The Establishment Weighs In

I see that the establishment is weighing in to the furore over the allegations about "secret" cash payments made to a member of the Olympic Park legacy Committee by West Ham.

The establishment doesn't want the row to delay plans for the stadium

Well, of course it doesn't!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Another Court Case

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has revealed that it has suspended Dionne Knight, the OPLC's director of corporate services, who has been undertaking paid consultancy work for West Ham United.

Why does this matter?

It matters because West Ham were selected by OPLC to have the stadium after the games, against competition from Tottenham Hotspur.

Ironically, according to the Telegraph, Knight also previously worked for Newham Council, West Ham's partner in the stadium bid.

West Ham are not best pleased with the media slant and insinuations, and have launched legal action against Tottenham Hotspur and the Sunday Times over claims of the "secret" payments.

The concept of "secret cash payments" relating to football is hardly new, if FIFA's soiled reputation is anything to go by. However, if West Ham have been unfairly maligned they are right fight for their reputation. That being said, they should bear in mind that it is not just the "legal susbtsance" of these payments but how they look to everyone else that have done the damage.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Spurs Fight On

The BBC reports that, despite having their appeal rejected last week, Tottenham will return to the High Court for an oral hearing for a judicial review of the decision to award the Olympic Stadium to West Ham.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Olympic Ticket Farce

The Independent reports that that more than 15,000 people, who missed out on the original London 2012 ticket ballot last month, have failed for a second time to secure a ticket after taking part in the second round first-come first-served ticket sale.

There will be a third "opportunity" to buy tickets in December.

However, why go through the stress and expense of trying to buy tickets?

Why not simply watch it in comfort in front of the TV?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

La Grande Olympic Ticket Farce

Unsurprisingly, the second round UK Olympic ticket sale has again failed to live up to the hype spewed forth by Locog.

Despite being heralded as an opportunity for British sporting fans to buy tickets, it transpires that sporting fans from the EU have also been snapping up tickets (even though their countries had already been allocated tickets).

For why?

EU free trade rules prohibit EU citizens from being excluded.

Figures from the first round ballot of tickets show that EU citizens managed to obtain 150,000 tickets. Figures are not yet available for the second round.

It's a funny old world where British fans/taxpayers (who are subsidising this event) are treated so shabbily by Locog.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Second Chance Ticket Shambles

Those who missed out on tickets for the Olympics the first time round now have a second chance (as from 6am this morning) to buy some of the remaining tickets.

However, as with all things IT Olympic there appear to be some glitches in the processing of payments etc. Some hapless purchasers have reported that their payment attempts were bounced by the system.

The word "shambles" is being used by many.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Greed - Locog Ban 2012

The Isle of Wight County Press reports that Locog had banned Julie Benson from using the year "2012" in the logo of her show, The Great Exhibition 2012 (designed to represent the best in the country in arts, culture, food and sport).

For why?

Locog claimed that 2012 "widely refers" to next year's Olympics, and if Ms Benson used the date it would interfere with its ability to raise funds from sponsors.

Ker Farking Ching!

Unsurprisingly Ms Benson was unimpressed with Locog's greed, given that she has been working on the exhibition plan for 12 years (long before Britain won the rights to host the games).

There is now some good news for Ms Benson, following a public outcry over Locog's greed they have backed down and have now allowed her to use "2012".

As I have stated many times, the Olympics is not about sport but about money.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Quel Dommage!

Those of you who experienced problems accessing the London 2012 UK ticket site, in the last hours before the deadline for applications, may sympathise with hopeful ticket purchasers in France who cannot access the French Olympic Committee's official reselling agent's Eventour2012 site.

The site crashed at the very moment it first opened today at 8am BST.

Needless to say, the Brits are being blamed for the first day crash. It seems, according to the Telegraph, that there was such a rush of British expats to pre register that the French site could not cope and fell over.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"