London beats Vancouver in creepy Olympic moments

by Charlie Smith on Jul 27, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Video surveillance was in place at the Vancouver Olympic Centre.
Stephen Hui

Sometimes I read an article, and I ask myself, "Why didn't I think of that?"

The most recent example came when I spoted this gem on the cracked.com site.

Entitled "5 Creepy Things London Did to Prepare for the Olympics", it could have just as easily been written about the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

Here's the list:

• "Surface-to-Air Missiles...on Apartment Buildings": Okay, we didn't go quite that far, but there was an incredible buildup of security forces in the city.

• "The Biggest Military Buildup in London Since World War II": The same could be said for Vancouver in 2010.

• "Empty Roads for the Rich": These, of course, are those dreaded Olympic lanes, which caused no end of irritation in Vancouver.

• "Big Brother Is Watching You (You, Specifically)": It's not as if we're not familiar with that.

• "Berlin Wall 2: Wall Harder": We didn't have the equivalent in Vancouver of a stadium being surrounded by a wall. So in this regard, London wins gold for "creepy Olympic moments".

Have you watched Canadian athletes compete in the Summer Games in London?

Yes 37%
55 votes
No 63%
95 votes
Comments (7) Add New Comment
Charlie Smith is desparate for content
Jul 27, 2012 at 9:37 pm
So, what you're saying is that Vancouver is just as creepy as London, only not nearly as much.
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seagreen
Jul 28, 2012 at 12:49 am
Vancouver's weather is just as bad as London's, only not nearly as much.
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Ian G62
Jul 28, 2012 at 12:28 pm
In hindsight Vancouver hosting the 2010 Olympics has done nothing for our economy, our world profile or any of the positive spin-offs touted by the pro-Olympic machine. It has however, left us with no accountability to the debt incurred - for that we will forever remain in the dark.
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Daniel224
Jul 28, 2012 at 3:58 pm
seagreen - FYI Vancouver gets more rain.
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scathe
Jul 28, 2012 at 6:04 pm
"Surface-to-Air Missiles...on Apartment Buildings": Okay, we didn't go quite that far, but there was an incredible buildup of security forces in the city.

Rooftop police snipers have operated in London for years, especially on Whitehall. Security in Europe is simply different from Canada, and not without good reason, they've had decades of IRA bombings to deal with, the only thing Canada has had even close to that was the FLQ in the 70s and it pales in comparison. I lived in England and Spain for a few years and I guess you could call it "creepy" as an outsider, but it's really just different.
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Verna
Jul 29, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Watching the news and listening to Canadian newscasters discuss how London overspent on the Olympics makes me want to laugh. Or cry. Or vomit. Depending on my mood.
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Dave19
Jul 29, 2012 at 11:58 pm
We had those creepy masked agent provocateurs all dressed in black though. I remember our incredible built up security force were carefully protecting them from the vigilantes. Then let them run amuck to discredit the peaceful protesters. Now that was creepy!
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