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A number of '''controversies and concerns associated with the ]''' in ], ] have emerged which have been the subject of public debate and media commentary. | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} | |||
{{cleanup|reason= Judgement required as to what is and isn't a controversy. Pruning required of unimportant and trivial information. Consider ] with other editors first, as they may disagree with your definition of unimportant and trivial.|date=August 2012}} | |||
{{2012 Summer Olympics}} | {{2012 Summer Olympics}} | ||
A number of controversies and concerns associated with the ] in ] became the subject of public debate and media commentary. | |||
==Prior to the games== | ==Prior to the games== | ||
===IOC policy=== | ===IOC policy=== | ||
====Brand protection==== | ====Brand protection==== | ||
Protection of the Olympic brand has been the subject of some criticism. The ] themselves are protected in the United Kingdom under the ], and under provisions set out by the ], the ] (LOCOG) are empowered to prevent the misuse of Olympic branding leading up to the 2012 Games. The acts aim to prevent unauthorised commercial association with the games by traders (such as using the Olympic rings in a shop window) and to prevent attempts at ] at games events, but the constraints detailed in the guidelines issued by LOCOG have been criticised by some commentators as a form of ].<ref name="independent-180712">{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Steve |title=The Debate: Have Olympic sponsorship regulations gone too far? |url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/07/18/the-debate-have-olympic-sponsorship-regulations-gone-too-far/ |access-date=21 July 2012 |date=18 July 2012 |work=The Debate (blog)(The Independent) |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721030057/http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/07/18/the-debate-have-olympic-sponsorship-regulations-gone-too-far/ |archive-date=21 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="atalantic-130712">{{cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Feargus |title=The Pettiness of Olympic Branding |url= http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/06/pettiness-olympic-branding/2256/ |accessdate=21 July 2012|newspaper=The Atlantic Cities |location =Washington, D.C. |date=13 June 2012}}</ref> | |||
The guidelines specify a range of |
The guidelines specify a range of ]ed logos and designs as well as certain "Listed Expressions" and protected words that advertisers may not use, which include the words "London" and "2012". Even if an advertiser does not mention the Olympics or use any of the listed words, any visual or audio representation of London and sports may be considered by a court to be an infringement of LOCOG's rights and subject to a fine of £20,000 or possible imprisonment.<ref name="locog-brand">{{cite web |title=The Protected Games' Marks |url=http://www.london2012.com/documents/brand-guidelines/guide-to-protected-games-marks.pdf |work=Brand guidelines |publisher=LOCOG |access-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731220402/http://www.london2012.com/documents/brand-guidelines/guide-to-protected-games-marks.pdf |archive-date=31 July 2012}}</ref> A number of individuals and businesses fell foul of the restrictions including a lingerie shop in ],<ref name="Leicester-Mercury">{{cite news |title=Melton lingerie shop told to remove 'Olympic rings' display |url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Melton-lingerie-shop-told-remove-Olympic-rings/story-15932434-detail/story.html |access-date=21 July 2012 |newspaper=Leicester Mercury |date=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704110123/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Melton-lingerie-shop-told-remove-Olympic-rings/story-15932434-detail/story.html |archive-date=4 July 2012}}</ref> and a ] café selling Olympic torch baguettes.<ref name="independent-210712">{{cite news |title=The torch relay: Golden moment or flaming nuisance? |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/the-torch-relay-golden-moment-or-flaming-nuisance-7789295.html |accessdate=21 July 2012 |newspaper=The Independent |location =London |date=26 May 2012 |first1=Tom |last1=Peck |first2=Charlie |last2=Cooper}}</ref> An exception to these rules was successfully negotiated by the restaurant chain ], who have been permitted by LOCOG to continue to sell their ] "Olympic Breakfast" because the item has carried that name on their menu since 1994.<ref name=littlechef>{{cite news|title=Little Chef allowed to keep Olympic Breakfast, LOCOG rules|url=http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2012/07/23/little-chef-allowed-keep-olympic-breakfast-locog-rules|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=The Drum}}</ref> | ||
In an interview with BBC journalist ], Lord Coe emphasised the need to protect the rights of official sponsors such as ] and ] who had contributed large |
In an interview with BBC journalist ], Lord Coe emphasised the need to protect the rights of official sponsors such as ] and ] who had contributed large sums of money to the Games. His suggestion that visitors to the London games would not be admitted if they were wearing a ]-branded ] was later retracted by LOCOG, who stated that such rules would apply only to large groups of spectators wearing "visibly branded" clothing.<ref name="bbc-pepsi">{{cite news |title=London 2012: Organisers clarify rules on branded clothing for spectators |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18922964|accessdate=21 July 2012 |newspaper=BBC News |date=20 July 2012}}</ref> | ||
Criticism has also focused on the exclusive rights held by some sponsors to serve and advertise food at and near to Olympic venues |
Criticism has also focused on the exclusive rights held by some sponsors to serve and advertise food at and near to Olympic venues;{{cn|date=June 2020}} ] held sole rights to sell ] throughout the games, preventing independent food outlets from serving chips with any meal, although an exception was negotiated with McDonald's to allow the sale of traditional British ].<ref name="guardian-food-may2012">{{cite news|last=Booth|first=Robert|title=Feeding the Olympics: menus to take Games visitors around the world|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/25/olympics-menus-round-the-world |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=23 July 2012|date=25 May 2012|location=London}}</ref> Food sellers also had to comply with food outlet specifications which require prominent display of Coca-Cola branding with limited space for their own products.<ref name="youandyours-23072012">{{cite interview |last = Ayre |first = Maggie |interviewer= Worricker, Julian |title=Making money from the Olympics, collective energy buying and a fair price for milk |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l02jc |work = ] |publisher = BBC Radio 4 |location= London |date = 23 July 2012 |at = 29:20 |accessdate =23 July 2012 }}</ref> | ||
====Eligibility of athletes suspended for doping==== | |||
====Doping suspensions==== | |||
The IOC amended the Olympic Charter in June 2008 in order to bar athletes suspended for at least six months for a doping offence from competing at the Olympic Games following the end of the suspension. This provision, known as the Osaka Rule or Rule 45, was challenged before the ]. In October 2011 the court found that the provision was not an eligibility rule, but a sanction not mandated by the ] and thus invalid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5314/5048/0/Final20award202422.pdf |title=CAS 2011/O/2422 USOC v. IOC |access-date=2012-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021015908/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5314/5048/0/Final20award202422.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Briggs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/8813867/London-2012-Olympics-LaShawn-Merritts-victory-leaves-the-Olympic-movement-at-a-loss.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: LaShawn Merritt's victory leaves the Olympic movement at a loss |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 October 2011 |accessdate=27 July 2012}}</ref> Several athletes were allowed to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics as a result of the ruling, including defending Olympic champion ] (who was suspended in 2010 for a year for taking over-the-counter male enhancement product, ], which contains the banned ] ])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/apr/22/lashawn-merritt-drugs-male-enhancement |title=LaShawn Merritt blames failed drug test on 'male enhancement product' |work=The Guardian |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref> <!--Feel free to add other defending champions --> and ], a 2012 Olympic gold medalist who also maintained her innocence, claiming the positive test had been caused by tainted supplements.<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy: 'I'm innocent' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25854623 |newspaper=NBC News |date=26 July 2008 |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref> <!--Feel free to add other champions from 2012--> In April 2012, the decision was reaffirmed, when the court found a similar rule for the ] invalid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5879/5048/0/Award20265820FINAL.pdf |title=CAS 2011/A/2658 British Olympic Association (BOA) v. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) |access-date=2012-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305084413/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5879/5048/0/Award20265820FINAL.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17853070 |title=London 2012: Dwain Chambers eligible after court ruling |work=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2012 |accessdate=27 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
{{relevance|date=July 2012}} | |||
{{See also|Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games}} | |||
The IOC amended the Olympic Charter in June 2008 in order to bar athletes suspended for at least six months for a doping offence from competing at the Olympic Games following the end of the suspension. This provision, known as the Osaka Rule or Rule 45, was challenged before the ]. In October 2011 the court found that the provision was not an eligibility rule, but a sanction not mandated by the ] and thus invalid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5314/5048/0/Final20award202422.pdf |title=CAS 2011/O/2422 USOC v. IOC |deadurl=no |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Olympics |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/8813867/London-2012-Olympics-LaShawn-Merritts-victory-leaves-the-Olympic-movement-at-a-loss.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: LaShawn Merritt's victory leaves the Olympic movement at a loss |publisher=Telegraph |date= |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> This was followed by a ruling in April 2012 where the court found that a ] by-law preventing the selection of athletes sanctioned for doping for participation in the Olympic Games was invalid for similar reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5879/5048/0/Award20265820FINAL.pdf |title=CAS 2011/A/2658 British Olympic Association (BOA) v. World Anti-Doping Agency | |||
(WADA) |deadurl=no |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=20:38 GMT |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17853070 |title=BBC Sport - London 2012: Dwain Chambers eligible after court ruling |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-04-30 |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> | |||
The rulings have led to calls from the IOC and the BOA to include a provision similar to the Osaka Rule in the next Anti-Doping Code, which will be in effect by the ].<ref>{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Knight |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-23/banned-sprinters-olympic-return-sparks-doping/4149238?section=sport |title=Banned sprinters' Olympic return sparks doping debate - ABC Grandstand Sport - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2012-07-23 |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-Doping-Program/Sports-and-Anti-Doping-Organizations/The-Code/Code-Review/ |title=Code Review - World Anti-Doping Agency |publisher=Wada-ama.org |date= |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> | |||
==== |
====Women participants and the hijab==== | ||
After an initial dispute,<ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Bob|url=http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/london-2012-summer-olympic-games/2012/jul/30/olympics-saudi-woman-may-withdraw-headscarf-contro/|title=Olympics 2012: Saudi woman may withdraw as the headscarf controversy grows|work=]|date=30 July 2012}}</ref> the IOC and associated sports organizations allowed women to participate in the games as athletes or officials while wearing ]s.<ref>{{cite news|last=Abbas|first=Mohammed|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/oly-hijabs-day-idUSL6E8J1MS920120801|title=Olympics-Hijab no hurdle for Muslim sportswomen as bans eased|publisher=]|date=1 August 2012}}</ref> According to the Associated Press, religious clerics and religious activists in some countries wanted more modest uniforms.<ref>{{cite news|last=Haven|first=Paul|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jn4AzgdOLkYRc7Ebj6TNL2gviXYA?docId=94ea68767f474310b755dd78151b99d5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806010738/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jn4AzgdOLkYRc7Ebj6TNL2gviXYA?docId=94ea68767f474310b755dd78151b99d5|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2012|title=Hijab controversy simmers at Olympics|publisher=]|date=31 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
The ] has drawn criticism from Sweden{{clarify|date=July 2012}} and Denmark{{clarify|date=July 2012}}<ref>{{cite news |url= http://svt.se/2.21335/1.2621682/iok_vill_censurera_os-idrottarna |title=IOK Vill Censurera OS-Idrottarna |trans_title= IOC Wants To Censor Olympic Athletes |work= SVT |language=Swedish |date=29 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://spn.dk/article2621539.ece |author=Albrectsen, Nikolaj |date=29 November 2011 |title=Ytringsfriheden på spil under OL |trans_title= Freedom of speech under threat during Olympics |newspaper= Jyllandsposten |location =Aarhus |language=Danish}}</ref> for its , which, those commentators{{who|date=July 2012}} argue, infringe athletes' right to free speech.{{clarify|date=July 2012}} {{weight|date=July 2012}} The guidelines prohibit athletes from commenting on other participants, from posting pictures of other athletes without their permission, from promoting their own sponsors, and from using the Olympic rings. The IOC has also created a intended to allow the reporting of suspected breaches of the guidelines.<ref name=Hachman>{{cite web|last=Hachman|first=Mark|title=Olympic Athletes Allowed to Tweet, But Not 'Report'|url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387694,00.asp|work=PCMag.com|accessdate=20 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
According to ''Sports Illustrated'', critics charged that allowing the headgear violated IOC Rule 50 which prohibits religious displays in Olympic venues and that countries which required the headgear for their female representatives were practicing ] and claimed that this should require the same stand that the IOC took against ] by banning that country from the Olympics for 21 years. A group called London 2012: Justice for Women protested the IOC's allowance of the hijab by placing a copy of the Olympic charter into a coffin and then throwing it off ], while a band played funeral music.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Klutho|first=David E.|title=Run the World Girls|magazine=]|date=13 August 2012|pages=40–45|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1204381/1/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222130852/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1204381/1/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2014|accessdate= 28 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
===Sponsors=== | |||
====Dow Chemical==== | |||
The IOC and LOCOG have drawn criticism for accepting ] as a partner for the London Games.<ref name=hindu-standbehinddow>{{cite news |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2971802.ece |author=Mahim Pratap Singh |title=We stand behind Dow: London Olympic panel |newspaper=The Hindu |date=8 March 2012 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Human Rights activists have been campaigning to get Dow Chemicals to clean up the contamination in ], ], where gas leak at a ] plant in 1984 ]. In an email response in March 2012, LOCOG refused to withdraw Dow as a sponsor and stated "Dow is an industry leader in terms of operating with the highest standards of ethics and sustainability... has received several awards and accolades in this regard over the last few years."<ref name=hindu-standbehinddow/> Dow said it was surprised by the controversy because Dow never had a plant in Bhopal, and did not acquire any of the connection with Bhopal. Dow acquired Union Carbide in 2001, 12 years after Union Carbide had settled with the Government of India and Bhopal victims.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/20/us-dowchemical-olympics-idUSTRE81J10D20120220 | title=Dow Chemical's Olympic PR push dogged by Bhopal | work=Reuters | date=20 February 2012 | accessdate=12 July 2012 | author=Scheyder, Ernest | location=New York}}</ref> | |||
===Sponsors=== | |||
====Healthy eating==== | ====Healthy eating==== | ||
There |
There was criticism that companies that produce ] or otherwise unhealthy foods and drinks were major sponsors of the Olympics, notably ], ], ] and ], which seemingly conflicts with the Olympian ideal of health and wellness.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18783272 |title=Cardiologist: Ban junk food from sponsoring Olympics |work=BBC News |date=10 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=Coombes>{{cite journal |url=http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2904.full?ijkey=oVPNbw7XknkEg&keytype=ref&siteid=bmjjournals |title=Richard Budgett: Olympic challenge |last=Coombes |first=Rebecca |date=2 June 2010 |journal=British Medical Journal |volume=340 |pages=c2904 |doi=10.1136/bmj.c2904 |pmid=20519270 |s2cid=26171259 |accessdate=24 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Carman |first=Tim |date=18 July 2012 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/mcdonalds-olympian-achievement-in-london-a-french-fry-monopoly-and-largest-fast-food-restaurant/2012/07/18/gJQAZ6tQuW_story.html |title=McDonald's Olympian achievement in London: A French fry monopoly and largest fast-food restaurant |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Blitz |first=Roger |date=15 July 2012 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a137e770-ce90-11e1-9fa7-00144feabdc0.html |title=McDonald's launches Olympics ad campaign |work=Financial Times |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Sami K. |date=10 July 2012 |url=http://global.christianpost.com/news/olympics-mcdonalds-coca-cola-support-selling-out-for-a-financial-fix-77978/ |title=Olympics McDonald's, Coca-Cola Support: Selling Out for a Financial Fix? |work=The Christian Post |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222065420/http://global.christianpost.com/news/olympics-mcdonalds-coca-cola-support-selling-out-for-a-financial-fix-77978/ |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Critics included the Chief Medical Officer of Wales, ],<ref>{{cite news |last=McWatt |first=Julia |date=11 July 2012 |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2012/07/11/mcdonald-s-and-coca-cola-should-have-no-place-in-olympics-says-wales-top-doctor-91466-31367506/ |title=McDonald's and Coca Cola should have no place in Olympics, says Wales' top doctor |publisher=WalesOnline}}</ref> and the head of sports science of the GB Team.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rowley |first=Tom |date=19 July 2012 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9412953/London-2012-Olympics-McDonalds-the-wrong-choice-for-athletes-says-Team-GB-sport-science-head.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: McDonald's 'the wrong choice' for athletes, says Team GB sport science head |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref> The ] passed a motion calling for a ban on junk food sponsors.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9347221/London-2012-Olympics-Assembly-calls-for-ban-on-junk-food-sponsors.html |title= London 2012 Olympics: Assembly calls for ban on junk food sponsors |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 June 2012 |location =London}}</ref> | ||
The sponsors were defended on the grounds that they provided a significant income for the event.<ref name=Coombes/> ], President of the IOC, acknowledged concerns but noted the importance of sponsorship money and said that the issue of ] had been raised with such sponsors.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9385751/IOC-chief-Jacques-Rogge-admits-question-mark-over-McDonalds-and-Coca-Cola-sponsoring-Olympics.html |title=IOC chief Jacques Rogge admits 'question mark' over McDonald's and Coca-Cola sponsoring Olympics |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 July 2012 |location =London}}</ref> McDonald's and Coca-Cola also defended their involvement, stating that healthy eating was the responsibility of the individual to make their own purchasing choices.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/mcdonalds-coke-defend-olympic-choice/4002621.article |title=McDonald's, Coke defend Olympic choice |last=O'Reilly |first=Lara |newspaper=Marketing Week |date=10 July 2012 |location =London}}</ref> LOCOG's policy for food provision stated a number of aims including diversity, hygiene, health and nutrition and ].<ref name="logoc-food">{{cite web|title=LOCOG food vision|url=http://www.london2012.com/about-us/sustainability/food-vision/|work=London2012 website|publisher=LOCOG|access-date=23 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720191254/http://www.london2012.com/about-us/sustainability/food-vision/|archive-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Payment services==== | |||
The sponsors were defended on the grounds that they provide a significant income for the event.<ref name=Coombes/> ], President of the IOC, acknowledged concerns but noted the importance of sponsorship money and said that the issue of obesity had been raised with such sponsors.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9385751/IOC-chief-Jacques-Rogge-admits-question-mark-over-McDonalds-and-Coca-Cola-sponsoring-Olympics.html |title=IOC chief Jacques Rogge admits 'question mark' over McDonald's and Coca-Cola sponsoring Olympics |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 July 2012 |location =London}}</ref> McDonald's and Coca-Cola also defended their involvement, stating that healthy eating was the responsibility of the individual to make their own purchasing choices.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/mcdonalds-coke-defend-olympic-choice/4002621.article |title=McDonald's, Coke defend Olympic choice |author=O'Reilly, Lara |newspaper=Marketing Week |date=10 July 2012 |location =London}}</ref> Locog's policy for food provision states a number of aims including diversity, hygiene, health and nutrition and ].<ref name=logoc-food>{{cite web|title=LOCOG food vision|url=http://www.london2012.com/about-us/sustainability/food-vision/|work=London2012 website|publisher=LOCOG|accessdate=23 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
Electronic payment services for Olympic ticketing and in Olympic venues were provided exclusively by ] under the terms of their global sponsorship deal with the IOC. This led to criticism during ticket sales before the Games<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10394970 |title=Olympics 2012: Fans must use Visa for tickets|date=24 June 2010 |accessdate=12 August 2012 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and to complaints of unreliability of payment systems and a shortage of ] (particularly for cardholders of cards other than those provided by Visa) to obtain cash at Olympic venues during the Games.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/banking/9440281/Olympic-venues-have-just-eight-cash-machines-for-11-million-spectators.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731235441/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/banking/9440281/Olympic-venues-have-just-eight-cash-machines-for-11-million-spectators.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2012 |title=Olympic venues have just eight cash machines for 11 million spectators |date=31 July 2012 |accessdate=12 August 2012 | newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Emma |last=Wall}}</ref> | |||
===Security=== | ===Security=== | ||
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====Air defence sites==== | ====Air defence sites==== | ||
The decision by the ] to station ]s on top of the Lexington building, a residential ] in ], was challenged in court on 10 July by residents of |
The decision by the ] to station soldiers armed with ] ]s on top of the Lexington building, a residential ] in ], was challenged in court on 10 July by residents of Fred Wigg Tower, another tower in ], east London, where missiles were to be sited, under Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ], over concerns the missiles made them a terrorist target. The judgement from Mr Justice Haddon-Cave was in favour of the siting of the missiles on Fred Wigg Tower. He stated in his judgment: {{cquote|Residents were under something of a misapprehension regarding the equipment and risks.... The MoD's voluntary engagement with the community over the plans was immaculate and the residents who challenged the missile sites had misunderstood the facts.<ref name="guardian-olympic-missiles"/><ref name="bbc-missiles"/><ref name="BBC-olympic-missiles-judgement"/> | ||
}} | |||
David Enright, the solicitor representing the residents said after the judgement: | |||
{{cquote|The clear implication of today's judgement is that the Ministry of Defence now has the power to militarise the private homes of any person.<ref name="guardian-olympic-missiles">{{cite news | |||
|url= |
|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/apr/29/london-rooftops-missiles-olympic-games | ||
|title= London rooftops to carry missiles during Olympic Games |last=Booth |first=Robert | |title= London rooftops to carry missiles during Olympic Games |last=Booth |first=Robert | ||
|newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 April 2012 |location =London |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=bbc-missiles>{{cite news|title=London 2012: Olympic missile tenants in terrorist fear|url= |
|newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 April 2012 |location =London |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="bbc-missiles">{{cite news|title=London 2012: Olympic missile tenants in terrorist fear|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18765062|accessdate=26 July 2012|date=9 July 2012|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="BBC-olympic-missiles-judgement">{{cite news | ||
|url= |
|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18778723|title=London 2012: Missile tenants lose legal ruling|work=BBC News |date=10 July 2012 |location =London |accessdate=26 July 2012}}</ref> | ||
}} | |||
====Security guard shortage==== | ====Security guard shortage==== | ||
In July 2012 the private security firm ], which had been contracted to supply security personnel for the Olympics, revealed that it had failed to recruit and train enough staff for the Games. The shortfall was made up by deploying 3,500 troops of ]. Reports in the media claimed some recruits were not able to speak adequate English.<ref name=nyt120714>{{cite news | url = |
In July 2012 the private security firm ], which had been contracted to supply security personnel for the Olympics, revealed that it had failed to recruit and train enough staff for the Games. The shortfall was made up by deploying 3,500 troops of ]. Reports in the media claimed some recruits were not able to speak adequate English.<ref name=nyt120714>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sports/olympics/major-trepidation-over-olympic-security.html?pagewanted=all | title = Amid Reports of Ineptitude, Concerns Over Security at London Olympics | first = John F. | last = Burns | work = ] | date = 14 July 2012 }}</ref><ref name=tel120714>{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9399841/Olympics-I-dont-know-if-guards-speak-English-says-G4S-chief.html | title = Olympics: 'I don't know if guards speak English', says G4S chief | first = Laura | last= Donnelly | work = ] | date = 14 July 2012 | location=London}}</ref> An inquiry was held by the ] into the issue and a report issued said that G4S "must bear the cost of its Olympic failure".<ref name=parliament>{{cite news | url = http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/news/120921-olympics-rpt-published/ | title = G4S must bear the cost of its Olympic failure, say MPs in new report | work = The House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee | date = 21 September 2012 }}</ref> | ||
===Nationality issues=== | ===Nationality issues=== | ||
====Falkland Islands dispute==== | ====Falkland Islands dispute==== | ||
{{See also|Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute}} | |||
On 2 May 2012, in regards to the ], on the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the Argentine ship ],<ref name="bbc arg-fal">{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17948710 |title=Argentina's 'Falklands Olympics' advert sparks row |work=BBC News |date=3 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> Argentina released an advertising film depicting the captain of Argentina's ], ], training in ], under the slogan "To compete on British soil, we train on Argentine soil."<ref name="guardian arg-fal">{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2012/may/04/argentinian-falkland-islands-advertisement-video?newsfeed=true |title=Argentinian Olympic advert depicts Falkland Islands as 'Argentine soil' |work=The Guardian |location =London |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> The film was criticised by the ], ], as "tasteless",<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17946838 |title=UK criticises 'tasteless' Falklands Olympic ad |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> to which President of Argentina ] replied that "not respecting the UN is what is really offensive".<ref>{{cite news |title=Cristina defendió el spot sobre Malvinas |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1471398-cristina-defendio-el-spot-sobre-malvinas |newspaper=La Nación |location=Buenos Aires |date=8 May 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2012 |language=Spanish |trans_title=Cristina defended the film on the Falklands |quote="Agraviante es no respetar a la ONU", afirmó la Presidenta en respuesta a un ministro inglés}}</ref> An IOC statement said "the games should not be part of a political platform",<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/05/4468415/falklands-ad-runs-again-despite.html |title=Falklands ad runs again despite IOC concerns | work=Sacramento Bee |location =California |agency=Associated Press |date=5 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012 |author=Wade, Stephen}}</ref> while Argentine Olympic Committee President ] stated that "the Olympic Games cannot be used to make political gestures".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/youth_olympic_bids/youth_summer_olympics_2018/1216136180.html |title=Argentine NOC Statement On Controversial Ads |publisher=Gamesbids.com |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref> Zylberberg was not selected for the Argentine hockey squad, which went on to lose to Great Britain, 4-1 in their Preliminary Round Group A match.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/hockey/16921-argentine-hockey-player-featured-in-controversial-falklands-advert-dropped-from-squad-ahead-of-olympics |title=Argentine hockey player featured in controversial Falklands advert dropped from squad ahead of Olympics |publisher=Insidethegames.biz |date=13 May 2012 |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref> | |||
On 2 May 2012, on the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the Argentine cruiser ],<ref name="bbc arg-fal">{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17948710 |title=Argentina's 'Falklands Olympics' advert sparks row |work=BBC News |date=3 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> an advertising film depicting the captain of Argentina's ], ], training in ], was broadcast in Argentina under the slogan "To compete on British soil, we train on Argentine soil."<ref name="guardian arg-fal">{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/video/2012/may/04/argentinian-falkland-islands-advertisement-video?newsfeed=true |title=Argentinian Olympic advert depicts Falkland Islands as 'Argentine soil' |work=The Guardian |location =London |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> While it was claimed by several major Argentine newspapers that the film had not been commissioned by the Argentine government, with it being produced by the local office of the ] advertising agency, the rights to it were purchased by the ] for national broadcast.<ref name="tasteless">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17946838 |title=UK criticises 'tasteless' Falklands Olympic ad |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=4 May 2012 |website=BBC News |accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref> An IOC statement said "the games should not be part of a political platform",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/05/4468415/falklands-ad-runs-again-despite.html |title=Falklands ad runs again despite IOC concerns |work=Sacramento Bee |location=California |agency=Associated Press |date=5 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012 |last=Wade |first=Stephen }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> while Argentine Olympic Committee President ] stated that "the Olympic Games cannot be used to make political gestures".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/youth_olympic_bids/youth_summer_olympics_2018/1216136180.html |title=Argentine NOC Statement on Controversial Ads |publisher=Gamesbids.com |access-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716062444/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/youth_olympic_bids/youth_summer_olympics_2018/1216136180.html |archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> Zylberberg stated that he had been unaware that the film would be used as a political advert.<ref name="tasteless" /> He subsequently was not selected for the Argentine hockey squad.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/hockey/16921-argentine-hockey-player-featured-in-controversial-falklands-advert-dropped-from-squad-ahead-of-olympics |title=Argentine hockey player featured in controversial Falklands advert dropped from squad ahead of Olympics |publisher=Insidethegames.biz |date=13 May 2012 |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Regent Street flags display==== | ====Regent Street flags display==== | ||
] suspended alongside the national flags of Syria and Switzerland in ]]] | |||
As part of the build up to the Games, the flags of all competing nations were suspended over streets in a display around the ] by the Regent Street Association (RSA). Included in this was the ].<ref name="Taipei Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/07/26/2003538672 |title=Mystery shrouds removal of ROC flag in London |publisher=Taipei Times|date=2012-07-26 |accessdate=2012-07-30}}</ref> Since 1981, the Republic of China has not been permitted to compete at the Olympics under its own name, instead using the name "]", together with the ] of the ], which is not Taiwan's national flag.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} In all official Olympic events and publications, the name and symbols of Chinese Taipei must be used. The flag display was not connected to ], and not subject to Olympic branding rules. Officials from the ] made a complaint to the ] (FCO) about the display of national flag of the Republic of China. The FCO advised the RSA to replace the national Flag of the Republic of China with the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/london-2012-olympics-foreign-office-takes-over-in-row-after-taiwan-flag-on-regent-street-is-taken-down-7978396.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: Foreign office takes over in row after Taiwan flag on Regent Street is taken down |publisher=Evening Standard|date=2012-07-26 |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> The removal of the national flag led to an official complaint from the Republic of China, with the ], ], writing to the RSA stating the view that "the nomenclature regarding Taiwan’s participation in the Olympics shall not be applied to the display of the flags in the street", and that matters like this fall "within the scope of freedom of speech” and “shall not be subject to interference by a third party".<ref name="Taipei Times"/> | |||
As part of the buildup to the Games, the flags of all competing nations were suspended over streets in a display around the ] by the Regent Street Association (RSA). Included in this was the ], the official name of ].<ref name="Taipei Times">{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/07/26/2003538672 |title=Mystery shrouds removal of ROC flag in London |newspaper=Taipei Times|date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=30 July 2012}}</ref> Since 1981, the Republic of China (ROC) has not been permitted to compete at the Olympics under its own name, instead using the name "]", together with the ] of the ], which is not Taiwan's national flag. In all official Olympic events and publications, the name and symbols of Chinese Taipei must be used. As the flag display was not connected to ], it was not subject to Olympic branding rules. However, officials from the ] made a complaint to the ] (FCO) about the display of the ROC flag, following which the FCO advised the RSA to replace the ROC flag with the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/london-2012-olympics-foreign-office-takes-over-in-row-after-taiwan-flag-on-regent-street-is-taken-down-7978396.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: Foreign office takes over in row after Taiwan flag on Regent Street is taken down |newspaper=London Evening Standard|date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=27 July 2012}}</ref> The removal of the national flag led to an official complaint from the Republic of China, with the ], Shen Lyu-shun, writing to the RSA stating the view that "the nomenclature regarding Taiwan's participation in the Olympics shall not be applied to the display of the flags in the street", and that matters like this fall "within the scope of freedom of speech" and "shall not be subject to interference by a third party".<ref name="Taipei Times"/> | |||
==== |
====Competitors' birthplaces in biographies==== | ||
A complaint by the ] was made about the biographies of Russian Olympic team members posted on the official London 2012 |
A complaint by the ] was made about the biographies of Russian Olympic team members posted on the official London 2012 Games' website. The biographies referred to the athletes' Ukrainian birthplaces as being located in Russia.<ref name="kyiv_post">{{cite news|title=Russia 'Annexes' Ukraine |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/russia-annexes-ukraine.html|work=]|accessdate=28 July 2012|date=26 July 2012|last1=Parusinski|first1=Jakub |last2=Rachkevych|first2=Mark |last3=Onyshkiv|first3=Yuriy }}</ref> Thirty athletes that were identified as not being born in Russia had incorrect birthplace references. Georgia's Olympic Committee had also complained and asked for corrections to be made.<ref name="kyiv_post"/> Examples included wrestler ]'s birthplace in ], ], Boxer ] born in ], the capital of ], and weightlifter ] from ] in ].<ref name="kyiv_post"/> Izabella Siemicks, a LOCOG spokesperson, claimed the original biographical information had been provided by the National Olympic Committees.<ref name="kyiv_post"/> LOCOG also apologised for an error in the official match programme for ]'s first game in the ], mistakenly describing Welsh team member ] as being English.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18997930 |title=London 2012: Wales' Joe Allen listed as English by Team GB |work=BBC Sport |date=27 July 2012 |accessdate=31 July 2012}}</ref> | ||
====Female athletes from all NOCs==== | |||
===World events=== | |||
After the ], ], ] and ] were the only three NOCs that had never sent a female participant. They were put under pressure to include female athletes in their teams. All three NOCs sent female athletes to the 2012 Summer Olympics, with both Brunei and Qatar selecting female ] at the Opening Ceremony. Saudi Arabia was the last NOC to select a female competitor. On 3 August 2012, the Bruneian athlete ] took part in the Women's 400 metres heats and ensured that all current NOCs had at least one female participant at the Olympics.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/11/london-2012-saudi-arabia-female-athletes|title=London 2012: IOC in talks with Saudi Arabia over female athletes | theguardian.com|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2014-02-13|date=11 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="alarabiya">{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/13/232068.html|title=articles/2012/08/13/232068|publisher=Al Arabiya|access-date=2014-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328201452/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/13/232068.html|archive-date=28 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-xpm-2012-jul-30-la-sp-oly-muslim-20120730-story.html|title=London Olympics: Women from three Muslim countries are pioneers|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2014-02-13|first=David|last=Wharton|date=30 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Bahraini uprising==== | |||
In June 2012, the Berlin-based ] (ECCHR) urged British authorities to ban the president of the ], ] from entering the UK during the games. Prince Nasser, son of ]'s ] and the commander of the ] has been accused of ] during the ].<ref name=guardian>{{cite news |last=Black |first=Ian |title=Britain urged to ban royal head of Bahrain Olympic committee |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/20/bahrain-olympic-prince-human-rights |newspaper=The Guardian |location =London |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> The ECCHR claimed that Prince Nasser launched "a punitive campaign to repress Bahraini athletes who had demonstrated their support (for) the peaceful ]". It said that, following his directive, "more than 150 professional athletes, coaches and referees were subjected to arbitrary arrests, night raids, detention, abuse and torture by electric cables and other means".<ref name=guardian/> The call to ban Prince Nasser from entering the UK was supported by global activist group ],<ref>{{cite web|title=Prevent Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa of Bahrain from attending the London Olympics 2012 |url= http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/To_Prevent_Sheikh_Nasser_bin_Hamad_alKhalifa_of_Bahrain_from_attending_the_London_Olympics_2012/ |publisher=] |accessdate=30 June 2012}}</ref> and British Member of Parliament ], who warned that he would attempt to make a ] of the prince if he comes to London.<ref>{{cite episode | |||
| title = George Galloway's message to Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain | |||
| url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdo9RtmTDd8 | |||
| series = Comment | |||
| credits = Presenter: ] | |||
| station = ] | |||
| city = London | |||
| airdate = 28 June 2012}}</ref> | |||
==== |
====Opening ceremony Munich memorial==== | ||
{{main|2012 Olympics one minute of silence campaign}} | |||
According to media reports, General Mowaffak Joumaa, the head of the ], was refused an entry visa to the UK for the games due to his links to Syrian President ]'s regime, which had by the time of the games and since March 2011, been fighting a ]. The UK Home Office would not confirm this due to a policy of not commenting on individual cases, although the deputy Prime Minister ] had previously stated that officials with connections to the Assad regime would be prevented from attending the games. In anticipation of just such a ban, Joumaa had said in April 2012 that "Once I am blacklisted, it would be an honor for me to be one of the citizens who were banned from entering Britain because of their country's dignity and freedom".<ref></ref> Prime Minister ] pledged that athletes would not be punished "for the sins of the regime", and the ] duly sent ten athletes to compete in seven sports. | |||
As they had done prior to every Olympic Games since 1976, the remaining widows of the 11 Israeli athletes ] ] at the ] in ] ] during the ]. The proposal was rejected by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who stated that his "hands were tied" by votes from 46 Arab and Muslim members admitted to the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157926#.UBK_ACPRx3M |title=Muslims Barred IOC from Honoring Murdered Israelis – Global Agenda |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=17 July 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
=== |
===Logo=== | ||
The design for the event logo was met with negative response. An advertisement featuring the logo being displayed in all of its colours was reported by ] to have caused many people to experience ]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6724245.stm|title=Epilepsy fears over 2012 footage|date=2007-06-05|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> | |||
====Criminal damage arrests==== | |||
], a ] who had been commissioned by ] to produce artwork for the ], was arrested by the ] and banned from Olympic venues and from travelling by train and Underground for a period of six months for alleged "incitement to commit ]". His arrest was criticised by human rights campaigners.<ref name=bbc-july-2012>{{cite news|title=London 2012: Outrage over artist banned from Olympics|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18927228|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=20 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Graffiti artist who worked for Adidas is banned from Olympic Games venues|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/jul/18/graffiti-artist-adidas-banned-olympic|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 July 2012|author=Esther Addley|author2=Sandra Laville|author3=Ben Quinn}}</ref> | |||
In 2011, Iran lodged a formal complaint with the ] after they claimed that the logo spelt the word ']'.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 February 2011|title=Iran: London 2012 Olympics Logo Is Racist, Spells Out 'Zion'|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/iran-london-2012-olympics-logo-racist_n_829179|access-date=24 December 2021|first=Ali Akbar |last=Dareini|website=]|url-status=live|archive-date=28 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628095837/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/iran-london-2012-olympics-logo-racist_n_829179}}</ref> The complaint was dismissed by the president of the IOC, ], who said that the complaint "can't be serious."<ref>{{cite news|date=1 March 2011|title=Jacques Rogge dismisses claims 2012 logo is 'racist' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/9410046.stm|website=BBC Sport |access-date=24 December 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306141947/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/9410046.stm}}</ref> | |||
In the week before the Games began, a group of political activists in the GreenWash Gold 2012 group taking part in a ] protest in ] against the choice of Olympic sponsors were arrested by ] on a charge of ]; according to reports, during their act they spilled ] on the paving stones which the police assumed to be paint. The police action was criticised by Meredith Alexander, a former member of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012.<ref name=guardian-custard>{{cite news|last=Laville|first=Sandra|title=Police arrested actors for spilling custard, say Olympic protesters|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/20/police-arrested-actors-olympic-custard|newspaper=The Guardian|accessdate=26 July 2012|date=20 July 2012}}</ref>{{weight|date=July 2012}} | |||
==During the games== | |||
====Great Britain in football==== | |||
===Tape delays=== | |||
The reactivation of the ], which had not played since 1972, and not appeared at an actual games since 1960 (plus the creation of a ] for the first time), was seen as controversial by many in the country due to the fact that in ], the UK's four ] normally compete with their own respective teams: ], ], ] and ].<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Owen|title=Sports minister wants GB football team at Olympics after London 2012|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/25/sports-minister-gb-football-team-olympics|newspaper=Guardian|date=25 April 2012}}</ref> Despite reassurances from the world football governing body ], the ], ] and ] national football associations declined to take part in organising the team, fearing it would threaten their independence on the world stage. This left the English ] as organisers of the GB team for London 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/7785935.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Olympics | GB football team gets Fifa assent |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-12-20 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=13:06 GMT |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/15382675 |title=BBC Sport - London 2012: Stuart Pearce and Hope Powell to lead GB teams |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-10-20 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> The other associations were not ultimately allowed to block their players from being selected; players sent to the games comprised both English and Welsh players in the men's squad and English and Scottish in the women's.<ref>{{cite web|last=Idessane |first=Kheredine |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18653453 |title=BBC Sport - London 2012: No Scotland or N Ireland in Olympic football squad |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-06-29 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18592483 |title=BBC Sport - Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-06-26 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> Suggestions that the reactivation should be permanent have been supported in principle by the ], but the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Football Associations have expressed opposition.<ref name="Gibson"/> Participation in future Olympics would complicated by the fact that the qualification route is through the ], in which the home nations already compete separately (as hosts for 2012, GB did not need to qualify for the 2012 games). | |||
{{See also|Olympics on NBC#Criticism}} | |||
], ], and ] were criticised by their viewers for tape delaying the Olympics and making questionable editorial decisions and complicated viewing schemes.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NBC fail shows network's commitment to 'the last great buggy-whip Olympics' |last=Moore |first=Heidi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/30/nbc-fail-buggy-whip-olympics?CMP=twt_gu |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 July 2012 |accessdate=30 July 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref name="Channel9Awful">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2012/08/13/3566575.htm |title=Australia's best and worst Olympic coverage gives glimpse of future broadcasting |website=] |date=13 August 2012 |accessdate=20 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="DeadspinNewsWrapup">{{cite web |url=http://deadspin.com/5934217/canada-is-the-new-uganda-wrapping-up-the-olympics-with-the-foreign-news-bob-costas-plum-forgot-about?comment=51813877 |title=Canada Is The New Uganda: Wrapping Up The Olympics with the Foreign News Bob Costas Plum Forgot About |accessdate=20 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10826600 |title=Complaints flow for Prime's closing coverage – Entertainment – NZ Herald News |work=The New Zealand Herald |date= 13 August 2012|accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
===Opening ceremony=== | |||
Issues over the team continued into the games itself; Scottish female player ] was criticised for choosing not to sing the British national anthem "]" on the grounds she was Scottish, and games organisers ] had to apologise after an error in the official match programme for the first game mistakenly described Welsh player ] as being English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18997930 |title=BBC Sport - London 2012: Wales' Joe Allen listed as English by Team GB |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-27 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/in-brief/5470-controversy-as-team-gb-scots-refuse-to-sing-god-save-the-queen |title=Controversy as team GB Scots refuse to sing God Save the Queen |publisher=Newsnetscotland.com |date=2012-07-27 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref name=telegraph-anthem>{{cite news|last=Silverman|first=Rosa|title=London 2012 Olympics: Team GB athletes in National Anthem singing row|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9431100/London-2012-Olympics-Team-GB-athletes-in-National-Anthem-singing-row.html|accessdate=31 July 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=27 Jul 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Parade of Nations Gatecrasher==== | |||
An unknown woman gatecrashed in civilian attire and was seen walking at the head of the Indian Olympic team's march past during the Parade of Nations. Her presence attracted media attention throughout India and raised questions about security at the Olympic Games. The woman was subsequently identified as Madhura Nagendra, a graduate student from ] living in London and a dancer in a segment of the opening ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jill |last=Lawless |date=29 July 2012 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/29/indian-team-opening-ceremony-woman-olympics_n_1715733.html |title=India's Olympic Team Abuzz About Woman From London Olympics Opening Ceremony |work=HuffPost |accessdate=30 July 2012}}</ref> On 31 July 2012, LOCOG issued an apology to the Indian contingent over the incident.<ref>{{cite web|title=Olympics organising committee apologises for Madhura incident|url=http://www.firstpost.com/olympics/olympics-organising-committee-apologises-for-madhura-incident-397759.html|publisher=Firstpost.com|accessdate=4 August 2012|date=31 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
=== |
===Organisational issues=== | ||
====Empty seats==== | |||
In February 2012, the housing charity ] alleged reports of landlords in east London raising rents or writing clauses into new rental contracts so tenants must be away during the Olympics, but as of 2 February 2012 the ] said it had no evidence of the practice.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tenants priced out of their homes by Olympics as landlords cash in |first=Fred |last=Attewill |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/olympics/889260-tenants-priced-out-of-their-homes-by-olympics-as-landlords-cash-in |newspaper=Metro |location =London |date=2 February 2012 |accessdate=25 March 2012}}</ref> However, an 8 May news report by the BBC noted that Shelter had seen "more evidence of landlords acting unscrupulously and evicting people illegally. One estate agent said properties typically rented for £350 per week were being marketed for £6,000 per week." The BBC report noted that, "The potential profits are leading to some private landlords telling their tenants they have to leave their homes, with little notice."<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17986383 |title=Landlords 'Evicting Tenants' to Make Olympic Profit |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2012}}</ref> | |||
Empty seats at Olympic events were reported during the first two days of the games. Although events were reported to be sold out, many empty seats were observed in highly visible areas at multiple venues. Sebastian Coe, the Head of LOCOG, stated in a press conference on 29 July that the seats were reserved for "the Olympic family and sponsors" and that the events were otherwise "stuffed to the gunwales". The empty seats were also from NOCs which had not used up the entire allocation and had not returned the unallocated tickets. Coe stated that LOCOG would investigate the claims of empty seats.<ref name=tickets2012>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Andrew |title=Lord Coe claims Olympic venues are 'stuffed to the gunwales' |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/lord-coe-claims-olympic-venues-are-stuffed-to-the-gunwales-7985625.html |accessdate=30 July 2012|newspaper=The Independent |location =London |date=30 July 2012}}</ref> The claim that the seats were allocated to sponsors led to denials from sponsors, with British Airways stating they had returned tickets it could not distribute, and McDonald's stating that all their tickets were being used.<ref name=Sponsors>{{cite news |title=Q&A on why seats at Olympic venues are empty |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19037625 |work=BBC News|accessdate=30 July 2012|date=29 July 2012}}</ref> LOCOG was able to recover some "VIP" seats that would not be used and made them available for sale. On 31 July, for example, tickets to 3,800 reclaimed seats were put on sale to the public.<ref>{{cite news |agency=] |title=Extra tickets on sale |work=] |date=2 August 2012 |page=18}}</ref> | |||
The distribution of tickets was divided in the following proportions: 75% were sold to the general public, 12% went to the National Committees of participating countries for sale in their countries, 8% were for sponsors, and 5% were for the "Olympic family" (including the IOC and national Olympic organizations).<ref name=focus>{{cite news| url=http://www.focus.de/sport/olympia-2012/tid-26751/leere-stadien-bei-olympia-2012-in-london-der-gastgeber-bleibt-draussen_aid_791773.html| first=Axel |last=Wolfsgruber |title=Der Gastgeber bleibt draussen.| work=] |language=German| date=1 August 2012}}</ref> It was said to be hard to anticipate if tickets given to various sponsors and Olympic officials would actually be used, and it was also difficult to reenter them into circulation at the last minute.<ref name=focus/> | |||
====Strike threats==== | |||
In a dispute over bonuses for working during the Olympics, the ] organised an initial bus strike on 22 June affecting 17 ], the first in London in decades, halted two thirds of services for 24 hours. Further strikes during the games were also threatened.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Edwards |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18544552 |title=BBC News - London bus workers' strike in Olympics pay row ends |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-06-23 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> In another dispute about Olympic bonuses, at the beginning of July the ] also balloted members at ], ] and ], threatening strike action coinciding with the opening ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dick Murray, Transport Correspondent |url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/rail-company-defies-strike-threat-and-says-no-to-olympics-bonus-7903158.html |title=Rail company defies strike threat and says NO to Olympics bonus - Transport - News - Evening Standard |publisher=Standard.co.uk |date=2012-07-02 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
The First Great Western ballot was called off after a deal was announced on 12 July.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Marc |url=http://www.rail.co/2012/07/12/first-great-western-strike-ballot-called-off/ |title=First Great Western strike ballot called off - Rail News from |publisher=rail.co |date= |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> The bus dispute ended on 18 July, after a deal was also agreed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/905578-london-bus-workers-call-off-strike-after-accepting-577-olympic-bonus |title=London bus workers call off strike after accepting £577 Olympic bonus |publisher=Metro.co.uk |date=2012-07-25 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> The strike at SWT was called off on 23 July, but members voted to take other action in the form of ] through the games period, with SWT claiming it would not affect services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18951715 |title=BBC News - South West Trains staff in Olympics industrial action |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-23 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> The Greater Anglia strike ballot was postponed on 23 July until after the games, said by the union to be due to the threat of legal action from the train operator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.halsteadgazette.co.uk/news/9832177.Essex__End_to_Olympic_rail_strike_fears_as_vote_is_postponed/ |title=Essex: End to Olympic rail strike fears as vote is postponed (From Halstead Gazette) |publisher=Halsteadgazette.co.uk |date=2012-07-23 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
====Non-public archery event==== | |||
A planned strike by the ] union which would have affected ] services for three days during the games, attracted criticism and even sattire by American comedian ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18997483 |title=BBC News - Jon Stewart East Midlands Trains sketch was 'a bit of fun' |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-26 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> It was called off on 26 July after a deal was reached.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19003940 |title=BBC News - East Midlands Trains drivers call off Olympic train strike |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-26 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> The union denied that the strike had been planned deliberately to coincide with the Olympics, claiming it had been a long running dispute unrelated to Olympics bonuses.<ref>{{cite web|author=max 4000 characters |url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16589781-detail/story.html |title=Train union boss 'received death threats over East Midlands strike' |publisher=This is Nottingham |date=2012-07-25 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
On Friday, 27 July, the same day as the opening ceremony, but after the first sporting events outside London had started (in football), there was confusion and disappointment in some Olympic fans when they were denied access to what they thought was the first competition event in London. They had misunderstood the use by LOCOG of the phrase "non-ticketed" to mean that an archery qualification round at ] was going to be open to the public for free, in a similar fashion to some other events like the road bike races or marathon. In addition, some had been sold fake tickets for the event by an illegal website. LOCOG stated "Tickets have not been advertised or sold by LOCOG for the archery ranking event...We have always made it clear that the preliminary rounds are not open for spectators. There are a number of unofficial websites claiming to sell tickets; we therefore advise people to be extremely cautious and vigilant when attempting to buy tickets and only purchase from an official source".<ref>{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Lizzy|title=Olympic archery fans feel duped after being shut out of event|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/27/olympic-archery-spectators-turned-away|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 July 2012|location=London}}</ref> | |||
====Confusion of North Korea's and South Korea's flags==== | |||
On 18 July the ] voted in favour of strike or other industrial action over the issue of job losses at the ]. It threatened to disrupt the games as immigration and border staff would be involved, leading Prime Minister ] to call it wrong and unjustified.<ref></ref> The strike was eventually called off on 25 July, 45 minutes before a court hearing over the ballot's legality brought by the government, with ministers and the union disagreeing over the reasons for why it was called off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18973127 |title=BBC News - PCS union calls off pre-Olympics border staff strike |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-25 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
During the ] on the first day, 25 July, the ] was mistakenly displayed on the electronic display in ] instead of that of ]. The North Korean team walked off the ] in protest at seeing the South Korean flag displayed by their names and refused to warm up whilst the flag was being displayed. The match between North Korea and Colombia was delayed by a little over an hour; the game then commenced after rectification of the error.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/112456-olympic-blunder-sees-north-korea-refuse-to-play-after-wrong-flag-raised/ |title=Hampden Olympic blunder sees North Korea delay game after wrong flag raised |last=Stuart |first=Gavin |publisher=STV |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=25 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727024517/http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/112456-olympic-blunder-sees-north-korea-refuse-to-play-after-wrong-flag-raised/ |archive-date=27 July 2012}}</ref> LOCOG apologised for the error and said they would make efforts to ensure such a mishap did not recur;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/olympics-organisers-sorry-over-north-korea-flag-mix-up |title=London 2012 'sorry' over North Korea flag mix-up |publisher=Channel 4 News |accessdate=26 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="bowater1">{{cite news |title=North Korea women footballers protest over flag gaffe|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9427788/North-Korea-women-footballers-protest-over-flag-gaffe.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=25 July 2012|location=London|first=Donna|last=Bowater|date=25 July 2012}}</ref> however, the organising committee's statement had to be reissued because it failed to use the nations' official titles (as used by the IOC) "Republic of Korea" and "Democratic People's Republic of Korea".<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Olympics in flap over North Korean flag fiasco |newspaper=Japan Times |date=27 July 2012 |page=4}}</ref> | |||
=== |
===Competition issues=== | ||
====Men's 100 metres final==== | |||
{{POV|date=July 2012}} | |||
Just before the start of the ], a spectator threw a plastic bottle into ]'s lane, intended to hit ] who was three lanes outside in Lane 7. The race was unaffected, and Bolt would go on to become the second man in history to defend a 100m Olympic title. The spectator, later identified as Ashley Gill-Webb, was soon arrested after he was struck on the head by Dutch ]ka and bronze medalist ], whom he happened to be sitting next to.<ref>{{cite news|title=Man who threw bottle during men's 100 meters arrested for 'creating a public nuisance'|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--man-who-threw-bottle-during-men-s-100-meters-arrested-for--creating-a-public-nuisance-.html|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=5 August 2012|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=26 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726040958/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--man-who-threw-bottle-during-men-s-100-meters-arrested-for--creating-a-public-nuisance-.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hit"/> LOCOG Chairman ] later stated: "I'm not suggesting ] but it was actually poetic justice that they happened to be sitting next to a judo player".<ref name="hit">{{cite news|title=Dutch judo star 'hit bottle-thrower' in Olympic 100m final|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19149278|work=BBC News|date=6 August 2012|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917171504/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19149278|url-status=live}}</ref> Gill-Webb later pleaded not guilty to a charge of using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Stratford Magistrates' Court.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic 100m bottle throw: Man denies public order charge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19145035|work=BBC News|date=6 August 2012|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917171505/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19145035|url-status=live}}</ref> He was later found guilty.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic 100m final bottle thrower Ashley Gill-Webb guilty|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20985225|work=BBC News|access-date=11 January 2013|date=11 January 2013|archive-date=11 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111183711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20985225|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The 48 kilometres of designated "Games Lanes" on London thoroughfares to be used between 6:00 and midnight by athletes, officials, journalists, emergency services, and sponsors were blamed for causing traffic jams. Londoners were advised to use public transportation to get to work, but on 25 July significant delays were experienced due to electrical and signal problems on the ] and ] ] lines. The new River Thames cable car froze for half an hour on the same day, stranding passengers above the river. | |||
====Men's cycling team sprint==== | |||
London taxi drivers protested that the traffic problems hampered their services to paying passengers trying to travel around the city.<ref>{{cite web|author=2012-6-27-19-30-00 |url=http://news.yahoo.com/olympic-vip-lanes-baffle-anger-london-drivers-060508684--oly.html |title=Olympic VIP lanes baffle, anger London drivers - Yahoo! News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date=2012-06-27 |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> Lee Osbourne of the ] said: "We're not going to be able to drop passengers where they want to go. Traffic in London is pretty bad as it is, and now passengers are going to suffer with the meter just ticking away. Even on a normal day, driving in London is rarely a smooth experience. For a city of its size, it has surprisingly few highways or wide thoroughfares, which means that most roads have multiple traffic lights and pedestrian crossings." The head of road policy at ] Paul Watters said: "Drivers do have somewhere to go, but it's been a bit confusing. We know it's going to be tricky and difficult, and it's bound to be full of teething problems. We're almost there now so hopefully it will be better." Driving in the lanes could be penalised by up to ]130.<ref>{{cite web|author=AP Jul 25, 2012, 01.20PM IST |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-25/news/32848698_1_road-lanes-bus-lane-special-lanes |title=Olympic VIP lanes baffle, anger London drivers - Economic Times |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> | |||
On 2 August, British cyclist ], during an interview in the mixed zone for media immediately after the race, said that he deliberately crashed in an earlier round because he did not like the start he had. Hindes reaffirmed what he said earlier in a BBC interview shortly after: "I just did it to get the restart. My first wasn’t the greatest so I thought to get the restart." British team later responded by claiming that it was a misunderstanding and comments were lost in translation, citing English was not German-born Hindes' first language. Hindes also retracted his original comments and said he just lost control and fell down.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/cycling/9448399/London-2012-Olympics-Philip-Hindes-crash-sets-up-dash-to-Sir-Chris-Hoys-greatest-victory.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: Philip Hindes crash sets up dash to Sir Chris Hoy's 'greatest' victory |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 August 2012 |first=Brendan |last=Gallagher}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2012/08/03/british-cyclist-crash-purpose-set-restart-mens-sprint/22803/ |title=Did British cyclist crash on purpose to set up a restart in men's sprint? |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=3 August 2012}}</ref> In Team Sprint, cyclists are allowed a restart if they crash or have a mechanical incident. The ] said the result of the qualifying race "was not in question," and the International Olympic Committee said it would not investigate. The French team, which came second, accepted the result, but also suggested team sprint regulation needs to be changed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oly-cycl-ctmspr-day7-rules-idUSBRE8720RM20120803 |title=Cycling: Team sprint rules should change, say French |work=Reuters |date=3 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Men's 66 kg judo judging==== | |||
Concerns over traffic congestion were raised a month before the games when the critical part of the Olympic transport infrastructure, the ], had to be shut for emergency repairs. After a week long closure it reopened on 13 July, in time for the games.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Lawrence |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/m4-reopens-after-repair-work-7941162.html |title=M4 reopens after repair work - Home News - UK |publisher=The Independent |date=2012-07-13 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> It again had to be closed on Monday 30 July, the first Olympic day where commuter traffic would also be on the roads, causing delays and traffic congestion, due to an accident.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hooton |first=Christopher |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/906753-m4-closure-provides-london-with-first-olympic-transport-test |title=David Cameron and Jacques Rogge use public transport at London 2012 |publisher=Metro.co.uk |date=2012-07-23 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
On 29 July in a quarter final match in the ], South Korean ]ka ] received a unanimous 3–0 judging decision that he had beaten Japanese ]. Almost immediately Marius Vizer, chief of the ], intervened and held a meeting with the match referee and two judges. Shortly afterwards the three officials returned to the mat and reversed their original decision by declaring Masashi the 0–3 winner.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3bNS7fgOzpv5yhYWWpsIawrm3HQ?docId=CNG.174be06ad8ee4755308494817ef96f0e.a21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518212607/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3bNS7fgOzpv5yhYWWpsIawrm3HQ?docId=CNG.174be06ad8ee4755308494817ef96f0e.a21|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 May 2013|title= Farcical scenes in Japan-Korea judo quarter final|agency= Agence France-Presse|date=29 July 2012}}</ref> South Korean officials launched an unsuccessful appeal and the result was upheld.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/07/30/2012073001735.html|title= Last-Minute Upset for Korean judoka Cho Jun-ho|date=30 July 2012|newspaper= ]}}</ref> | |||
==== |
====Women's badminton doubles matches==== | ||
A review of two matches in the ] competition played on 31 July was conducted after it appeared that, having already qualified for the knockout stages, players on both sides in each game had been attempting to ] in the quarter-finals. The matches were between China's ] / ] and South Korea's ] / ] in Group A and South Korea's ] / ] versus Indonesia's ] / ] in Group C. After errors began occurring during routine shots in both matches, including shots going long and serves hitting the net, the crowd reacted badly,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072677 |title=Olympics badminton: Eight women disqualified from doubles |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=24 August 2012 |date=1 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/london-olympics-2012/sport/story/163033.html |title=Controversy erupts in 2012 badminton clash |publisher=ESPN |date=31 July 2012}}</ref> and the match between Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli of China and Jung Kyung and Kim Ha Na of South Korea featured no rallies of more than four shots.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1217099/1/.html |title=Olympics: Badminton players charged over 'thrown' matches |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}}</ref> | |||
Continuing an ongoing debate surrounding the status of Jerusalem as the capital of ] and ], the BBC's stance on its website provoked anger from several organisations and individuals, listing East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian territories whilst naming no capital of Israel.<ref> HonestReporting</ref> Following criticism from the Israeli Prime Minister ] and several Olympic athletes, the BBC amended the entries to Seat of Government and Intended Seat of Government respectively, following the international states of recognition. | |||
In the second game, a tournament referee initially issued a black card to disqualify the players but, after the team's coaches argued, this was rescinded; play was allowed to continue while he monitored proceedings. Both the earlier match and this later match were ultimately played to a conclusion, completing the draw for the quarter-finals (Group B and D having concluded earlier in the day). Technical delegate Paisan Rangsikitpho said after the Group A match, "If it's true what I hear, this is a shame and I don't like it. And I'm not going to accept anything that I don't like at all. It's not in a good spirit....I apologise to the public, I apologise for everyone and I am not happy."<ref>{{cite news|last=Ransom|first=Ian|title=Match fixing causes badminton chaos|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/match-fixing-causes-badminton-chaos-220650711--spt.html|accessdate=1 August 2012|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=31 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
Following the amendment, Netanyahu's spokesman ] issued a statement saying that the change was not satisfactory and asking that "Israel’s capital be identified accurately on the website". A BBC spokesperson responded by reaffirming the impartiality of the BBC and asserting that the correction made to the two pages was sufficient.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/israeli-government-athletes-lash-out-at-bbc-for-refusing-to-list-jerusalem-as-nations-capital/ |title=BBC Defends Refusal To List Jerusalem As Israeli Capital In Olympic Coverage; Athletes, Government Angrily Respond |publisher=Mediaite |date= |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
On 1 August 2012, following the review, all eight players were ejected from the tournament by the ], after being found guilty of "not using best efforts" and "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072677 |title=Olympics badminton: Eight women disqualified from doubles |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
==Opening ceremony== | |||
{{See also|2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony}} | |||
====Women's individual épée timing and appeal==== | |||
===Cycling protest arrests=== | |||
]n fencer ] was embroiled in a prolonged controversy at the ExCeL Centre on 30 July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/olympics/2012/07/30/fencing-controversy-forces-south-korean-to-sit-on-piste-for-ages-eventually-costs-her-medal/ |title=Fencing controversy forces South Korean to sit on piste for ages, eventually costs her medal |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> She had appeared to beat her opponent Britta Heidemann,<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Bell |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19057016 |title=Olympics fencing: Tearful Shin A Lam denied chance at gold |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730203233/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19057016 |archive-date=30 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but an issue developed around the timing clock: After Heidemann's last unsuccessful attempt to break the tie, the referee called a "halt" to stop the bout. However, seconds later and despite the bout having been stopped, the clock continued to count down to zero. Since an overtime minute has to be fenced in its entirety, the referee followed ] rule t.32–3<ref>{{cite web | publisher = United States Fencing Association | title = Fencing Rules | url = http://fencingofficials.org/documents/rules/USA%20Fencing%20Rules%20-%20September%202010.pdf | access-date = 3 August 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121213152901/http://www.fencingofficials.org/documents/rules/USA%20Fencing%20Rules%20-%20September%202010.pdf | archive-date = 13 December 2012}}</ref> and addressed this failure of the clock or error by the timekeeper by having the clock reset to one second, the clock's lowest possible setting. When the fencers resumed their positions, Heidemann scored the winning point.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mallon |first=Brian |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/other-events/fencing-south-korean-shin-lam-in-tears-amid-major-london-2012-controversy-7987934.html |title=Fencing: South Korean Shin Lam in tears amid major London 2012 controversy |work=Independent|date=30 April 2012 |accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
The ] arrested 182 cyclists on 27 July<ref>{{cite news|last=Malik|first=Shav|title=Critical Mass arrests: police charge three|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/29/critical-mass-police-arrest-three|newspaper=Guardian|date=29 July 2012}}</ref> who were taking part in a ] protest during the opening ceremony. The cyclists were detained overnight in a garage and on buses. Four cyclists were charged and the remainder were ] with conditions including not entering the Olympic borough of ] on a bicycle, entering "any Olympic-only carriageway" or going within 100 metres of an Olympic venue. The cyclists criticised the police response as heavy-handed. | |||
Shin was required to sit on the ] for almost an hour, often openly sobbing, while her coaches lodged an official complaint, prompting an announcer at the venue to confirm that moving from the piste would have been seen as indicating her acceptance of the ruling against her.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bases |first=Daniel |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-oly-fenc-fewiep-rounds-day3-protest-idUKBRE86U04820120731 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203164724/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-oly-fenc-fewiep-rounds-day3-protest-idUKBRE86U04820120731 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2016 |title=S.Korean Shin misses out on bronze after protest |work=Reuters |date=31 July 2012 |accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> After losing the protest, Shin fought, and lost, against ] of China thirty minutes later in the bronze medal match.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/fencing/events/womens-individual-epee |title=London 2012 Olympics – Women's Individual Epee : Fencing |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
===Munich memorial=== | |||
{{Main|One Minute of Silence}} | |||
As they had done prior to every Olympic Games since 1976, the remaining widows of the 11 Israeli athletes ] ] at the ] in ] campaigned for the IOC to include a ] during the 2012 Opening Ceremony in memory of the victims of the Massacre.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite web|last=Gerstner |first=Joanne C. |url=http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/munich-widows-to-meet-with-rogge-to-urge-moment-of-silence/ |title=Munich Widows' Request for Moment of Silence Is Turned Down - NYTimes.com |publisher=London2012.blogs.nytimes.com |date=2012-07-23 |accessdate=2012-07-28}}</ref> The proposal was rejected by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who stated that his "hands were tied" by votes from 46 Arab and Muslim members admitted to the International Olympic Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157926#.UBK_ACPRx3M |title=Muslims Barred IOC from Honoring Murdered Israelis - Global Agenda - News |publisher=Israel National News |date=2012-07-17 |accessdate=2012-07-28}}</ref> In rejecting the request for a memorial, Rogge noted that the IOC "has paid tribute to the memory of the athletes who tragically died in Munich in 1972 on several occasions and will continue to do so."<ref name=GlobalMontreal>{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Amanda|title=Calls for moment of silence at London 2012 Olympics for Munich massacre victims|url=http://www.globalmontreal.com/6442670935/story.html|work=Global Montreal|date=29 June 2012|accessdate=20 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
Shin was later offered a "special medal" by the ] but was not appeased by the prospect of the award, "It does not make me feel better. It's not an Olympic medal", she said. ] president Park Yung-Sung commented on the offer as saying "they know they are very sorry about her and they have to recognise her sporting spirit".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19073420 |title=Olympics fencing: Shin A Lam offered special medal after protest |work=BBC Sport |date=31 July 2012|accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
The IOC's decision resulted in an international campaign organised by the widows and "volunteers at the ] ]<ref></ref> in suburban New York"<ref>{{cite web|last=Rubin |first=Neil |url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/07/23/3101491/how-the-munich-11-petition-went-viral |title=How the Munich 11 petition went viral | JTA - Jewish & Israel News |publisher=JTA |date=2012-07-23 |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> calling for a moment of silence that collected over 110,000 signatures.<ref>{{cite web|author=Share this signature on Facebook |url=http://www.change.org/petitions/international-olympic-committee-minute-of-silence-at-the-2012-london-olympics |title=Petition | International Olympic Committee: Minute of Silence at the 2012 London Olympics. |publisher=Change.org |date= |accessdate=2012-07-28}}</ref> The campaign garnered international support from a number of world leaders and parliaments. | |||
After this incident, the rules were changed and it is now mandatory for the apparatus to show figures at the hundredths of the second starting from 10 seconds on the clock. | |||
===NBC coverage=== | |||
Criticism was levelled by some American news outlets at ]'s coverage of the ceremony, mainly of the decision to tape-delay its broadcast of the opening and closing ceremonies and not make a live version available even to cable and web users.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC Olympics Opening Ceremony Coverage Criticized For Tape Delay|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony-coverage-tape-delay_n_1710306.html|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=27 July 2012}}</ref> Many US viewers resorted to looking for alternative ways of watching the Olympics aside from NBC (such as the live ] feed for the opening ceremonies),<ref name="Deadspin">{{cite news |title=How To Watch The London Olympics Opening Ceremony Live (And Give The Finger To NBC) |first=Timothy |last=Burke |url=http://deadspin.com/5929680/how-to-watch-the-london-olympics-opening-ceremony-live-and-give-the-finger-to-nbc |work=]|date=27 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> despite both NBC and the IOC vowing to crackdown on such unauthorized streams.<ref name="TF">{{cite news |title=NBC and IOC Ready to Crackdown on Olympic Pirates|first=Ernesto |last= |url=http://torrentfreak.com/nbc-and-ioc-ready-to-crackdown-on-olympic-pirates-120725/ |work=TorrentFreak|date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Women's cycling team sprint==== | |||
More significant criticism was levelled at NBC for cutting to a ] interview with ] during the 'memorial wall' tribute section.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hills |first=David |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/28/london-2012-nbc-opening-ceremony |title=Row after NBC drop opening ceremony '7/7 tribute' |work=] |date=28 July 2012}}</ref> An NBC spokesman said the network left that segment out because its Olympic programming was "tailored for the U.S. audience."<ref>{{cite news |last=Hiestand| first=Michael |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-07-28/NBC-tribute-to-victims-Michael-Phelps/56556494/1 |title=NBC elects to skip tribute to victims at opening ceremony |work=] |date= 28 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
China's ] and ] twice set the world record, in qualifying and the first round, and finished first in the final in 32.619s. However, the team was later disqualified for an alleged "early relay" infringement and relegated to the silver medal, and the second place German team was promoted to gold. The Chinese team's coach ] complained that the judges refused to provide "video footage of the race in slow motion", and only provided a "vague explanation" for the infringement they had allegedly committed.<ref name="chinadaily">{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-08/04/content_15644267.htm |title=China appeals cycling decision |newspaper=China Daily |date=4 August 2012 |accessdate=6 August 2012}}</ref> He went on to proclaim that the Chinese team were "robbed" of a gold medal.<ref name="CBC Sports">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.720/chinese-cycling-coach-says-women-s-sprint-team-robbed-of-gold-1.1199573 |title=Chinese cycling coach says women's sprint team 'robbed' of gold |publisher=CBC Sports |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=16 August 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808191904/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/cycling/story/2012/08/03/sp-olympics-cycling-women-team-sprint-china-disqualification.html |archive-date=8 August 2012 }}</ref> | |||
====Men's boxing officiating==== | |||
There was also criticism of the apparent belief of ] hosts and commentators ] and ] that The Queen in person had jumped out of a helicopter.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |title=The Opening Ceremonies In London: From The Industrial Revolution To Voldemort|first=Linda |last=Holmes |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/07/28/157521409/the-opening-ceremonies-in-london-from-the-industrial-revolution-to-voldemort |work=NPR |date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2012}}</ref> There was also an indication that Vieira did not know who ] was,<ref name="AVClub">{{cite news |title=Review: Olympic opening ceremony|first=Noel |last=Murray |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/olympics-opening-ceremonies,82935/ |work=The AV Club|date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2012}}</ref> stating during commentary to the television audience, "If you haven't heard of him, we haven't either", before co-host ] told the audience to ] the inventor of the World Wide Web.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NBC's opening ceremony mess: the top six cringeworthy moments |last=Harris |first=Paul |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-opening-ceremony-cringeworthy-moments?newsfeed=true |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> These failings were picked up during the NBC broadcast by users of ] with the ] #nbcfail.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NBC fail shows network's commitment to 'the last great buggy-whip Olympics' |last=Moore |first=Heidi |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/30/nbc-fail-buggy-whip-olympics?CMP=twt_gu |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 July 2012 |accessdate=30 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
Referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov was dismissed from the games after the men's 56 kg Round of 16 bout between Japan's ] and Azerbaijan's ]. During the third round of the fight, Abdulhamidov was knocked to the canvas six times. Meretnyyazov failed to issue a ] in any of the six instances.<ref name="nbcolympics">{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/boxing/olympic-boxing-officials-punished-for-controversial-rulings.html |title=Olympic boxing officials punished for controversial rulings |publisher=NBC Olympics |access-date=2 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814203322/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/boxing/olympic-boxing-officials-punished-for-controversial-rulings.html |archive-date=14 August 2012}}</ref> The judges awarded the win to Abdulhamidov; a decision that was later overturned by the ]. The AIBA indicated that the fight should have been stopped and awarded to Shimizu after three knockdowns.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2012/boxing/story/_/id/8226120/2012-london-olympics-boxing-referee-ishanguly-meretnyyazov-expelled-olympics-successful-decision-appeal |title=2012 London Olympics – Boxing referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov expelled from Olympics after successful decision appeal |publisher=ESPN |access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> Before the London Olympics, Azerbaijan had faced controversy regarding a $9 million payment to WSB, and rumors surfaced that Azerbaijan had bribed AIBA for two gold medals during the London 2012 Olympics.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/15033864 | title=IOC chief demands 2012 boxing bribe evidence from BBC}}</ref> | |||
German referee Frank Scharmach was suspended for five days after disqualifying Iran's ] for excessive holding during his bout with Cuba's ].<ref name="nbcolympics" /> | |||
===Parade of Nations security=== | |||
During the ], an unknown woman was seen at the front of the Indian contingent wearing a tracksuit instead of the officially sanctioned national uniform for the event. The acting Chef-de-Mission for the Indian contignent Brigadier P.K. Muralidharan Raja expressed anger at the LOCOG for allowing this to happen despite security personnel checking the identity of athletes and staff before entering the stadium. The Indian media subsequently identified the woman as Madhura Nagendra, a graduate student from Bangalore living in London and a dancer in another segment of the opening ceremony. The '']'' also quoted her friends as identifying her.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mystery woman identified; Indian contingent still clueless|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Specials/Sports/Olympics2012/Chunk-HT-UI-Olympics-OtherStories/Mystery-woman-at-India-s-Olympic-parade-identified/SP-Article10-903669.aspx|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> | |||
In another fight, ] ] ] was ruled to have lost to Britain's ] after an 18–18 countback, despite two ]. The ] protested the decision to ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/113201/ |title=International Boxing Association rejects appeal against result of Khytrov-Ogogo fight |publisher=Inferfax}}</ref> | |||
==During the Games== | |||
===Spectator issues=== | |||
====Empty seats==== | |||
Empty seats at Olympic events were reported during the first two day of the games. Although events were reported to be sold out, many empty seats were observed in highly visible areas at multiple venues. Sebastian Coe, the Head of LOCOG, stated in a press conference on 29 July that the seats were reserved for "the Olympic family and sponsors" and that the events were otherwise "stuffed to the gunwales". The empty seats were also from NOCs which had not used up the entire allocation and had not returned the unallocated tickets. Coe stated that LOCOG would investigate the claims of empty seats.<ref name=tickets2012>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Andrew |title=Lord Coe claims Olympic venues are 'stuffed to the gunwales' |url= http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/lord-coe-claims-olympic-venues-are-stuffed-to-the-gunwales-7985625.html |accessdate=30 July 2012|newspaper=The Independent |location =London |date=30 July 2012}}</ref> The claim the seats were allocated to sponsors led to denials from sponsors with British Airways stating they had returned tickets it could not distribute and McDonalds stating all their tickets were being used.<ref name=Sponsors>{{cite web |title=Q&A on why seats at Olympic venues are empty |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19037625 |work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|accessdate=30 July 2012|date=29 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
Canadian ] lost to British boxer ] in the Welterweight quarterfinals when Evans, who was awarded the fight on a countback, was cautioned three separate times for holding during the bout but was not penalised a point for the infraction as was required by the rules. Canada appealed the decision, but AIBA instead ruled that Evans was "incorrectly cautioned", and as a result did not deserve any point deductions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sager |first=Neate |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/custio-clayton-appeal-denied-british-fighter-incorrectly-cautioned-021256438.html |title=Custio Clayton's appeal denied; British fighter was 'incorrectly cautioned' for holding |publisher=Yahoo! Sports Canada |date=17 April 2012 |accessdate=11 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/combat-sports/news/article/clayton-loses-heartbreaker-boxing-quarter-finals.html |title=Clayton Loses in Quarter-finals; Appeal Rejected |publisher=CTV Olympics |date=7 August 2012 |accessdate=11 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Football queues==== | |||
For the first football game at ] there were long queues at the box office, leading to fans missing some of the game. A spokesman for Ticketmaster said: "...we saw extremely high numbers of spectators arriving at St James' Park to purchase football tickets on the day of the event....While Ticketmaster is contracted to manage the box offices at Olympic venues, the staff numbers at those venues are determined by Locog....We will continue to work closely with Locog to ensure that the box office staff levels are sufficient to meet the demands for ticket sales and collection." LOCOG described the situation as "totally and completely 100% unacceptable", and after changes were made in the process, the issue was reportedly avoided for the second round of matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-19045401 |title=BBC News - Olympic football ticket delays at St James' Park eased |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-19013655 |title=BBC News - Olympic football delay at St James' Park 'unacceptable' |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-27 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
==== |
====Women's football semifinal==== | ||
During the semi-final match between ] and the ], a time-wasting call was made against the Canadian goalkeeper, ], when she held the ball longer than the allowed six seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/olympics2012/124836-controversial-women-s-soccer-call-continues-to-baffle-experts|title = Saltwire | Halifax}}</ref> As a result, the American side was awarded an indirect free-kick in the box. On the ensuing play, Canada was penalized for a handball in the penalty box, with the American team being awarded a penalty kick, which ] converted to tie the game at 3–3. The Americans went on to win the match in extra time, advancing to the gold medal game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/controversy-mars-americans-4-3-win-over-canada-220231424.html |title=Controversy mars Americans' 4–3 win over Canada, but shouldn't detract from a great game |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=7 August 2012 |access-date=7 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/london2012/football/article/1238210--london-2012-soccer-controversial-call-against-canada-in-u-s-semifinal-rarely-made |title=London 2012 soccer: Controversial call against Canada in U.S. semifinal rarely made |date=7 August 2012 |newspaper=Toronto Star}}</ref> After the match, Canada forward ] stated, "the ref decided the result before the game started." FIFA responded by stating that the refereeing decisions were correct and saying it was considering disciplinary action against Sinclair, but that any disciplinary action would be postponed until after the end of the tournament.<ref>{{cite news |agency=] |title=FIFA to probe Canadian remarks |work=Japan Times |date=9 August 2012 |page=17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/christine-sinclair-s-suspension-wasn-t-for-comments-to-media-1.1158484 |title=Christine Sinclair's suspension wasn't for comments to media |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/an-oral-history/article24914992/ |title=The greatest game of women's soccer ever played |first=Cathal |last=Kelly |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=12 June 2015}}</ref> | |||
On Friday, 27 July, the same day as the opening ceremony, but after the first sporting events outside London had started (in football), there was confusion and disappointment in some Olympic fans when they were denied access to what they thought was the first competition event in London. They had misunderstood the use by LOCOG of the phrase "non-ticketed" to mean that an archery qualification round at Lord's cricket ground was going to be open to the public for free, in a similar fashion to some other events like the road bike races or marathon. In addition, some had been sold fake tickets for the event by an illegal website. LOCOG stated "Tickets have not been advertised or sold by Locog for the archery ranking event...We have always made it clear that the preliminary rounds are not open for spectators. There are a number of unofficial websites claiming to sell tickets; we therefore advise people to be extremely cautious and vigilant when attempting to buy tickets and only purchase from an official source".<ref>{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Lizzy|title=Olympic archery fans feel duped after being shut out of event|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/27/olympic-archery-spectators-turned-away|newspaper=Guardian|date=27 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
==== |
====Men's 100 m breaststroke final==== | ||
Five days after setting a new world record in the 100 m breaststroke final en route to a gold medal, South African ] said that he had used illegal "dolphin kicks" while underwater after the start and turns. Van der Burgh claimed that he had to break the rule because it is done so commonly by many international breaststrokers, saying, "It's got to the point where if you're not doing it you are falling behind or giving yourself a disadvantage." There have been complaints from other swimmers and swimming federations, with many calls for FINA to introduce underwater footage to help race officials, but no official protest was launched against van der Burgh, who will keep his medal and record.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/london-games/south-african-cameron-van-der-burgh-admits-using-illegal-dolphin-kicks-to-win-gold-medal/story-e6frgdg6-1226442649149 |title=South African Cameron van der Burgh admits using illegal dolphin kicks to win gold medal |newspaper=The Australian |accessdate=8 August 2012 |date=4 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
During the football held at the ] on 29 July, fans were subjected to long queues in the ground at the ]s, after ]'s card payment system crashed, leaving cash payment as the only alternative. The situation was compounded by the fact that as Visa had been granted exclusive rights to the Olympics, other cards could not be accepted as payment, and the number of ] in the stadium had been reduced after 27 that worked on the ] system had been removed, to be replaced by 8 that could only be used by Visa cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/966545/olympics-anger-as-visa-cards-crash-at-wembley |title=Olympics: Anger As Visa Cards Crash At Wembley |publisher=News.sky.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
==== |
====Women's 400m Individual Medley==== | ||
After ] won her gold medal in the women's 400m Individual Medley as she came from being behind the world record in the final 50m to beating it by 1.02 seconds, the level of her performance was questioned by various observers including the executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/30/ye-shiwen-world-record-olympics-2012 |title=Ye Shiwen's world record Olympic swim 'disturbing', says top US coach |work=The Guardian |date=30 July 2012 |first=Andy |last=Bull |access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> Ye Shiwen has never failed a drug tests during career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/more-in-sport/london-2012-olympics-chinese-swimmer-ye-shiwen-cleared-of-doping-by-wada-says-olympic-chief-colin-moyinhan-1-2441861|title=London 2012 Olympics: Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen cleared of doping by WADA, says Olympic chief Colin Moyinhan|website=]|date=31 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820141652/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/more-in-sport/london-2012-olympics-chinese-swimmer-ye-shiwen-cleared-of-doping-by-wada-says-olympic-chief-colin-moyinhan-1-2441861|archive-date=20 August 2016}}</ref> | |||
Spectators at Olympic events are prohibited from displaying flags other than those of competing nations. The father of ] attempted to wave a ] during the ] at ], and later complained that stewards attempted to confiscate it while ignoring many ] in the crowd.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/JO/jeux-olympiques-londres-2012/jo-priere-de-ranger-ce-drapeau-breton-30-07-2012-2107593.php|title=JO : prière de ranger ce drapeau breton !|last=Ladet|first=Aurélie|date=30 July 2012|work=]|language=French|accessdate=31 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Men's 800 m athletics heat==== | |||
===Competition issues=== | |||
During a preliminary heat of the 800 m event, Algerian runner ] stopped running after only 200 m and walked off the track. It was suggested he deliberately stopped running in order to save himself for the 1500 m race the following day, where he was fancied as a medal winner,<ref name="NYT Makhloufi">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/sports/olympics/algerian-runner-makhloufi-expelled-then-reinstated-at-olympics.html|title=After a Runner Stops, the Questioning Starts |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=7 August 2012 |first=Jeré |last=Longman |date=6 August 2012}}</ref> and that the Algerian officials had earlier failed in their attempts to withdraw him in time from the 800m contest.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoult|first=Nick|title=London 2012 Olympics: Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi wins 1500 m gold following furore over his 800 m efforts|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/9460659/London-2012-Olympics-Algerias-Taoufik-Makhloufi-wins-1500m-gold-following-furore-over-his-800m-efforts.html|accessdate=12 August 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph |location=London |date=8 August 2012}}</ref> Makhloufi was dismissed from the Games by the ], who accused him of not giving an honest effort, violating the Olympic ideal, but Algerian officials lodged an official protest, stating that Makhloufi withdrew from the race because of a knee injury. After being examined by doctors, Makhloufi was reinstated in time for the 1500 m final. He then won the gold medal in the 1500 m race.<ref name="NYT Makhloufi" /> "Every person who wins a race forgets about his aches and pains" said Makhloufi.<ref name="Guardian Makhloufi">{{cite news|last=Kitson|first=Robert|title=Taoufik Makhloufi wins Olympic gold 24 hours after disqualification|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/07/taoufik-makhloufi-olympic-1500m-gold-disqualification?newsfeed=true|accessdate=12 August 2012|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London|date=7 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Men's Team Artistic gymnastics judging==== | |||
A judging controversy erupted at the ] on July 30 after Japan's ] had a bad dismount off the ]. The initial judging dropped Japan into fourth place, out of the medals, with ], ] and ] taking gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. However, after Japan filed a protest, the judges reviewed the tape and credited Uchimura with a dismount instead of a missed dismount, determining that he did indeed perform the final handstand. This raised Japan's score by 0.7 points, moving them from fourth to the silver medal position, dropping Great Britain to bronze and Ukraine out of the medals.<ref name=NBC-Evening-30-07-2012>NBC, 2012 Olympic Summer Games - Evening, airdate: 30 July 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher= Bleacher Report |url= http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1278131-2012-olympic-mens-gymnastics-judges-us-fold-under-pressure-of-biggest-stage |title= 2012 Olympic Men's Gymnastics: Judges, US Fold Under Pressure of Biggest Stage |author= Liviu Bird |date= 30 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher= Bleacher Report |url= http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1278162-mens-gymnastics-olympic-controversy-japan-takes-silver-great-britain-snubbed |title= Men's Gymnastics Olympic Controversy: Japan Takes Silver, Great Britain Snubbed |author= Patrick Clarke |date= 30 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher= Daily Mail |url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2181141/Olympic-Gymnastics-2012-Team-GB-men-bronze-Japanese-appeal-robs-silver-medal.html |title= Robbed! Heartbreak for GB gymnasts as they are handed historic silver medal then bumped down to bronze after Japanese appeal |author= Louise Eccles |date= 30 July 2012 }}</ref> | |||
===Other=== | |||
====Women's badminton double's match effort==== | |||
====Athletes' behavioural issues==== | |||
The governing body of badminton charged eight women players on 1 August 2012<ref> Herald Sun</ref> following suspicious behaviour at the women's double matches a day earlier<ref> ESPN</ref>. A review into two matches played on 31 July in the ] competition will be made after it appeared that, having already qualified for the knockout stages, players on both sides in each game had been attempting to lose their last group stage matches, in order to gain a more favourable draw in the quarter finals. The matches were between China's ] / ] and South Korea's ] / ] in Group A, followed by South Korea's ] / ] versus Indonesia's ] / ] in Group C. After errors began occurring during routine shots in both matches, including shots going long and serves hitting the net, the crowd reacted badly<ref> BBC Sport - Olympics</ref>. The match between Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli of China and Jung Kyung and Kim Ha Na of South Korea featured no rallies of more than four shots<ref> Channel NewsAsia</ref>. | |||
Swiss footballer ] was sent home by the ] after he sent a tweet following their ], saying that South Koreans 'can go burn' and referred to them as a 'bunch of mongoloids'. Gian Gilli, the director of Swiss Olympic Committee, said that the tweet "discriminated, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team and people".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19054995 |title=Olympics football: Michel Morganella expelled for racist tweet |work=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=31 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
Australian swimmers ] and ] were originally to be sent home once the swimming programme of the Games had concluded after posting a photo on ] showing them posing with guns that was deemed to bring the sport into disrepute.<ref>{{cite news|title=D'Arcy and Monk pose with guns in facebook photo|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/australian-olympic-swimmers-nick-darcy-and-kenrick-monk-pose-with-guns-in-facebook-photo/story-fncv4yyy-1226387758816}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=swifter higher stronger dumber|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/swifter-higher-stronger-dumber/story-e6frfhqf-1226387957984}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=D'Arcy Monk punished for gun photos|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/darcy-monk-punished-for-gun-photos/story-e6frg7mf-1226389935383 | work=The Australian | date=9 June 2012}}</ref> The ] subsequently gave the pair a reprieve allowing them to stay and join family and friends for a holiday in Europe. The two were however required to leave the Olympic Village and surrender their Olympic accreditation after the swimming program concluded. D'Arcy and Monk gave an undertaking not to engage in social media during the remainder of the Games as part of the deal.<ref name="D'ArcyMonkReprieve">{{cite news |title=D'Arcy and Monk allowed to delay Australia return|url=http://www.theage.com.au/olympics/swimming-london-2012/darcy-and-monk-allowed-to-delay-australia-return-20120805-23n3b.html|accessdate=5 August 2012 |newspaper=]|location=Melbourne}}</ref> Monk had previously attracted controversy when he admitted to lying to police when he was questioned about the cause of an accident during a training session,<ref name="SwimmingWorld">{{cite web|last=Hanson |first=Ian |title=Kenrick Monk in Hit-and-Run Accident in Brisbane |work=Swimming World |date=28 September 2011 |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/28141.asp |access-date=6 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222215154/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/28141.asp |archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Stannard | first = Damian | date = 1 October 2011 | title = Olympic hopeful Kenrick Monk fabricated story about being knocked off his bike by motorist | work = The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia | url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/more-sports/olympic-hopeful-kenrick-monk-fabricated-story-about-being-knocked-off-his-bike-by-motorist/story-e6frey6i-1226154973239 | accessdate =6 February 2012 }}</ref> while D'Arcy had been removed from the Australian team for the ] after being charged with assault.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSYD26816420080331 |title=Australian D'Arcy charged over pub brawl |work=Reuters |date=31 March 2008 |accessdate=6 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/beijing2008/olympic-dreams-dashed/2008/04/18/1208025478576.html |title=Olympic dreams dashed |first1=Jacquelin |last1=Magnay |first2=Tim |last2=Dick |work=The Age |date=19 April 2008 |accessdate=6 July 2010 |location=Melbourne}}</ref> When discussing D'Arcy's upcoming event, journalist ] commented "I don't care if he drowns".<ref>Price, Steve, 2012, '']''. First broadcast 30 July 2012.</ref> | |||
In the second game a tournament referee warned the players and then monitored proceedings. In the end both matches were played to a conclusion, completing the draw for the quarter finals (Group B and D having concluded earlier in the day). Technical delegate Paisan Rangsikitpho said after the Group A match, "If it's true what I hear, this is a shame and I don't like it. And I'm not going to accept anything that I don't like at all. It's not in a good spirit....I apologise to the public, I apologise for everyone and I am not happy." With the quarter finals due to start the following evening, Rangsikitpho said "We will have a real discussion tonight to see what has happened...If we have to stay up all night, we will have a serious meeting".<ref>http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/match-fixing-causes-badminton-chaos-220650711--spt.html</ref> | |||
German rower ] voluntarily left the Olympic village on 3 August after controversy arose over her relationship with a neo-Nazi far-right politician.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/german-rower-leaves-london-ties-neo-nazis-surface-132533165--oly.html|title=German rower leaves London after ties to neo-Nazis surface|publisher=Yahoo! Sports |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> Drygalla's boyfriend was reportedly a leading member of the "Rostock National Socialists", and had apparently fought a state election for the far-right ].<ref name="German neo-Nazi bf">{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4264107,00.html | title=German rower quits Olympics over 'Neo-Nazi' boyfriend | publisher=Yedioth Ahronot | agency=Reuters | date=3 August 2012 | accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Women's individual épée timing and appeal==== | |||
] fencer ] was embroiled in a prolonged controversy at the ExCeL Centre on 30 July 2012.<ref> SFGate</ref> She had appeared to beat her opponent Britta Heidemann,<ref></ref> but an issue developed around the timing clock, which had appeared to reset to 1 second after having counted down to zero, allowing Heidemann to score the winning point.<ref></ref> | |||
Australian rower ], who competed in the ] event, was expelled from the Australian team after vandalising shops while drunk.<ref name="arrest">{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/olympic-rower-booth-sent-home-after-arrest-20120804-23ll1.html |title=Olympic Rower Booth sent home after arrest |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
Lam was required to sit on the piste for almost an hour, often openly sobbing, while her coaches lodged an official complaint, prompting an announcer at the venue to confirm that moving from the piste would have been seen as indicating her acceptance of the ruling against her.<ref>http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/31/uk-oly-fenc-fewiep-rounds-day3-protest-idUKBRE86U04820120731</ref> After losing the protest, Shin fought, and lost, against Yujie Sun of China thirty minutes later in the bronze medal match.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/fencing/events/womens-individual-epee</ref> | |||
] sprinter ] – who carried the flag of ] at the Opening Ceremony – was removed from the men's 100m sprint before the heats by the ], reportedly after leaving the Athletes' Village without permission to spend a night in a hotel with his wife.<ref name="Collins">{{cite news|title=Collins dumped from Olympics by St Kitts and Nevis|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8510953|work=]|date=4 August 2012|access-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807161942/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8510953|archive-date=7 August 2012}}</ref> The national Olympic committee responded, stating that Collins had repeatedly ignored attempts by officials to contact him, and did not register for his events as had been requested of him.<ref name="Collins"/> Collins was sent home, his accreditation to access the Olympic Village having been cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Kitts and Nevis 'national hero' Kim Collins sent home from London 2012 for 'not abandoning wife'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/st-kitts-and-nevis-national-hero-kim-collins-sent-home-from-london-2012-for-not-abandoning-wife-8007399.html|accessdate=5 August 2012|newspaper= The Independent|date=4 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
===Other=== | |||
====Athletes sent home==== | |||
Prior to the official commencement of the Games, Greek triple jumper ] was sent home by the national head of the delegation, Isidoros Kouvelos, for a '']'' post that read: "With so many Africans in Greece... the West Nile mosquitoes will at least eat homemade food!!!" Though she apologised later saying "My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values" and was supported by some fans, the Greek political party ], which is a part of the ruling coalition, issued a statement that read: "She can make as many vile 'jokes' as she likes on social networking sites when she watches the Olympic Games on TV" and pushed for her expulsion from the delegation representing Greece.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/07/2012725193044848821.html |title=Greek kicked out of Olympics over tweet - Europe |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> | |||
After ] defeated ] in the Bronze Medal ] match at the ] in ] on 10 August, South Korean player ] walked around the field holding a banner with a message written in Korean, "독도는 우리 땅!" (''dokdo neun uri ttang'' lit. "] is our territory!).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/photomovie/1071001.htm |title=동메달 축구대표팀 박종우, '독도는 우리 땅!' |date=10 August 2012 |work=Sports Seoul |language=Korean |access-date=10 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811052707/http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/photomovie/1071001.htm |archive-date=11 August 2012}}</ref> As both IOC and FIFA statutes prohibit any political statements being made by athletes at their respective sporting events, the IOC barred Park from the bronze medal ceremony and did not permit him to receive his medal.<ref>{{cite news|title=London Olympics: row over S Korea 'political celebration' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-19225457 |work=BBC News|date=11 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=IOC weighs in on flag incident |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2012/soccer/story/_/id/8258956/2012-london-olympics-fifa-studies-possible-south-korea-flag-incident|publisher=ESPN|date=11 August 2012}}</ref> In addition, it asked FIFA to discipline Park, and stated that it may decide on further sanctions at a later date.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/13/world/south-korea-soccer-medal/index.html |title=Politics keeps South Korean soccer player off medal podium |first1=Katie |last1=Hunt |first2=K.J. |last2=Kwon |publisher=CNN |date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/sports/olympics/south-korean-soccer-player-park-jong-soo-denied-medal-over-politics.html |title=South Korean Denied Medal Over Politics |first=Andrew |last=Das |date=11 August 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> FIFA failed to reach a conclusion on the case at a meeting at its Zurich headquarters held on 5 October, and the disciplinary committee discussed the case again on the following week,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/10/06/fifa-puts-off-ruling-on-s-korean/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103171525/http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/10/06/fifa-puts-off-ruling-on-s-korean/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-03 |title=FIFA puts off ruling on S. Korean |publisher=theStarOnline |date=2012-10-06 }}</ref> then failed to reach a verdict again. The case was heard again by the committee on 20 November,<ref>{{cite news |title=FIFA to hear case over South Korea Olympic protest |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-fifa-korea-idINDEE8AI0AE20121119?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews |work=Brian Homewood |agency=Reuters |date=20 November 2012 |accessdate=20 November 2012 }}</ref> and FIFA decided on 3 December to suspend Park for two matches after he was considered to have breached the ] and the Regulations of the Olympic Football Tournaments. FIFA also imposed a warning on the ] and reminded it of its obligation to properly instruct its players on all the pertinent rules and applicable regulations before the start of any competition, in order to avoid such incident in the future. The Korea Football Association was warned that should incidents of such nature occur again in the future, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose harsher sanctions on the Korea Football Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Korea Republic's Park Jongwoo suspended for two matches |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/footballgovernance/news/newsid=1961664/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209080152/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/footballgovernance/news/newsid=1961664/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 December 2012 |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=3 December 2012}}</ref> | |||
]n ] ] was the first athlete to test positive for drugs at the games. He was expelled by the IOC before competing in the ], after testing positive for a banned steroid, ], in a test on on July 23.<ref>{{cite news|title=Albanian weightlifter tests positive for steroid, 1st doping case at London Olympics|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/albanian-weightlifter-tests-positive-for-steroid-1st-doping-case-at-london-olympics/2012/07/28/gJQA0h2oFX_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 28}}</ref> | |||
Seven ] went missing while participating in the Olympics,<ref>{{cite web|title=7 Cameroon athletes 'defect' at London Olympics: report|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/7-cameroon-athletes-disappear-london-olympics-sources-204131518--oly.html|publisher=Yahoo! News|access-date=8 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811031338/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/7-cameroon-athletes-disappear-london-olympics-sources-204131518--oly.html|archive-date=11 August 2012}}</ref> including the reserve goalkeeper Drusille Ngako, swimmer ] and boxers ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=London Olympics: Cameroon athletes 'abscond' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19167033 |work=BBC News |accessdate=9 August 2012 |date=7 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
Swiss footballer ] was sent home by the ] after he sent a tweet following their ] which, according to the Swiss team coach ], "discriminated, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team and people".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19054995 |title=BBC Sport - Olympics football: Michel Morganella expelled for racist tweet |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-25 |accessdate=2012-07-31}}</ref> | |||
====Technology in track cycling==== | |||
Australian swimmers ] and ] were sent home as soon as their events concluded after posting a photo on ] that was deemed to bring the sport into disrepute.<ref>{{cite news|title=D'Arcy and Monk pose with guns in facebook photo|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/australian-olympic-swimmers-nick-darcy-and-kenrick-monk-pose-with-guns-in-facebook-photo/story-fncv4yyy-1226387758816}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=swifter higher stronger dumber|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/swifter-higher-stronger-dumber/story-e6frfhqf-1226387957984}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=D'Arcy Monk punished for gun photos|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/darcy-monk-punished-for-gun-photos/story-e6frg7mf-1226389935383}}</ref> Monk had previously attracted controversy when he admitted to lying to police when he was questioned about the cause of an accident during a training session,<ref name="SwimmingWorld">{{cite web | last = Hanson | first = Ian | title = Kenrick Monk In Hit-and-Run Accident in Brisbane | publisher = Swimming World | date = 28 September 2011 | url = http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/28141.asp | accessdate = 6 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Stannard | first = Damian | date = 1 October 2011 | title = Olympic hopeful Kenrick Monk fabricated story about being knocked off his bike by motorist | work = dailytelegraph.com.au | url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/more-sports/olympic-hopeful-kenrick-monk-fabricated-story-about-being-knocked-off-his-bike-by-motorist/story-e6frey6i-1226154973239 | accessdate = 6 February 2012 }}</ref> while D'Arcy had been removed from the Australian team at the ] after being charged with assault,<ref>. Published by ] on 2008-03-31; retrieved 2010-07-06.</ref><ref> by Jacquelin Magnay and Tim Dick. Published by The Age on 2008-04-19; retrieved 2010-07-06.</ref> When discussing D'Arcy's upcoming event, journalist ] commented "I don't care if he drowns".<ref>Price, Steve, 2012, ]. First broadcast 30 July 2012.</ref> | |||
] introduced new bicycles for the London 2012 Olympics<ref>{{cite news|title=Britain Winning Arms Race in Cycling|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443659204577573311601298598|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> that subsequently outperformed Australia and France with margins greater than expected.<ref>{{cite web|title=British track team raise the bar for Rio gold rush|url=http://www.supersport.com/olympics/cycling/news/120809/British_track_team_raise_the_bar_for_Rio_gold_rush|publisher=Supersport.com|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref> In France the performance was greeted with suspicion and allegations of ], which were vehemently defended against by ], David Cameron.<ref>{{cite web|last=MCPARTLAND|first=Ben|title=French Olympic 'cheating' claims rile British PM|date=9 August 2012 |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20120809-france-britain-uk-david-cameron-french-defeat-cycling-olympic-games|publisher=France 24 International News 24/7|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> The former head of research and development of the British Cycling Team, ] said that every single bicycle component was vetted and declared fit for use by the ];<ref name=williams>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Ollie|title=Olympics track cycling: Will technology win the war for GB?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19089259|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref> however, Joe Lindsey of ] stated that the spirit of equal footing had been broken.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lindsey|first=Joe|title=Britain's Mysterious Olympic Bikes|url=http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2012/07/27/britains-mysterious-olympic-bikes/|publisher=Cycle Tech Review|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731153547/http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2012/07/27/britains-mysterious-olympic-bikes/|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="uci">{{cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34033&LangId=1 |title=www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34033&LangId=1 |publisher=uci.ch |access-date=2014-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730210537/http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34033&LangId=1 |archive-date=30 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="uci2">{{cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NTI0MDY&LangId=1|title=www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NTI0MDY&LangId=1|publisher=uci.ch|access-date=2014-02-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518025937/http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NTI0MDY&LangId=1|archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref> French world champion cyclist ] demanded that the British reveal their secret, but French ] specialist ] supported the British, believing the secret is the best equipment being revealed at the last moment, also stating: "he Australians didn't race cohesively..."<ref>{{cite news|last=Fotheringham|first=William|title=Team GB 'magic wheels' saga keeps on rolling|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/07/london-2012-team-gb-magic-wheels|publisher=Guardian newspapers|accessdate=31 August 2012|location=London|date=7 August 2012}}</ref> When asked if the "high-tech warfare" between large national teams will put other countries at a disadvantage Chris Boardman replied, "Well, I'd like to think so, we haven't done our job if they're not."<ref name="williams"/><ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news|title=London 2012 Olympics: Chris Boardman laughs of claims 'magic wheels' led to GB's cycling success.|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/cycling/9458671/London-2012-Olympics-Chris-Boardman-laughs-of-claims-magic-wheels-led-to-GBs-cycling-success.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | date=7 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="Slater">{{cite news|last=Slater|first=Matt|title=Olympics cycling: Marginal gains underpin Team GB dominance|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19174302 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> The British team stress that performance is achieved through 'marginal gains', including training, and preparation.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/><ref name="Slater"/> ] was given as a possible reason for the British performance with omnium gold medalist ] stating: "I just got going and the crowd just drove me home."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelland|first=Kate|title=Lesson for Rio: Prepare the minds to exploit home crowd|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oly-end-advantage-idUSBRE87B03Q20120812|work=Reuters|accessdate=14 October 2012}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
====North Korea – South Korea flag confusion==== | |||
{{Portal|Olympics}} | |||
In the first day of the Olympic events on 25 July, during the ], the match between North Korea and Colombia was delayed by a little over an hour because the ] was mistakenly displayed on the electronic scoreboard in ]. The North Korean team walked off the ] in protest at seeing the South Korean flag displayed by their names and refused to warm-up whilst the flag was being displayed. They also objected to the South Korean flag being displayed above the stadium, although the flags of all the competing countries were being displayed. The game then commenced after a delay and rectification of the error.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/112456-olympic-blunder-sees-north-korea-refuse-to-play-after-wrong-flag-raised/ |title=Hampden Olympic blunder sees North Korea delay game after wrong flag raised |last=Stuart |first=Gavin |work=stv.tv |date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> | |||
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Andy Mitchell, a spokesman for the London Organising Committee (LOCOG), said afterwards:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/olympics-organisers-sorry-over-north-korea-flag-mix-up |title=London 2012 'sorry' over North Korea flag mix-up |publisher=Channel 4 News |date= |accessdate=2012-07-26}}</ref><ref name="bowater1">{{cite web|last=Bowater |first=Donna |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9427788/London-2012-Olympics-North-Korea-women-footballers-protest-over-flag-gaffe.html |title=London 2012 Olympics: North Korea women footballers protest over flag gaffe |publisher=Telegraph |date= |accessdate=2012-07-25}}</ref> | |||
*] | |||
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==References== | |||
<blockquote>"Today ahead of the Women’s football match at Hampden Park, the South Korean flag was shown on a big screen video package instead of the ]. Clearly that is a mistake, we will apologise to the team and the National Olympic Committee and steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again."</blockquote> | |||
{{Reflist|30em}} | |||
==External links== | |||
Mitchell's statement had to be reissued because he had failed to use the nations' official titles, "Republic of Korea" and "Democratic People's Republic of Korea."<ref>], "Olympics in flap over North Korean flag fiasco", '']'', 27 July 2012, p. 4</ref> | |||
* {{spaced ndash}} Official website | |||
* {{Cite web|last=Mallon|first=Bill|title=AN UPDATE ON LONDON 2012 DOPING POSITIVES|work=OlympStats| date=18 January 2019|url=http://olympstats.com/2019/01/18/all-olympic-doping-positives-the-count-by-games/}} | |||
In offering an apology, the media manager at Hampden Park, Andy Mitchell, said: "The South Korean flag was shown in the video package on the screen before the kickoff and the North Koreans were naturally very upset about that. We have made a full apology to the team and the North Korean NOC . A genuine mistake was made for which we apologise. Steps will be taken to ensure it does not happen again." British Prime Minister ] added that it was an "honest mistake" and efforts would be undertaken to ensure such a mishap does not recur. However, North Korean manager ] expressed reservations about whether the incident was a mistake of intention and said: "We were angry because our players were introduced as if they were from South Korea, which may affect us greatly as you may know. Our team was not going to participate unless the problem was solved perfectly and fortunately some time later, the broadcasting was corrected and shown again live so we made up our mind to participate and go on with the match. If this matter cannot be solved, we thought going on was nonsense. Winning the game cannot compensate for that thing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/07/201272610133885299.html |title=Olympics: Apology to N Korea over flag mix-up - Europe |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> | |||
* {{Cite web|last=Mallon|first=Bill|title=ALL OLYMPIC DOPING POSITIVES – THE COUNT BY GAMES|work=OlympStats| date=18 January 2019|url=http://olympstats.com/2019/01/18/all-olympic-doping-positives-the-count-by-games/}} | |||
{{Olympic Games controversies}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist|2}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 19:19, 12 September 2024
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A number of controversies and concerns associated with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London became the subject of public debate and media commentary.
Prior to the games
IOC policy
Brand protection
Protection of the Olympic brand has been the subject of some criticism. The Olympic rings themselves are protected in the United Kingdom under the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995, and under provisions set out by the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are empowered to prevent the misuse of Olympic branding leading up to the 2012 Games. The acts aim to prevent unauthorised commercial association with the games by traders (such as using the Olympic rings in a shop window) and to prevent attempts at ambush marketing at games events, but the constraints detailed in the guidelines issued by LOCOG have been criticised by some commentators as a form of censorship.
The guidelines specify a range of trademarked logos and designs as well as certain "Listed Expressions" and protected words that advertisers may not use, which include the words "London" and "2012". Even if an advertiser does not mention the Olympics or use any of the listed words, any visual or audio representation of London and sports may be considered by a court to be an infringement of LOCOG's rights and subject to a fine of £20,000 or possible imprisonment. A number of individuals and businesses fell foul of the restrictions including a lingerie shop in Leicester, and a Plymouth café selling Olympic torch baguettes. An exception to these rules was successfully negotiated by the restaurant chain Little Chef, who have been permitted by LOCOG to continue to sell their fried "Olympic Breakfast" because the item has carried that name on their menu since 1994.
In an interview with BBC journalist Evan Davis, Lord Coe emphasised the need to protect the rights of official sponsors such as BMW and Adidas who had contributed large sums of money to the Games. His suggestion that visitors to the London games would not be admitted if they were wearing a Pepsi-branded T-shirt was later retracted by LOCOG, who stated that such rules would apply only to large groups of spectators wearing "visibly branded" clothing.
Criticism has also focused on the exclusive rights held by some sponsors to serve and advertise food at and near to Olympic venues; McDonald's held sole rights to sell chips throughout the games, preventing independent food outlets from serving chips with any meal, although an exception was negotiated with McDonald's to allow the sale of traditional British fish and chips. Food sellers also had to comply with food outlet specifications which require prominent display of Coca-Cola branding with limited space for their own products.
Eligibility of athletes suspended for doping
The IOC amended the Olympic Charter in June 2008 in order to bar athletes suspended for at least six months for a doping offence from competing at the Olympic Games following the end of the suspension. This provision, known as the Osaka Rule or Rule 45, was challenged before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In October 2011 the court found that the provision was not an eligibility rule, but a sanction not mandated by the World Anti-Doping Code and thus invalid. Several athletes were allowed to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics as a result of the ruling, including defending Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt (who was suspended in 2010 for a year for taking over-the-counter male enhancement product, ExtenZe, which contains the banned steroid dehydroepiandrosterone) and Jessica Hardy, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist who also maintained her innocence, claiming the positive test had been caused by tainted supplements. In April 2012, the decision was reaffirmed, when the court found a similar rule for the British team invalid.
Women participants and the hijab
After an initial dispute, the IOC and associated sports organizations allowed women to participate in the games as athletes or officials while wearing hijabs. According to the Associated Press, religious clerics and religious activists in some countries wanted more modest uniforms.
According to Sports Illustrated, critics charged that allowing the headgear violated IOC Rule 50 which prohibits religious displays in Olympic venues and that countries which required the headgear for their female representatives were practicing gender apartheid and claimed that this should require the same stand that the IOC took against South African apartheid by banning that country from the Olympics for 21 years. A group called London 2012: Justice for Women protested the IOC's allowance of the hijab by placing a copy of the Olympic charter into a coffin and then throwing it off Westminster Bridge, while a band played funeral music.
Sponsors
Healthy eating
There was criticism that companies that produce junk food or otherwise unhealthy foods and drinks were major sponsors of the Olympics, notably McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Cadbury and Heineken, which seemingly conflicts with the Olympian ideal of health and wellness. Critics included the Chief Medical Officer of Wales, Tony Jewell, and the head of sports science of the GB Team. The London Assembly passed a motion calling for a ban on junk food sponsors.
The sponsors were defended on the grounds that they provided a significant income for the event. Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, acknowledged concerns but noted the importance of sponsorship money and said that the issue of obesity had been raised with such sponsors. McDonald's and Coca-Cola also defended their involvement, stating that healthy eating was the responsibility of the individual to make their own purchasing choices. LOCOG's policy for food provision stated a number of aims including diversity, hygiene, health and nutrition and sustainability.
Payment services
Electronic payment services for Olympic ticketing and in Olympic venues were provided exclusively by Visa under the terms of their global sponsorship deal with the IOC. This led to criticism during ticket sales before the Games and to complaints of unreliability of payment systems and a shortage of cash points (particularly for cardholders of cards other than those provided by Visa) to obtain cash at Olympic venues during the Games.
Security
See also: Security for the 2012 Summer OlympicsAir defence sites
The decision by the Ministry of Defence to station soldiers armed with Starstreak surface-to-air missiles on top of the Lexington building, a residential apartment block in Bow, was challenged in court on 10 July by residents of Fred Wigg Tower, another tower in Leytonstone, east London, where missiles were to be sited, under Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, over concerns the missiles made them a terrorist target. The judgement from Mr Justice Haddon-Cave was in favour of the siting of the missiles on Fred Wigg Tower. He stated in his judgment:
Residents were under something of a misapprehension regarding the equipment and risks.... The MoD's voluntary engagement with the community over the plans was immaculate and the residents who challenged the missile sites had misunderstood the facts.
David Enright, the solicitor representing the residents said after the judgement:
The clear implication of today's judgement is that the Ministry of Defence now has the power to militarise the private homes of any person.
Security guard shortage
In July 2012 the private security firm G4S, which had been contracted to supply security personnel for the Olympics, revealed that it had failed to recruit and train enough staff for the Games. The shortfall was made up by deploying 3,500 troops of the British Armed Forces. Reports in the media claimed some recruits were not able to speak adequate English. An inquiry was held by the United Kingdom Parliament into the issue and a report issued said that G4S "must bear the cost of its Olympic failure".
Nationality issues
Falkland Islands dispute
See also: Falkland Islands sovereignty disputeOn 2 May 2012, on the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano, an advertising film depicting the captain of Argentina's hockey team, Fernando Zylberberg, training in Stanley, Falkland Islands, was broadcast in Argentina under the slogan "To compete on British soil, we train on Argentine soil." While it was claimed by several major Argentine newspapers that the film had not been commissioned by the Argentine government, with it being produced by the local office of the Young & Rubicam advertising agency, the rights to it were purchased by the Office of the President for national broadcast. An IOC statement said "the games should not be part of a political platform", while Argentine Olympic Committee President Gerardo Werthein stated that "the Olympic Games cannot be used to make political gestures". Zylberberg stated that he had been unaware that the film would be used as a political advert. He subsequently was not selected for the Argentine hockey squad.
Regent Street flags display
As part of the buildup to the Games, the flags of all competing nations were suspended over streets in a display around the West End of London by the Regent Street Association (RSA). Included in this was the Flag of the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan. Since 1981, the Republic of China (ROC) has not been permitted to compete at the Olympics under its own name, instead using the name "Chinese Taipei", together with the flag of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, which is not Taiwan's national flag. In all official Olympic events and publications, the name and symbols of Chinese Taipei must be used. As the flag display was not connected to LOCOG, it was not subject to Olympic branding rules. However, officials from the People's Republic of China made a complaint to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) about the display of the ROC flag, following which the FCO advised the RSA to replace the ROC flag with the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag. The removal of the national flag led to an official complaint from the Republic of China, with the Senior Representative, Shen Lyu-shun, writing to the RSA stating the view that "the nomenclature regarding Taiwan's participation in the Olympics shall not be applied to the display of the flags in the street", and that matters like this fall "within the scope of freedom of speech" and "shall not be subject to interference by a third party".
Competitors' birthplaces in biographies
A complaint by the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine was made about the biographies of Russian Olympic team members posted on the official London 2012 Games' website. The biographies referred to the athletes' Ukrainian birthplaces as being located in Russia. Thirty athletes that were identified as not being born in Russia had incorrect birthplace references. Georgia's Olympic Committee had also complained and asked for corrections to be made. Examples included wrestler Besik Kudukhov's birthplace in Tskhilon, South Ossetia, Boxer David Ayrapetyan born in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and weightlifter Alexandr Ivanov from Rustavi in Georgia. Izabella Siemicks, a LOCOG spokesperson, claimed the original biographical information had been provided by the National Olympic Committees. LOCOG also apologised for an error in the official match programme for Great Britain's first game in the men's football tournament, mistakenly describing Welsh team member Joe Allen as being English.
Female athletes from all NOCs
After the 2008 Summer Olympics, Brunei, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were the only three NOCs that had never sent a female participant. They were put under pressure to include female athletes in their teams. All three NOCs sent female athletes to the 2012 Summer Olympics, with both Brunei and Qatar selecting female flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony. Saudi Arabia was the last NOC to select a female competitor. On 3 August 2012, the Bruneian athlete Maziah Mahusin took part in the Women's 400 metres heats and ensured that all current NOCs had at least one female participant at the Olympics.
Opening ceremony Munich memorial
Main article: 2012 Olympics one minute of silence campaignAs they had done prior to every Olympic Games since 1976, the remaining widows of the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by Black September at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich campaigned for the IOC to include a minute of silence during the Opening ceremony. The proposal was rejected by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who stated that his "hands were tied" by votes from 46 Arab and Muslim members admitted to the International Olympic Committee.
Logo
The design for the event logo was met with negative response. An advertisement featuring the logo being displayed in all of its colours was reported by Epilepsy Action to have caused many people to experience epileptic seizures.
In 2011, Iran lodged a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee after they claimed that the logo spelt the word 'Zion'. The complaint was dismissed by the president of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, who said that the complaint "can't be serious."
During the games
Tape delays
See also: Olympics on NBC § CriticismNBC, Nine Network, and Prime TV were criticised by their viewers for tape delaying the Olympics and making questionable editorial decisions and complicated viewing schemes.
Opening ceremony
Parade of Nations Gatecrasher
An unknown woman gatecrashed in civilian attire and was seen walking at the head of the Indian Olympic team's march past during the Parade of Nations. Her presence attracted media attention throughout India and raised questions about security at the Olympic Games. The woman was subsequently identified as Madhura Nagendra, a graduate student from Bangalore living in London and a dancer in a segment of the opening ceremony. On 31 July 2012, LOCOG issued an apology to the Indian contingent over the incident.
Organisational issues
Empty seats
Empty seats at Olympic events were reported during the first two days of the games. Although events were reported to be sold out, many empty seats were observed in highly visible areas at multiple venues. Sebastian Coe, the Head of LOCOG, stated in a press conference on 29 July that the seats were reserved for "the Olympic family and sponsors" and that the events were otherwise "stuffed to the gunwales". The empty seats were also from NOCs which had not used up the entire allocation and had not returned the unallocated tickets. Coe stated that LOCOG would investigate the claims of empty seats. The claim that the seats were allocated to sponsors led to denials from sponsors, with British Airways stating they had returned tickets it could not distribute, and McDonald's stating that all their tickets were being used. LOCOG was able to recover some "VIP" seats that would not be used and made them available for sale. On 31 July, for example, tickets to 3,800 reclaimed seats were put on sale to the public.
The distribution of tickets was divided in the following proportions: 75% were sold to the general public, 12% went to the National Committees of participating countries for sale in their countries, 8% were for sponsors, and 5% were for the "Olympic family" (including the IOC and national Olympic organizations). It was said to be hard to anticipate if tickets given to various sponsors and Olympic officials would actually be used, and it was also difficult to reenter them into circulation at the last minute.
Non-public archery event
On Friday, 27 July, the same day as the opening ceremony, but after the first sporting events outside London had started (in football), there was confusion and disappointment in some Olympic fans when they were denied access to what they thought was the first competition event in London. They had misunderstood the use by LOCOG of the phrase "non-ticketed" to mean that an archery qualification round at Lord's Cricket Ground was going to be open to the public for free, in a similar fashion to some other events like the road bike races or marathon. In addition, some had been sold fake tickets for the event by an illegal website. LOCOG stated "Tickets have not been advertised or sold by LOCOG for the archery ranking event...We have always made it clear that the preliminary rounds are not open for spectators. There are a number of unofficial websites claiming to sell tickets; we therefore advise people to be extremely cautious and vigilant when attempting to buy tickets and only purchase from an official source".
Confusion of North Korea's and South Korea's flags
During the women's football tournament on the first day, 25 July, the flag of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was mistakenly displayed on the electronic display in Hampden Park instead of that of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The North Korean team walked off the pitch in protest at seeing the South Korean flag displayed by their names and refused to warm up whilst the flag was being displayed. The match between North Korea and Colombia was delayed by a little over an hour; the game then commenced after rectification of the error. LOCOG apologised for the error and said they would make efforts to ensure such a mishap did not recur; however, the organising committee's statement had to be reissued because it failed to use the nations' official titles (as used by the IOC) "Republic of Korea" and "Democratic People's Republic of Korea".
Competition issues
Men's 100 metres final
Just before the start of the Men's 100m Final, a spectator threw a plastic bottle into Tyson Gay's lane, intended to hit Usain Bolt who was three lanes outside in Lane 7. The race was unaffected, and Bolt would go on to become the second man in history to defend a 100m Olympic title. The spectator, later identified as Ashley Gill-Webb, was soon arrested after he was struck on the head by Dutch judoka and bronze medalist Edith Bosch, whom he happened to be sitting next to. LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe later stated: "I'm not suggesting vigilantism but it was actually poetic justice that they happened to be sitting next to a judo player". Gill-Webb later pleaded not guilty to a charge of using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Stratford Magistrates' Court. He was later found guilty.
Men's cycling team sprint
On 2 August, British cyclist Philip Hindes, during an interview in the mixed zone for media immediately after the race, said that he deliberately crashed in an earlier round because he did not like the start he had. Hindes reaffirmed what he said earlier in a BBC interview shortly after: "I just did it to get the restart. My first wasn’t the greatest so I thought to get the restart." British team later responded by claiming that it was a misunderstanding and comments were lost in translation, citing English was not German-born Hindes' first language. Hindes also retracted his original comments and said he just lost control and fell down. In Team Sprint, cyclists are allowed a restart if they crash or have a mechanical incident. The Union Cycliste Internationale said the result of the qualifying race "was not in question," and the International Olympic Committee said it would not investigate. The French team, which came second, accepted the result, but also suggested team sprint regulation needs to be changed.
Men's 66 kg judo judging
On 29 July in a quarter final match in the 66 kg category, South Korean judoka Cho Jun-ho received a unanimous 3–0 judging decision that he had beaten Japanese Ebinuma Masashi. Almost immediately Marius Vizer, chief of the International Judo Federation, intervened and held a meeting with the match referee and two judges. Shortly afterwards the three officials returned to the mat and reversed their original decision by declaring Masashi the 0–3 winner. South Korean officials launched an unsuccessful appeal and the result was upheld.
Women's badminton doubles matches
A review of two matches in the Badminton Women's doubles competition played on 31 July was conducted after it appeared that, having already qualified for the knockout stages, players on both sides in each game had been attempting to lose their last group stage matches in order to gain a more favourable draw in the quarter-finals. The matches were between China's Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang and South Korea's Jung Kyung-eun / Kim Ha-na in Group A and South Korea's Ha Jung-eun / Kim Min-jung versus Indonesia's Meiliana Jauhari / Greysia Polii in Group C. After errors began occurring during routine shots in both matches, including shots going long and serves hitting the net, the crowd reacted badly, and the match between Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli of China and Jung Kyung and Kim Ha Na of South Korea featured no rallies of more than four shots.
In the second game, a tournament referee initially issued a black card to disqualify the players but, after the team's coaches argued, this was rescinded; play was allowed to continue while he monitored proceedings. Both the earlier match and this later match were ultimately played to a conclusion, completing the draw for the quarter-finals (Group B and D having concluded earlier in the day). Technical delegate Paisan Rangsikitpho said after the Group A match, "If it's true what I hear, this is a shame and I don't like it. And I'm not going to accept anything that I don't like at all. It's not in a good spirit....I apologise to the public, I apologise for everyone and I am not happy."
On 1 August 2012, following the review, all eight players were ejected from the tournament by the Badminton World Federation, after being found guilty of "not using best efforts" and "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport".
Women's individual épée timing and appeal
South Korean fencer Shin A-Lam was embroiled in a prolonged controversy at the ExCeL Centre on 30 July 2012. She had appeared to beat her opponent Britta Heidemann, but an issue developed around the timing clock: After Heidemann's last unsuccessful attempt to break the tie, the referee called a "halt" to stop the bout. However, seconds later and despite the bout having been stopped, the clock continued to count down to zero. Since an overtime minute has to be fenced in its entirety, the referee followed FIE rule t.32–3 and addressed this failure of the clock or error by the timekeeper by having the clock reset to one second, the clock's lowest possible setting. When the fencers resumed their positions, Heidemann scored the winning point.
Shin was required to sit on the piste for almost an hour, often openly sobbing, while her coaches lodged an official complaint, prompting an announcer at the venue to confirm that moving from the piste would have been seen as indicating her acceptance of the ruling against her. After losing the protest, Shin fought, and lost, against Sun Yujie of China thirty minutes later in the bronze medal match.
Shin was later offered a "special medal" by the International Fencing Federation but was not appeased by the prospect of the award, "It does not make me feel better. It's not an Olympic medal", she said. Korean Olympic Committee president Park Yung-Sung commented on the offer as saying "they know they are very sorry about her and they have to recognise her sporting spirit".
After this incident, the rules were changed and it is now mandatory for the apparatus to show figures at the hundredths of the second starting from 10 seconds on the clock.
Women's cycling team sprint
China's Gong Jinjie and Guo Shuang twice set the world record, in qualifying and the first round, and finished first in the final in 32.619s. However, the team was later disqualified for an alleged "early relay" infringement and relegated to the silver medal, and the second place German team was promoted to gold. The Chinese team's coach Daniel Morelon complained that the judges refused to provide "video footage of the race in slow motion", and only provided a "vague explanation" for the infringement they had allegedly committed. He went on to proclaim that the Chinese team were "robbed" of a gold medal.
Men's boxing officiating
Referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov was dismissed from the games after the men's 56 kg Round of 16 bout between Japan's Satoshi Shimizu and Azerbaijan's Magomed Abdulhamidov. During the third round of the fight, Abdulhamidov was knocked to the canvas six times. Meretnyyazov failed to issue a standing-eight count in any of the six instances. The judges awarded the win to Abdulhamidov; a decision that was later overturned by the AIBA. The AIBA indicated that the fight should have been stopped and awarded to Shimizu after three knockdowns. Before the London Olympics, Azerbaijan had faced controversy regarding a $9 million payment to WSB, and rumors surfaced that Azerbaijan had bribed AIBA for two gold medals during the London 2012 Olympics.
German referee Frank Scharmach was suspended for five days after disqualifying Iran's Ali Mazaheri for excessive holding during his bout with Cuba's José Larduet.
In another fight, Ukrainian world champion Evhen Khytrov was ruled to have lost to Britain's Anthony Ogogo after an 18–18 countback, despite two knockdowns. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine protested the decision to AIBA.
Canadian Custio Clayton lost to British boxer Freddie Evans in the Welterweight quarterfinals when Evans, who was awarded the fight on a countback, was cautioned three separate times for holding during the bout but was not penalised a point for the infraction as was required by the rules. Canada appealed the decision, but AIBA instead ruled that Evans was "incorrectly cautioned", and as a result did not deserve any point deductions.
Women's football semifinal
During the semi-final match between Canada and the United States, a time-wasting call was made against the Canadian goalkeeper, Erin McLeod, when she held the ball longer than the allowed six seconds. As a result, the American side was awarded an indirect free-kick in the box. On the ensuing play, Canada was penalized for a handball in the penalty box, with the American team being awarded a penalty kick, which Abby Wambach converted to tie the game at 3–3. The Americans went on to win the match in extra time, advancing to the gold medal game. After the match, Canada forward Christine Sinclair stated, "the ref decided the result before the game started." FIFA responded by stating that the refereeing decisions were correct and saying it was considering disciplinary action against Sinclair, but that any disciplinary action would be postponed until after the end of the tournament.
Men's 100 m breaststroke final
Five days after setting a new world record in the 100 m breaststroke final en route to a gold medal, South African Cameron van der Burgh said that he had used illegal "dolphin kicks" while underwater after the start and turns. Van der Burgh claimed that he had to break the rule because it is done so commonly by many international breaststrokers, saying, "It's got to the point where if you're not doing it you are falling behind or giving yourself a disadvantage." There have been complaints from other swimmers and swimming federations, with many calls for FINA to introduce underwater footage to help race officials, but no official protest was launched against van der Burgh, who will keep his medal and record.
Women's 400m Individual Medley
After Ye Shiwen won her gold medal in the women's 400m Individual Medley as she came from being behind the world record in the final 50m to beating it by 1.02 seconds, the level of her performance was questioned by various observers including the executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association. Ye Shiwen has never failed a drug tests during career.
Men's 800 m athletics heat
During a preliminary heat of the 800 m event, Algerian runner Taoufik Makhloufi stopped running after only 200 m and walked off the track. It was suggested he deliberately stopped running in order to save himself for the 1500 m race the following day, where he was fancied as a medal winner, and that the Algerian officials had earlier failed in their attempts to withdraw him in time from the 800m contest. Makhloufi was dismissed from the Games by the IAAF, who accused him of not giving an honest effort, violating the Olympic ideal, but Algerian officials lodged an official protest, stating that Makhloufi withdrew from the race because of a knee injury. After being examined by doctors, Makhloufi was reinstated in time for the 1500 m final. He then won the gold medal in the 1500 m race. "Every person who wins a race forgets about his aches and pains" said Makhloufi.
Other
Athletes' behavioural issues
Swiss footballer Michel Morganella was sent home by the Switzerland football team after he sent a tweet following their 2–1 loss against South Korea, saying that South Koreans 'can go burn' and referred to them as a 'bunch of mongoloids'. Gian Gilli, the director of Swiss Olympic Committee, said that the tweet "discriminated, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team and people".
Australian swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk were originally to be sent home once the swimming programme of the Games had concluded after posting a photo on Facebook showing them posing with guns that was deemed to bring the sport into disrepute. The Australian Olympic Committee subsequently gave the pair a reprieve allowing them to stay and join family and friends for a holiday in Europe. The two were however required to leave the Olympic Village and surrender their Olympic accreditation after the swimming program concluded. D'Arcy and Monk gave an undertaking not to engage in social media during the remainder of the Games as part of the deal. Monk had previously attracted controversy when he admitted to lying to police when he was questioned about the cause of an accident during a training session, while D'Arcy had been removed from the Australian team for the Beijing Olympics after being charged with assault. When discussing D'Arcy's upcoming event, journalist Steve Price commented "I don't care if he drowns".
German rower Nadja Drygalla voluntarily left the Olympic village on 3 August after controversy arose over her relationship with a neo-Nazi far-right politician. Drygalla's boyfriend was reportedly a leading member of the "Rostock National Socialists", and had apparently fought a state election for the far-right National Democratic Party.
Australian rower Josh Booth, who competed in the Men's eight event, was expelled from the Australian team after vandalising shops while drunk.
Kittian sprinter Kim Collins – who carried the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis at the Opening Ceremony – was removed from the men's 100m sprint before the heats by the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee, reportedly after leaving the Athletes' Village without permission to spend a night in a hotel with his wife. The national Olympic committee responded, stating that Collins had repeatedly ignored attempts by officials to contact him, and did not register for his events as had been requested of him. Collins was sent home, his accreditation to access the Olympic Village having been cancelled.
After South Korea defeated Japan in the Bronze Medal men's football match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 10 August, South Korean player Park Jong-Woo walked around the field holding a banner with a message written in Korean, "독도는 우리 땅!" (dokdo neun uri ttang lit. "Dokdo is our territory!). As both IOC and FIFA statutes prohibit any political statements being made by athletes at their respective sporting events, the IOC barred Park from the bronze medal ceremony and did not permit him to receive his medal. In addition, it asked FIFA to discipline Park, and stated that it may decide on further sanctions at a later date. FIFA failed to reach a conclusion on the case at a meeting at its Zurich headquarters held on 5 October, and the disciplinary committee discussed the case again on the following week, then failed to reach a verdict again. The case was heard again by the committee on 20 November, and FIFA decided on 3 December to suspend Park for two matches after he was considered to have breached the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the Regulations of the Olympic Football Tournaments. FIFA also imposed a warning on the Korea Football Association and reminded it of its obligation to properly instruct its players on all the pertinent rules and applicable regulations before the start of any competition, in order to avoid such incident in the future. The Korea Football Association was warned that should incidents of such nature occur again in the future, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose harsher sanctions on the Korea Football Association.
Seven Cameroonian athletes went missing while participating in the Olympics, including the reserve goalkeeper Drusille Ngako, swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue and boxers Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo.
Technology in track cycling
Team GB Cycling introduced new bicycles for the London 2012 Olympics that subsequently outperformed Australia and France with margins greater than expected. In France the performance was greeted with suspicion and allegations of cheating, which were vehemently defended against by British Prime Minister, David Cameron. The former head of research and development of the British Cycling Team, Chris Boardman said that every single bicycle component was vetted and declared fit for use by the UCI; however, Joe Lindsey of Bicycling magazine stated that the spirit of equal footing had been broken. French world champion cyclist Grégory Baugé demanded that the British reveal their secret, but French omnium specialist Bryan Coquard supported the British, believing the secret is the best equipment being revealed at the last moment, also stating: "he Australians didn't race cohesively..." When asked if the "high-tech warfare" between large national teams will put other countries at a disadvantage Chris Boardman replied, "Well, I'd like to think so, we haven't done our job if they're not." The British team stress that performance is achieved through 'marginal gains', including training, and preparation. Home advantage was given as a possible reason for the British performance with omnium gold medalist Laura Trott stating: "I just got going and the crowd just drove me home."
See also
- Cheating at the Paralympic Games
- Concerns and controversies over the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Concerns and controversies over the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Concerns and controversies over the 2010 Commonwealth Games
- Controversies at the 2012 Paralympic Games
- Campaign for a Scottish Olympic Team
- Parasports
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External links
- London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – Official website
- Mallon, Bill (18 January 2019). "AN UPDATE ON LONDON 2012 DOPING POSITIVES". OlympStats.
- Mallon, Bill (18 January 2019). "ALL OLYMPIC DOPING POSITIVES – THE COUNT BY GAMES". OlympStats.