London Olympics: unsportsmanlike conduct

If I haven't had a rant here about the 2012 London Olympics for some time, it hasn't been for any lack of provocation. The Games organisers ("LOCOG") continue to do infuriating things on an almost daily basis. Just in the last couple of weeks....

* A charity that had hoped to raise money by raffling tickets for the Games has been ordered to take the tickets back from the winners and return all the money it had collected. Spivs all over the world are dealing in the tickets at great profit, but LOCOG sees fit to stop a local charity from using them to raise some much needed funds. Considering that vast amounts of National Lottery funding has been diverted into the Games, at the expense of a large number of good causes, that's simply obscene.

* And speaking of obscene, the Government has agreed to allow LOCOG to spend an extra £40 million on the opening and closing ceremonies, which will now cost £80 million (including the Paralympics, which follow the main Games). For heaven's sake -- the ceremonies are basically a giant and tedious parade of athletes, most of whom would rather be resting up for their events anyway, followed by a big fireworks display. Apparently David "No Mates" Cameron saw the initial plans and felt that unless more money was thrown around, the ceremonies would not show the UK in the best possible light. Whereas, of course, his impetuous decision to veto the new EU treaty has won us a lot of new friends.

* It's being reported that LOCOG is planning to spend £15 million on food and drink for the international Olympic bigwigs during the Games. The on-site entertainment centre alone will cost as much as £5 million, and will no doubt be demolished as soon as the last canape and glass of Krug have been downed. At least we now know why half the main roads in London will be closed off so that the "Olympic family" can be shuttled around in limousines. These guys and gals are all going to be so stuffed and pickled that they'll barely be able to walk.

Lastly, and just in case you had forgotten the real purpose of these Games -- to allow a bunch of toffs to impress their foreign friends by spending unthinkable amounts of other people's money -- we have the news that Pippa Middleton is in negotiations to play some role at the Games. Ms Middleton is undeniably decorative, but her value to a sporting event, even one as overhyped as these Games, is hard to discern. Here's a suggestion, though. She could walk into the Stadium as part of the UK team -- bringing up the rear, obviously.