The Big Brother Olympics: Bottled water, long-lens cameras and Che Guevara T-shirts all banned from stadiums in new crackdown

Oppressive rules that ban Olympic ticketholders from bringing a range of items from long-lens cameras to Che Guevara t-shirts and 'excessive food' to venues have been revealed by organisers.



The list of restricted items has caused surprise and angst among spectators who are only able to bring a small handful of items with them to the Games.

There will be no frisbees, bottled water or long-lens cameras as organisers crackdown on spectators' possessions.



Olympic crackdown: Among the many items banned at the Games, balls, long-lens cameras, clothing with political statements, noisemakers and bottled water are just a few on the list

Memorable: The ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in front of the Olympic Stadium will be a feature of the Games unlike spectators with picnics and flags who will be banned

Security will be tight with airport-style restrictions on liquids greater than 100ml and no more than one soft-sided bag is allowed and must fit under the spectator’s seat.

The Beijing Olympics organising committee drew much criticism for its restricted list which covered everything from a ban on sleeping outdoors, the need for government permission to stage a protest and barring prostitutes and those with ‘mental diseases’ or contagious conditions.

Four years ago: The tight security at the Beijing Olympics was criticised for its list of restrictions which barred protest with government permission and people with mental or contagious conditions

BANNED FROM THE GAMES

Balls, rackets, frisbees

Large flags and banners

Clothing with political statements or commercial signage



Oversized hats

Large golf-style umbrellas

Long-lens cameras and tripods

Excessive amounts of food

Noisemakers

Liquids greater than 100ml

Four years on and the London list is showing some similarities with tents, placards and other items that ‘could be used to demonstrate within the venue or sabotage property’ off-limits.

Organisers will be looking out for ‘any objects or clothing bearing political statements or overt commercial identification intended for “ambush marketing”’ to avoid scenarios like the 2010 football World Cup when Bavaria Beer filled a section of seats with a bevy of Dutch girls wearing orange.

They’ll be no picnics or eating too much food brought from home with ‘excessive amounts of food’ and alcohol on the no-go list.



Organisers figure that the more than 14 million meals to be served across 40 locations during the Games will suffice.

Spectators won’t be able to shelter from London’s unpredictable weather with no ‘large golf-style umbrellas’ or ‘oversized hats’.

No noise: Showing patriotism with vuvuzelas and flags like this German supporter at a 2010 World Cup football match won't happen at the Games

They’ll be no chance to make a racquet or cheer too loudly with ‘noisemakers such as hunting horns, air horns, klaxons, drums, vuvuzelas and whistles’ off limits.

Ticketholders went to Twitter to express their surprise at the long list of restrictions.

One said: ‘Coming to the 2012Olympics? No frisbees or picnic hampers. It's gonna rain and Heathrow sucks.’

Another called it ‘the Dystopian Games’.

Take cover: With London rain a fact of life at sporting events like the Wimbledon quarter final (pictured), staying dry could prove difficult without a large umbrella - one of the restricted items at the Games



