London riots raise fears for 2012 Olympics

By John Bagratuni Aug 9, 2011, 10:27 GMT

Berlin - Civil unrest at an Olympics is a nightmare scenario for organizers, just as terrorist attacks are, and it is no surprise that the London riots have led to concerns around the 2012 Games in the British capital.

While no Olympic facilities have yet been targeted in three nights of riots, the incidents have raised security concerns and are overshadowing the run-up to the Games.

'In less than one year we welcome the world to London, and right now the world doesn't want to come,' marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe tweeted on Monday night.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and London organizing committee LOCOG swiftly expressed their faith that the Games will be safe for athletes, officials and visitors.

'Security is the top priority for the IOC but is it not our direct responsibility - that is something for the authorities in London in whom we have complete confidence,' IOC spokesman Mark Adams told the German Press Agency dpa.

LOCOG spokeswoman Joanna Manning-Cooper told dpa: 'A lot of detailed work has taken place regarding security plans for the Games and we will continue to review them together with the Met Police and the Home Office over the coming year.'

While England's friendly with the Netherlands and other football matches in London were called off as an immediate measure Tuesday, the Games are still 353 days away, and civil unrest in the run-up is nothing new in Olympic history.

Back in 1968, some 250 people reportedly died when the Mexican government forces opened fire on student demonstrators in Mexico City 10 days before the opening ceremony there.

In the spring of 2008, there was an outcry when China quashed unrest in Tibet and the human rights issue was constantly on the agenda around the Beijing Games.

There were no incidents during the actual Games, although local protesters made attempts to disturb torch relays ahead of the Turin Winter Games in 2006 and Beijing 2008.

This prompted the IOC to abandon the international routes for the torches to protect the Olympic flame and idea.

Olympic Security has been a top issue ever since 17 people died when a Palestinian commando attacked the Israeli team at the Munich 1972 Games and a rescue operation failed.

The 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City took place just five months after September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

London, for its part, was the target of terrorist attacks by home-grown suicide bombers on July 7, 2005, which left 52 people dead, the day after being elected Olympic hosts by the IOC.

London organizers say that London has a long history of being subject to threats, ranging from the IRA to lone terrorists, and that they are prepared for any scenario in a 600-million pound (983 million dollars) security concept.

This concept, they also insist, will not spoil the expected party atmosphere in town.

'We are very good at policing in a friendly and a discrete way,' said organizing committee chief Sebastian Coe.

The current riots, mainly carried out by youths, were apparently sparked by the death of a 29-year-old alleged drug criminal in Tottenham, in a police sting operation last week.

They spread to other cities on Monday and more than 300 people have been arrested. Damage in Tottenham alone amounts to more than 6 million pounds.

However, British 2004 Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton was among those who pointed out that looting local shops and setting local property ablaze was definitely the wrong answer.

'How does burning down the home of 26 families and a carpet shop solve anything?' tweeted Sotherton, adding: 'Bring in the army. How the hell can the police deal with this!?'

The IOC is non-political by definition, but the awarding of Olympics to cities does have a huge socio-political impact in the form of an Olympic legacy.

For London 2012, the impoverished East End has undergone a dramatic facelift, not only through Olympic Park with its venues.

The area's infrastructure includes 8,000 new flats, Europe's largest shopping mall and an urban recreational area. Some 20,000 permanent jobs will be created there.

British Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel, in an interview with Sky Sports on Tuesday, named the London riots 'a reflection of the world we live in' but said the Olympics could have a healing effect.

'It makes an Olympic Games and a Paralympic Games all the more important. We need reasons to come together and celebrate and coexist peacefully,' Seibel said.

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