“London 2012. Seriously?

Inspired by the London riots, I have penned the following article to be published on Melbourne RiffRaff, the University of Melbourne's Media & Communications Online Publication. I hope you will enjoy it:

London 2012. Seriously?

Just about a week ago, London’s Mayor Boris Johnson was in buoyant mood. Together with fellow Londoners, he celebrated the one-year countdown to the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Mayor Johnson was forced into damage limitation mode this week as London comes to grips with its worst bout of riots in recent years. Looking back, one can hardly imagine what a difference a week could make.

With the London riots being beamed around the world, the publicity for the impending Olympic Games cannot be much worse. Security forces were overstretched and proved incapable of handling the crisis. From what proved to be a riot isolated to London, copycat riots have since reared their heads across other major cities in Britain. There is little wonder that the Chinese have been quick to cast doubt over London’s capabilities to host a safe and successful Olympic Games.

In his address to the nation, British Prime Minister David Cameron promised a full-scale fightback. This is exactly what London has to do now. No longer are they just trying to restore law and order, London is battling to regain some lost pride and more importantly, preserve its reputation.

As London and other British cities burn, the London 2012 Organizing Committee must relook and beef up its security arrangements. More police officers will have to be recruited to police the streets. New legislation may also have to be passed in order to better empower law enforcement agencies in prosecuting the perpetrators. Only by showing its resolve through the implementation of such tough measures can London go some way in recouping the confidence of the international community.

2012 is a momentous year that will be closely watched. Believers of the 2012 phenomenon subscribe to the notion that the world is coming to an end. Likewise, 2012 may well sound the death knell of London if the chronic security problems that surfaced during the riots are not addressed properly. One can only hope that London 2012 will not be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Before I go, as follows is a news report on a London riots video that has gone viral. Senseless. Opportunistic. Disgraceful. Enough said.

Source: Al-Jazeera English YouTube Channel (10 August 2011)