Comment by mootothemax | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mootothemax | Hacker News Reader

From the London 2012 site:

Personal/private wireless access points and 3G hubs (smart devices such as Android phones, iPhone and tablets are permitted inside venues, but must not be used as wireless access points to connect multiple devices)

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Document/Documents/General/01/2...

They also seem to be following airline rules and have banned liquids over 100ml, amongst the other usual suspects.

I've no idea how they intend to enforce the ban against personal hotspots, nor why they'd bother in the first place. It's hardly enforceable, is it?

Edit: Interesting comment by ajerman on the engadget story, does this sound plausible?

I would have to assume it's less to be oppressive and more to just minimize excessive airwave congestion in the area. If a few hundred people are running a mobile hotspot, you're going to have quite a bit of traffic on the ole wifi frequencies.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/25/london-bans-mobile-hotspo...

I'm guessing there will be for-pay wireless access hotspots installed. No inside info beyond what you see, just running on the theory that every dime is being squeezed out of the spectators and extrapolating from there.

I'm guessing there will be for-pay wireless access hotspots installed. No inside info beyond what you see, just running on the theory that every dime is being squeezed out of the spectators and extrapolating from there.

There's nothing banning 3G access, just the ability to use your phone as personal hotspot. Kinda pointless banning it if 3G isn't available in the first place.

I expect paid Wifi hotspots, not 3G hotspots. In addition to them being offended you aren't paying them for Wifi, the phones will also potentially interfere with their paid Wifi.

The 3G coverage is bound to be horrible because there will be so many people forcing people to use their overpriced hotspots.

Yep, BT is providing Openzone hotspots, which you can purchase access to: http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/news/bt-deploys-public-wi-...

Presumably it's because Samsung is their Official Mobile Phone Sponsor.

The liquids thing is because Coke is their Official Carbonated Beverage Sponsor.

Presumably it's because Samsung is their Official Mobile Phone Sponsor.

Right - but what does that have to do with banning personal hotspots? The guidelines clearly say you can bring your phone along.

The liquids thing is because Coke is their Official Carbonated Beverage Sponsor.

There's nothing in there saying you can't bring 100ml of Pepsi ;-)

But once you're done drinking your tiny amount of Pepsi, if you get thirsty you'll have to buy Coke.

But once you're done drinking your tiny amount of Pepsi, if you get thirsty you'll have to buy Coke.

Not true, here's the sample menu from London 2012 that illustrates what will typically be available at venues inside the olympic park:

Bottled water – £1.60

Fairtrade tea – from £2.00

Fairtrade coffee – from £2.60

500ml bottle of Coca-Cola – £2.30

330ml bottle of Heineken – £4.20

London 2012 red wine 18.7cl – £4.80

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Document/Documents/General/01/2...

Definitely overpriced, but Coke isn't the only option.

This definitely reinforces the point. You're not allowed to bring your own drinks in, if you want to drink anything you must buy an overpriced drink from one of 3 or 4 sponsors.

This definitely reinforces the point. You're not allowed to bring your own drinks in, if you want to drink anything you must buy an overpriced drink from one of 3 or 4 sponsors.

Well, that's a different argument from the one that coke is your only option ;)

Can't say that I like these sponsorship deals enforcing things like this though. Going to a festival? Flat Carlsberg it is!

  > that coke is your only option

For instance, The Coca-Cola Company owns several bottled water brands. No one said that "Coke the drink" was the only thing available.

"Dasani - London tapwater with added toxic levels of Benzene"

Admittedly the tag line needs some work, but with a good enough Logo it will sell.

$3.56 coke must be mighty special.

I don't get why any sports enthusiast would ever drink a drink that's just corn syrup, even if it were free.

McDonalds is the official fast food sponsor of Londinium MMXII !

I read they will have the worlds largest McDonalds there.

Well I will feel very disappointed if we don't see all the athletes eating there every day

I guess money is money, doesn't matter where it comes from, it's sad but the games have gone downhill ever since they stopped letting lions in the stadium, in my opinion.

UK Coke (and large parts of the non-US world) is cane sugar based rather than corn syrup.

It's not good for you, but it tastes a whole lot better.

That's typical London pricing.

Paris is much worse. The same 500ml bottle will cost you $5.33 at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

£2.30 a bottle??? What the fuck are Coke thinking? Paying all that money to sponsor the games and then absolutely shafting anyone who actually buys your drink. Everyone will be walking away saying "Fuck me, that coke was expensive." - I can't believe that's the message they're wanting to leave behind.

I have a flat in London, but I'm staying away for the whole of the Olympics. I'm ashamed of the whole thing. "At this unprecedented time of War, Crisis and Recession. Your Dear Government offer you to enjoy the International Games. But you must Be Cautious at all times. Our Security Services and Army will try to ensure that you are not killed while watching the shot-put."

I don't see why this is surprising? All big events have outrageous prices. Compared to some gigs I've been to they even seem somewhat reasonable. There are much worse things brought about by the Olympics being here than the prices charged to those in the event itself.

Will you be renting your flat for the duration of the games? In Vancouver they tried to regulate that too.

Fairtrade tea – from £2.00 Fairtrade coffee – from £2.60

Rather expensive for a cup of hot water. Does that price include a teaspoon of fairtrade sugar and a dash of fairtrade milk or cream?

Then again, its not very fairtrade for coffee farmers/producers to get 60p more for their product than tea farmers/producers. Wonder how much of that excess markup the farmers actually end up seeing.

The Heineken's cheaper than in a pub in Dublin!

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