Counter Olympics Network: Protesting The Corporate Olympics in London

01/25

Caption

Descendants of the Circassians draw attention, through a dance, to the genocide of the Circassian people, a Caucasian and Middle-Eastern mountain tribe, by Imperial Russia in Sochi - site of the 2014 Winter Olympics - at the end of the 19th century.

02/25

Caption

A local resident holds placards protesting against the militarisation of and unethical corporate sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics.

03/25

Caption

A woman holds a placard recalling the Bhopal Disaster in protest against the sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics by Dow Chemical.

04/25

Caption

A woman holds a placard protesting against the unethical corporate sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics by companies such as Dow Chemical, G4S, ATOS, BP and RTZ.

05/25

Caption

The march, organised by the Counter Olympics Network, proceeds through Bow in East London.

06/25

Caption

Islington Disabled People Against The Cuts lead the march in protest against the sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics by ATOS, a highly controversial IT company responsible for removing disabled benefits from disabled people.

07/25

Caption

The Counter Olympics Network marches through Bow in East London.

08/25

Caption

A woman holds an embroidered placard reading 'Bugger the Olympics - and the Jubilee'.

09/25

Caption

A man holds placards protesting against the corporate sponsorship of and militarisation of the London 2012 Olympics.

10/25

Caption

A protester calls for Tony Blair to be tried before the Hague War Crimes Tribunal.

11/25

Caption

A woman holds a placard protesting against the corporate sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics.

12/25

Caption

A man holds a placard protesting against the corporate sponsorship of the 2012 London Olympics by BP, or British Petroleum.

13/25

Caption

Marchers hold a banner protesting against the corporate sponsorship of and militarisation of the London 2012 Olympics.

14/25

Caption

A protester draws attention to the genocide of the Circassian people, a Caucasian and Middle-Eastern mountain tribe, by Imperial Russia in Sochi - site of the 2014 Winter Olympics - at the end of the 19th century.

15/25

Caption

Surface-to-air Rapier missiles have been sited on top of this residential apartment block in Bow Quarter, East London, against the wishes of many of its residents, as part of £550 million being spent on security for the London 2012 Olympics.

16/25

Caption

Local residents protest against the siting of surface-to-air missiles on top of residential apartment blocks in Bow Quarter, East London, as part of £550 million being spent on security for the London 2012 Olympics.

17/25

Caption

A protester enjoys a quiet moment in Victoria Park.

18/25

Caption

Brian Richardson of Defend The Right To Protest addresses the Counter Olympics Network rally in Victoria Park.

19/25

Caption

Ruth Tanner of War On Want addresses the Counter Olympics Network rally in Victoria Park.

20/25

Caption

A protester recounts how cyclists from Critical Mass were harassed and arrested by police on the evening of the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics.

21/25

Caption

Chris Nineham of Stop The War Coalition addresses the Counter Olympics Network rally in Victoria Park.

22/25

Caption

John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, addresses the Counter Olympics Network rally in Victoria Park.

23/25

Caption

Theresa Williamson, founder of Catalytic Communities, explains some of the challenges facing favela communities in Rio de Janeiro threatened by Rio 2016.

24/25

Caption

Zita Holbourne, performance poet and trade union and community activist (BARAC UK, PCS), addresses the Counter Olympics Network rally in Victoria Park.

25/25

Caption

Performance group Reclaim Shakespeare draw attention to the unethical sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics by BP, or British Petroleum, as part of the Counter Olympics Network rally in Victoria Park.

Report current story

A protest against unethical corporate sponsorship of and militarisation of the London Olympics was organised by the Counter Olympics Network. It consisted of a march and a rally close to the London Olympics site.

This march and rally organised by the Counter Olympics Network was intended to protest both against the sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics by companies considered to be unethical such as Dow Chemical, BP, Rio Tinto, Adidas and ATOS and against the militarisation of the London 2012 Olympics, with a reported budget of £550 million being spent on controversial measures including siting surface-to-air missiles on top of residential apartment blocks close to the Olympic site in East London.