More than 40 groups to stage Olympics protest

More than 40 groups are to stage a protest against the Olympics to highlight the “corporate dominance” of the Games as well as other issues such as the cost of staging the event during a time of austerity.

Demonstrators will march through east London on Saturday, the first medal day of the Games and the day after the opening ceremony.

Groups taking part in the protest include War on Want, campaigners against the siting of missiles in the capital during the Games, local environmental organisations, and Occupy London, which set up a camp outside St Paul's Cathedral earlier this year.

"The Olympics are meant to be a celebration of human endeavour. However the 'people's games' in London are subject to the whims of global corporations and financial institutions who seek to 'legally' avoid tax and saturate sport with their own marketing in an attempt to sanitise their reputations, never mind limiting ticket availability and securing VIP lanes," said Occupy London supporter Kate Morris.

"Despite the corporate dominance of the Games, the estimated cost to the taxpayer ranges from £11 billion to £24 billion, all while the UK is falling deeper into recession and Brits continue to be forced to bear austerity cuts for a crisis they didn't cause.

"Just as the creation of HM Revenue and Customs-sanctioned temporary Olympic tax haven in the East End of London has shown, the real value and motivations of the corporate sponsors and Locog should be questioned. Who really is benefiting from these Games?"

The demonstrators said they do not intend to disrupt the Games.

PA