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Category - olympics 2012

  • 1 Oct 2012
    Probing behind 'Olympic legacy' political posturing

    Now that the medals have long been awarded, the plaudits made and the ceremonies completed, the final Olympic and Paralympic contest is underway, notes Simon Barrow. Who will claim political gold in the much-publicized Games ‘legacy’ race?

  • 10 Sep 2012
    London 2012, a reshuffle and the honours system

    'Honour' is both an abstract noun and a verb. These characteristics have become somewhat confused as sacked government ministers are rewarded and Olympic and Paralympic athletes feted for the achievements which have delighted and inspired so many over the last few weeks.

  • 30 Aug 2012
    The brave new world of paralympian defiance

    “A millionaire with a private cinematograph, all the necessary props and a troupe of intelligent actors could, if he wished, make practically all of his inner life known. He could explain the real reasons of his actions instead of telling rationalised lies, point out the things an ordinary man has to keep locked up because there are no words to express them. In general, he could make other people understand him.” So wrote George Orwell in his 1940 essay 'New Words'.

  • 13 Aug 2012
    'New weather' and the aftermath of London 2012

    Something unlooked for has happened over the last two weeks. Many of us have been turned from Olympic scepticism towards – if not an entirely uncritical enthusiasm – a frame of mind which acknowledges it has caught a glimpse of the kind of society which we could be, and has taken inspiration from it.

  • 12 Aug 2012
    Olympians and Paralympians inspire at Legacy Breakfast

    An inaugural Legacy Award breakfast in honour of Eric Liddell and athletes he inspires was held in London as the Olympic games drew to a close.

  • 9 Aug 2012
    War on Want keeps up pressure on Olympic exploitation

    Several large sports companies and Olympic sponsors are under continued pressure over their commercial activities as the Games draw to a climax.

  • 7 Aug 2012
    Churches help out after failure of Weymouth Olympic initiative

    Weymouth’s Bayside Festival for the Olympics has gone into liquidation. But churches from the area are helping shocked stallholders and security staff.

  • 31 Jul 2012
    Giving thanks for the Olympic opening ceremony

    Halfway through the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Paul Mason, Economics Editor of the BBC’s Newsnight tweeted, ‘Entire ceremony has echoes of catholic priesthood who taught Danny (and me) - rerum novarum etc’. I was glad when I read this, as I was beginning to think I’d been imagining it.

  • 30 Jul 2012
    Boris Johnson urged to break silence over mass arrest of cyclists

    The London Green Party have urged Boris Johnson to break his silence over the arrest of 182 cyclists in east London during the Olympic opening ceremony.

  • 30 Jul 2012
    Charity calls on drone part manufacturer GE to observe 'Olympic Truce'

    Olympic sponsor GE faces calls to honour the ‘Olympic Truce’ by acting to stop the use of its drone components in strikes carried out by the US in Pakistan and Yemen.