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.