Olympics Social Media Banned

Whilst I was looking at some of the packaging brands that are being tied towards the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic, I have noticed a few troubling stories emerging.

The most annoying has to be a ban on using social networking at the Olympics. So many people are on Facebook and Twitter these days, regularly posting messages along with photographs but apparently visitors to the games, are not allowed to post any pictures or videos of the events. Plus the athletes are not allowed to post any pictures of themselves especially if they happen to be using a product that isn't an official sponsor of the games.

This is absolutely stupid and just so typical of the ridiculous bureaucracy in this country. How are they going to stop people using mobile phones and other devices? How many times have you been at a sports event or concert where you have taken a photo of yourselves and posted it online. So if there happens to be an advert in the background for a drink or food brand, that is going to be illegal somehow.

There has also been stories emerging of teams of people scouring the site and making sure that any brands which are not sponsoring the games, have to have their logos or brands covered up. This has even been done to some of the bathrooms which have items by Armitage Shanks in them and they have had to cover up the names on the toilets and sinks.

It goes to show how much power, brands have in this country and how much control they can impose in return for financial sponsorship.

The ban just doesn't include the athletes but also the 70, 000 volunteers taking part who have been ordered to 'disconnect' themselves from social networks. But they are allowed to retweet official comments and statements made by the IOC. Again, how are they going to monitor and police all the online traffic that will be flowing every minute of every day. Plus, how can volunteers fall into the same category as employees who have to adhere to stricter control.

So much for having an open, inclusive games then and bringing out the best in people. It just shows this country for what it is becoming, a nation of money obsessives!