Sue me… Artwork Lord Biro.
The planning of the next issue of LeftLion has been a bit of a headache because of the Olympics. We’ve become so paranoid about what we can and can’t do with those frigging rings that none of us dare put a coffee cup down on the table for fear any stain may contravene strict branding regulations. This is because the Olympic rings (designed in 1912 and debuted in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics) are a trademark of the Olympic Movement and therefore they are doing everything they can to protect their brand. This should come as no surprise given that we live in an era where large corporations such as Marlboro have tried to paten light and celebs (in the loosest sense of the word) such as Paris Hilton have tried to monetise catchphrases such as ‘that’s hot’. It’s an absolute joke. So it was a relief to hear the London Major defiantly state: ‘If you want to stick five doughnuts in your window and call them Olympic rings then be my guest.’
The Olympic Movement has exclusive rights to any interlocking arrangement of five rings, as well as the usage of the word “Olympic” which has meant we have had to drop one illustration for the ‘Canadian in New Basford’ Column (because the rings in the image showed utter contempt for symmetry) as well as certain ones by Lord Biro featured on this page.
The 2012 logo finally looks good… Artwork Lord Biro.
I feel really angry about this because the Lord Biro drawing is his art work and commentary and therefore not our opinion. Yet such is the level of paranoia created by the ‘brand army’ – who have employed people to check out designs in posters, etc across the country – that we’ve failed to fully support someone who is making an important stance against this overburdening bureaucracy. But a potential £20,000 fine to a voluntary-run magazine is too much of a risk.
The Games look set to be over budget and nearing 11 billion. This is worrying, particularly as it took Montreal thirty years to pay off the debts accumulated from hosting the ’76 games. But with 2 billion raised through sponsorship it is understandable that some effort needs to be made to protect the rights of the marketing partners. The question is, how far do you go? What happens if someone employed to work at the games turns up for work with a can of Pepsi instead of Coca Cola or if they choose to wear Nike trainers instead of Adidas. How much personal freedom will be lost to ensure the partners claw back their returns? Is it going to be a case of straight bananas?
Two jugs Biro and me with a recession-busting Damien Hirst skull at the British Art Show, ‘Tempreh.
Lord Biro is the leader of the Bus-Pass Elvis Party. He recently stood in the Feltham Bye-election, December 2011 and campaigned against fast food corporations sponsoring sports events. In 2005 he campaigned against junk food in the General Election (Erewash) on behalf of the Church of the Militant Elvis, long before Jamie made such things fashionable. It is clear from his latest exhibition that when it comes to corporate sponsorship, he’s not lovin’ it. He seems to have a problem with McDonalds despite it being a well-known fact that all athletes love a burger, fries and McFlurry to help them hurry down the track. With a whopping 533 million being spent on security alone (that’s 243378995 Happy meals in case you were wondering) our favourite satirist is certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to venting spleen although he might just be jealous because he hasn’t got a missile launcher on his roof.
‘Teddy Bears Picnic Banned From Olympics’, 27 July – 16 August, West End Arcade shop fronts. Free. For more info see mclympics.wordpress.com