Can the UK be trusted with the 2012 Olympics?....

[HipChick]

The police showed that there were unable to get a handle on the situation for at least 3-4 days..

They continued their "No-go Area" policy, until it was too late..

The 2012 Olympics will take place within a few miles of where some the rioting took place..

Many of the young people were promised jobs in preparation for the Olympics, but none have materialized..

Nothing will be done to tackle the underlying issues..

There is nothing to prevent the situation happening again...especially with a large influx of visitors there for the 2012

[Cleita]

1. We have had riots in Los Angeles and we hosted the

Olympics and we did just fine. I think the UK will be okay. They just need to address the problems that caused the riots before then.

[HipChick]

2. They haven't addressed them for 30yrs..

When the first set of riots took place...I don't see jobs coming...

[Cleita]

4. Which first riots are you talking about?

After the Watts riot in 1965, there were community leaders who went into South Central and talked to the people and addressed their gripes. Changes were made and that community started doing things to improve their circumstances. Jobs that had been forbidden to blacks opened up throughout the city. Anyway, we did host the Olympics without incident. Many of the stadiums that held the Olympics were in black neighborhoods that had participated in the riots before then. The people in those neighborhoods made money by turning their front yards into parking lots for the events. Everyone was happy. Also, we managed to solve our traffic gridlock problem during the Olympics. It's too bad that those measures weren't kept permanently.

[HipChick]

8. I'm talking about the UK....since 1981 riots...nothng has really been addressed

[Cleita]

9. Oh, okay. Yes, they are going to have to address

those problems first.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. The people who were pushing..

...for an end to quadrennial bidding and a permanent home for the Games in Greece must be wondering what the hell they were thinking.

[truebrit71]

5. As long as the fuzz don't shoot any un-armed black guys before the opening ceremonies...

..and then lie about it, we should be just fine, thanks!

[MineralMan]

6. Well, they could use Atlanta as an example, I suppose.

:shrug:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Olympic_Park_bombing

[LanternWaste]

7. I'm planning my very first trip to England to coincide with the Olympics...

I hope so. I'm planning my very first trip to England to coincide with the Olympics, and am looking forward to it.

I imagine that the risk would be generally the same regardless of the country. In addition, I would hazard that an event of that size will compel the relevant security forces to increase any and all safety precautions.

But, like you, I'm merely prognosticating on very little evidence, fewer objective indications, and extending the precise events in the here and the now months into the unknowable future.

[HipChick]

10. the PM has radically cut the police force, making cuts in Prison system

I'm not holding out hope..

[MineralMan]

12. Sounds like you're probably not planning to go to the Olympics, then,

I guess. Me, neither, but then, I've never been to an Olympics venue during the Games.

Every location for the Olympics runs a risk of violence. That's demonstrated by the instances of that in the past. I don't believe it's possible to provide a complete safeguard against such a thing. Brazil is coming up, too. That should be an interesting one, as well.

As usual, I'll watch a few events on the television. That's enough for me.

[DonCoquixote]

11. sad to say

I am glad th Brits beat Florida out,
though Florida would have done a boffo job.

[dtexdem]

13. Of course: the torch lighting will be really spectacular!

And the biathlon will be held in the streets of Brixton -- but a summer biathlon: combining running and throwing Molotov cocktails.

;-)

[mr blur]

14. Don't want them

They're a bigger distraction than Rupert Murdoch. And a colossal waste of time - and money, which could be better spent on something important.

[War Horse]

15. Of course they can...

Security will be massive. They'll do whatever it takes, unpalatable or not.