Fake ID? That’s not very sporting. December 6, 2009
Posted by sallylester in Current affairs, Olympics 2012.Tags: 2012, building, London, news, olympic, Sport, UKBA
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It was yesterday revealed that 90 workers on the Olympic building site in Stratford had been arrested on suspicion of illegally trying to obtain work and forging documents which allowed them to gain employment in the UK.
Workers from Nigeria, the Ukraine, Brasil, Kosovo, Moldova, India, Sierra Leone and Albania have all been investigated, and many of them charged and deported by the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) which has a permanent base at the East London site to try and control the employment of immigrant workers.
Speaking to the Independent Tony Smith, senior director for the UKBA’s Olympic 2012 programme, said: “The UK Border Agency has officers based permanently at the Olympic site to check the identity of people seeking work and help ensure the Games are delivered on time, with a workforce legally entitled to be there.
Workers on the Olympic site were illegally working without passports or visas
“We’re working closely with employers and contractors, giving presentations and advising them what checks they need to make to prevent illegal working. My officers offer forgery awareness training and conduct visits to businesses to ensure that their policies and procedures are up-to-date.
“By working with other agencies we can help make the Olympics a safe and enjoyable event for all.”
These set-backs in building is not ideal for keeping the schedule on track, but at least precautions are in place and these illegal workers are not slipping through the net and compromising the build in that way.
It was also confirmed that eight workers on the site for were eligible to work in the UK were also arrested; one of which being a British journalist who had gone undercover to try and expose lax security at the site. Looks like he was wrong. Security is tight.
“Paris? I don’t think so, son!” December 5, 2009
Posted by sallylester in Celebrity, Current affairs, Olympics 2012, Sport, Uncategorized.Tags: 2012, argumental, charlie higson, dave, eddie izzard, john sergent, marcus brigstoke, olympics, youtube
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Even Britain’s top comedians are getting in on the Olympic act with Eddie Izzard visiting the Olympic site and posting about it on his twitter account (eddieizzard). And Dave’s satirical show “Argumental” has a very interesting debate about the 2012 Olympics coming to London.
Marcus Brigstoke takes the view that London shouldn’t be the host, while the hilarious Charlie Higson (of Fast Show fame) struggles to argue against the point. Seems that in the world of celebrity London 2012 isn’t exactly held in the highest regard.
Check it out:
Fifa 1 – 0 Uefa in Olympic battle. December 4, 2009
Posted by sallylester in Celebrity, Current affairs, Olympics 2012, Sport.Tags: 2012, fifa, football, London, messi, olympics, south africa, Sport, uefa, wenger, world cup
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As football looms large in the nation’s thoughts with the World Cup draw taking place today the involvement of these world-class footballers in the Olympic games – an event meant for “amateurs” comes to the public’s attention.
How amateur any of these athletes who have trained for their whole lives are is another question, the main point is whether a footballer with World Cup experience should be allowed to compete for their country in 2012. Seemingly it makes sense that they should be banned because if they do take place we are in effect having another World Cup two years on from the competition in South Africa.
The problem was discussed by the Olympic committee after uefa (Union of European Football Association) proposed that football at the Olympics should become an under-21 event instead of an under-23 which was the rule in Beijing 2008.
Fifa general secretary Jerome Val confirmed today however that is was too close to the start of the 2012 Games to change the rules and that it would remain that the team should be under 23 years of age (with three over-age players allowed to compete – a la Lionel Messi who helped Argentina to gold at Beijing).
Other news on the Olympic football front is that Great Britain WILL be entering a team in 2012 although due to disagreements between the different camps it will be an England side rather than a United Kingdom conglomeration of teams.
Still, it will be good to see a youthful side – some rising stars – playing for Team GB. Maybe youngsters like Jack Wilshire and Sanchez Watt will be able to make the country (and Arsene Wenger) proud.
