Ref: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/407441.html

Olympic Handover to Free Hackney
by Peter Marshall | 24.08.2008

(see pictures on link above).

A tank from the Free Hackney campaign was at the Hackney Handover in
Hoxton St as the Beijing games ended to celebrate the handover of the
Olympic protest baton from the Free Tibet Movement to the Free
Hackney Campaign.

At the same time that billions around the world were getting images
of the Olympic Flag passing from the Mayor of Beijing to our local
glove muppet (it's just so embarrasing to be emborised) another
important ceremony was more or less totally unobserved by the
commercial media, as the Olympic baton of protest was passed from the
Free Tibet movement to the Free Hackney campaign,

To mark the transfer, rather than eight minutes of puke-inducing
performance that made me sad to be English, the Free Hackney campaign
brought their 'tank' to the 'street party' celebrating our
considerably more sensible approach to the 1948 event - probably the
last Olympics to have any real connection with the spirit of the
modern Olympic movement celebrated in the words of its founder, Baron
Pierre de Coubertin "L'important n'est pas de gagner, mais de
participer" - tell anyone remotely connected with Team Britain or the
rest of our sports industry that what is important isn't winning but
taking part and they will look on you as a lunatic.

The 'tank' - some kind of small and lightly armoured personell
carrier - was manned and womanned by some familiar faces from
earlier 'Space Hijackers' events, including a tank commander I last
saw in charge of a rather larger 'tank' being auctioned at (or rather
just outside, thanks to over-much cooperaration between police and
the arms traffickers at the EXCEL centre) the East London Arms Fair.
(see http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2007/09/sep.htm#space)

The vehichle carried several 'Free Hackney' flags which have a
familar yellow, blue and red sun motif, as well as a considerably
more meaningful adaption of the Olympic logo.

As 'Free Hackney' point out, London 2012 presents a great opportunity
for property developers to rip us off and make obscene profits
building luxury flats in the area, while at the same time restricting
public access, closing down the existing free facilities and
demolishing social housing and local businesses.

Next to the tank the 'austerity Olympics' were taking place on a
small section of Hoxton St, with events such as a slow walking race
creating considerable hilarity. Unfortunately the event in 2012 will
be rather more painful.

Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk