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

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

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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When Is A Budget Cut Not A Budget Cut?

Answer: When it is an Olympics "budget" cut.

Yesterday I noted that Jeremy Hunt, the minister responsible for the Olympics, had told Newsnight that his department faced a £66M cut and that the Olympics was "not protected".

In the real world, this would mean that cuts would have to be made in the actual amount of money spent on the London 2012 Olympics.

However, in the fantasy world of the Olympics "budget" this may not be the case. It seems that instead of the the cuts actually being made, the amount cut from the government contribution may in fact simply be added to the council tax bills of London residents.

Neat accounting trick isn't it?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Budget Not Sacrosanct

Jeremy Hunt replaces Tessa Jowell as Secretary of State in the re-named Department of Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport.

As such Hunt now holds the poisoned chalice of the London 2012 Olympics.

He told the BBC's Newsnight that the department is going to make immediate cuts in spending of around £60M.

"Olympic money is not protected, none of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's budgets are protected, and we're looking at all of them and saying, 'Can we save this money without affecting our core services?'"

Even if the entire £60M were wiped off the Olympics "budget" it would be but a drop in the ocean compared to the £12BN plus being spent on the games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Age Limit

Those teenagers (under the age of 18) who had hoped to volunteer to be marshals, ticket inspectors, first aiders etc for the London 2012 Olympics will be sorely disappointed.

Britain's child protection laws prevent those who are 18 from actually volunteering to do anything useful in their lives.

For why?

The law requires helpers to be subjected to regular checks, it's not just the teens themselves but also the adults who would have to be checked. As such, the administration involved would simply be too time consuming and costly for anyone under 18 to be allowed to come into contact with an adult.

An absurd outcome.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"