at least is the conclusion to be drawn from the announcement that a Chinese company has been picked to make special lapel pins for the 2012 games, British companies claim that they were denied the chance to even bid."

It is a pity that Locog did not heed this warning, had it done so it might have saved itself some embarrassment.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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We're Not Backing Britain

I noted in March and May of this year that London Olympics pin badges are being manufactured in China, along with the "lovable" London mascots and even their promotional video.

Sky News has done some more digging and found that of the 446 items for sale on the official London 2012 website, 67% are made in China and 18% in Turkey, while only 8% bear the hallmark "Made in the UK".

A kick in the teeth for what remains of British manufacturing.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Appalling Design

Sir Terence Conran, a man with "some expertise" when it comes to design, has weighed into the furore over the London Olympics mascots (one of who resembles Sonic The Hedgehog wielding a knife).

His verdict?

In a letter to The Times he said:

"Appalling...symbols of national mediocrity".

Her then went on to compare them to that other "design triumph", the Millennium Dome exhibition.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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We're Backing China III

The good news is that not only are those "lovable" London 2012 Olympics mascots (one of them carries a knife and resembles Sonic the Hedgehog) being manufactured in China, but also the promo video that is being used to introduce them to the public.

Why are we so resolutely backing Chinese industry at the expense of our own?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Sonic The Hedgehog

I wonder if the creators of Sonic The Hedgehog realise that one of London's new Olympic mascots, the one carrying the knife (how symbolic of this country's youth!), bears more than a passing resemblence to Sonic?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Drips Off The Old Block

The London Olympics mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville (named after two English towns), were unveiled yesterday.

True to form, in keeping with these games, they represent nothing on earth.

The only element that could be claimed to be symbolic of Britain is the single "camera lens" eye that each creature has, representing the excessive level of surveillance that the people of Britain are subjected to by the government and other bodies.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Mascot To Be Unveiled

Hold onto your hats, at 7PM (BST) tonight, the London 2012 Olympics mascot will be unveiled.

The "buzz" from the London Olympics bunker is that the mascot will be "adventurous", and won't be an animal.

Lord Coe has semi spilt the beans, he has been telling the USA media that the mascots are a child friendly creation formed from a drop of steel from the Olympic Stadium.

Seemingly the mascots are based on a story by children's author Michael Morpurgo, and are aimed aimed particularly at children.

Why would that be?

Well, the games are all about money and the mascots will be sold. Child "I want one" power is an effective marketing tool.

I wonder if it will receive the same "warm" welcome that the "Lisa Simpson Gives Head" logo received?

I'll hazard a guess that it's a couple of marbles.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympic Mascot

Mid Sussex council has created a mascot for the forthcoming Olympics 2012.

Quote from the council's site:

"The mascot hatched in spectacular fashion at the recent Olympos Burgess Hill Open Day of arts and sports events, hosted by GLL/Freedom Leisure.

The creature is a cute and colourful character that is already proving a major attraction for local youngsters.

It will appear at many of the Council's Participate Mid Sussex community events, growing each year, until it becomes a giant mythical creature in time for the London Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012."

It was created by Same Sky Community Arts Group in Brighton, with funding from the Arts Council.

Mid Sussex council is now appealing to the public to suggest a fitting name for the character.

Send you suggestions to arts@midsussex.gov.uk.

I wonder how much this cost?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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