[kamjam]

Marmite games! I was cynical too before they started, but was hooked after the opening ceremony. I think beseku's point was the games themselves were fantastic, and the majority of people really enjoyed it. I think the article points out some really good points though, although it didn't ruin them, it certainly put a little bit of a downer on the games.

The Games were fantastic, but I'm disappointed that something as special and symbolic as the Olympic Games making more of a marketing/commercial exploitation than "the spirit of the the Olympic Games".

I mean the whole Visa thing was an absolute pile of rubbish. I get the fact that Visa spend money to sponsor the games, but for that they get their name plastered all over the websites, stadiums and marketing material. We get it, you sponsored the Games. Thanks. Now don't stop me being able to buy tickets just because I don't have a Visa card, it's not like I can get one instantly when I am trying to buy a ticket last minute and you give me 2 minutes to enter my card details otherwise I lose my tickets... and then they won't accept my money in the stadium because I don't have a Visa, or I can't take my money out of an ATM either. I actually have a Visa, but I think this would have cause more bad publicity than good and the publicity they were trying to buy!

They did well to release more seats and fill up the stadiums when there was an outcry (it's all a learning experience...) so they should have sorted out the issue with small businesses being bullied like that.

Maybe it's always been like this and never really took much notice because it was never on my door step before...