As a mega-moneyfest, the Olympics demand a massive amount of corporate sanitizing. For spectators, this means having anything you didn't obtain from an official Olympic sponsor confiscated, but this has been going on for years and for the most part, that's the Faustian bargain you make in order to attend the world's greatest spectacle of sport.


But the Free Speech Blog noticed today the London Olympics are making an attempt to sanitize even Internet references to the Games. From the London Olympics website terms of use:

5. Linking policy

a. Links to the Site. You may create your own link to the Site, provided that your link is in a text-only format. You may not use any link to the Site as a method of creating an unauthorised association between an organisation, business, goods or services and London 2012, and agree that no such link shall portray us or any other official London 2012 organisations (or our or their activities, products or services) in a false, misleading, derogatory or otherwise objectionable manner. The use of our logo or any other Olympic or London 2012 Mark(s) as a link to the Site is not permitted.


That's right, they're declaring it illegal to, say, claim the London Olympics shit on the concept of free speech. Or to say the London Olympics engage in bullshit catering to mega-corporations while telling small businesses to fuck off. And you definitely shouldn't say the London Olympics have led people to fear for their lives as military missile installations are placed on their roof.

As usual, the Olympic organizers continue to let their asshattery get in the way of celebrating the achievements of the athletes a billion people will tune in to watch. And so, we say, fuck you.

[Free Speech Blog]