Olympics organisers refuse to clarify photography rules ahead of Games
Aerial view of the Olympic Park showing the Olympic Stadium and warm-up track in the foreground. Picture taken on 16 April 2012.
The London Organising Committee claims it would be "impractical" to publish a list of authorised cameras and lenses for use at Olympic venues
Author: Olivier Laurent, with James Temperton of Computer Active
13 Jul 2012 Tags: 2012 olympic gamesRightsStreet rightsLensesDslr
Last month, BJP reported on restrictions imposed by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on large photographic and broadcast equipment over 30cm in length for ticket-holder visitors. At the time, a spokeswoman for the committee told BJP that such equipment could be accepted in certain venues.
"Some venues will be more flexible," she said. "For example, if you're attending an event in Green Park, there'll be more space for spectators, so security might allow you to get in with larger equipment. But that won't be the case at the Olympic Stadium," where large lenses and tripods could interfere with spectators' view of the sporting events.
However, BJP and ComputerActive, another Incisive Media publication, have found that Wembley Stadium, which will host football events during the Olympic Games, will prohibit any kind of "professional-style cameras [any camera with interchangeable lenses] or recording/transmitting devices".
The rules would, in effect, ban the use of any DSLRs, as well as mirrorless, compact interchangeable lens cameras manufactured by Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Pentax and Olympus. Panasonic is an official Olympics sponsor.
Asked to clarify the rules, a spokesman for LOCOG has declined. "It is generally felt that it would be impractical to publish a definitive list of cameras and lenses that would, or would not, meet the requirements, especially in view of the time constraints of a security test conducted on thousands of people entering a sports venue at a concentrated time," he said.
"You are right in saying that interchangeable lenses are now commonplace, and for this reason the intention is to take a responsible but pragmatic approach," the spokesman added. "We trust that your readers will have the sufficient technical knowledge to sense what would and would not be allowed – as is common at all major events these days – and that they enjoy their Olympic experience."
When asked whether security officers had been briefed on the differences between non-professional and professional photographic equipment, the spokesman did not respond.
This refusal comes as the Home Office and LOCOG are facing criticism over security operations at the Olympics. "The depth of the crisis over G4S's Olympic security preparations became increasingly clear [recently] as recruits revealed details of a 'totally chaotic' selection process and police joined the military in bracing themselves to fill the void left by the private security contractor," according to The Guardian.
G4S received a £284m contract to provide 13,700 guards at the Olympics, but only has 4,000 in place, The Guardian reported. "It says a further 9,000 are in the pipeline," but it is unclear whether they will receive proper training less than two weeks before the Games begin.
Comments
"especially in view of the time constraints of a security test conducted on thousands of people entering a sports venue at a concentrated time"
Surely not publishing guidance in advance will make matters worse. What is a visitor expected to do with his/her modest camera if the ill-trained droid on the gate decides it's unacceptable?
Obviously in view of this I won't be taking my 7D, but had hoped to take my Nex 5N - now too much of a risk in being refused entry especially as there will not be anywhere to store anything refused admission.
There does need to be greater clarity.
"We trust that your readers will have the sufficient technical knowledge to sense what would and would not be allowed"
No doubt, but will the security guards?
Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2191402/london-2012-olympic-games-organisers-refuse-to-clarify-photography-rules-in-advance#ixzz20Uwqlouv
Subscribe to BJP and save money. Click here to save 29% today.
Spare a thought therefore for the poorly trained, last-minute trained, G4S security teams who will be seriously under pressure from all sides and will have no real knowledge of what is and what is not acceptable. Nor will their controllers.
I wouldn't know one end of a video camera from the next, so how the Devil will some recently-out of college kid drafted in to bolster a G4S company under siege from all sides?
So spare them and you a thought when thinking what to bring with you to the venues.
has anyone seen the official book capture the moment: a practical guide to sports photography london 2012, it has pics of people with dlsrs and it said 200-300mm lens are perfect and one pic they used 400mm lens so why if it is in their book then we can take large lens into the games.
Last-minute training on camera gear too?
So the backlog of G4S guards, who now need to be trained in two weeks, as well as the poor Army, Navy and Air Force personel drafted in to help, all now have to decide what constitutes acceptable kit or not? Erm, probably not. It's spelled f - i - a - s - c - o.
More restrictions on photography?
I really do wonder just where this paranoia about cameras has come from? First, we were 'paedophiles' then we were taking photo's for terrorists or terrorist reconnaisance, now we might obstruct someones view. It's all about cameras. Just what is it that they are afraid of? After all, there does not seem to be the same level of concern regarding the size of Thermos flask or sandwich box you would be able to take in.
Methinks it is all about monitoring by citizens. After all, we are monitored and recorded by CCTV, they do not like us monitoring them - especially police/security guards. But we must continue to do so.
So, ive just flown in from japan, my olympic stadium ticket has no restriction for my taling my compact dslr... Say a nikon d5100... What do i do when i am suddenly refused entry? This is small minded madness... The first thing everyone will want to do is capture the moment they went to the olympics, these daft restrictions should be filed in the waste bin as simply wrong.
If refused entry, take a pic of the ignoramus / untrained person refusing that entry, & post it on Facebook / Twitter etc with clear reasons why.
The reason behind this is that the organizers and the athletes' managers want absolute control of all publicity and images of the event. Not going to have any unflattering or "oops" out there, not going to have any publicity they don't control, and not going to have any imagery used for which they aren't paid handsomely.
It's ALWAYS about the money. ESPECIALLY when it's not about the money.
Without you, there would be no Olympics- your money has financed these games, you ARE the main sponsors and you have every right in a publicly owned space to photograph.
No private security company, nor the military, all of whom whose wages are paid for by you can claim any practical obstacle or right to prevent you from recording events your money has paid for.
And the thousands of visitors are not going to be leaving THEIR equipment with a security guard, are they?
And the vast majority of ticketholders do NOT read these blogs and have NO idea about ANY restrictions whatever,
Because had LOBrow publicized their veto of photography a huge number of people would have saved their money and stayed home, with their families, having been refused their own means of recording events their taxes had paid for.
ME? I do not care, as nobody is paying me to record these Olympics, and when I look in my local travel agents and see that tickets are for sale for the 100m relay IF you want to spend £900 on something that lasts 10 seconds
(£90 a second), I am not just mad enough to fall for it, camera, or no.
You wont enjoy it at these rates and conditions, so organise a Spectators Trade Union and , well, have a nice day!
I sincerely hope that the photography restrictions at the London 2012 Olympics are not a blueprint for events to come.
Peter Harrap has made some very interesting and relevant points and I thoroughly agree with him. Me, I have no interest at all in the Olympics but, a lot of people are very sports minded. They will spend a lot of money and hope to have an enjoyable day. It makes me seeth with anger that these mindless, tin-pot Hitlers are sat dreaming up ways to spoil the day for Mr & Mrs Joe Bloggs and their children.
"you cannot do this, you cannot do that, you cannot do something else. I noticed as a teenager, these people will very readily tell you what you CANNOT do, they are far more reticent on just what you CAN do!
LOCOG has the exclusive right to determine what objects may be brought into a Venue by a Ticket Holder. LOCOG will not store confiscated and/or unauthorised material at a Venue and a Ticket Holder will have no right for the item to be returned.
Restrictions vary between the venues.
Just had an email about the football at Old Trafford which states:
'Equipment which is capable of recording or transmitting any audio, visual or audio-visual material or any information or data. Mobile telephones are permitted provided they are used for personal and private use only provided that no audio, visual or audio-visual material captured by a mobile telephone may be published or otherwise made available to any third
parties including via social networking site'
So mobiles ok but taking camera for personal use isn't.
For the City of Coventry stadium no mention is made of cameras except for the 30cm rule.
If I'd known about this I wouldn't have bought a ticket for the football. Guess that why the policy is so late.
I bought a fuji x10 so that i have a descent camera the wouldnt refuse! I hope fuji is A sponsor or else it wil be refused :P
I am from holland and the only way the sportcomitie sai I coukd get tickets was via a seller that charced €200 administration fee, than i discoverd that recidence of the eu could buy in england and not hae to pay adminstraion fee :S
I was excited about going to the games! but it is almost gone, especely now a here of the g4s scandal
Sorry for my Englisch
What makes this even more bizarre is that Wembley's rules seem to even ban Panasonic's new 'official' Olympic camera, which has interchangeable lenses.
I'm wary of posting the link in case someone suspects me of advertising (I'm not connected to Panasonic!) but for Wembley to ban official London2012 merchandise that is told using the tagline "Capture your Olympic moments" seems utterly bizarre.
Wembley has to decide: Change your rules in line with every other venue, or ban the official camera. Please do the sensible thing.
by a PRIVATE company and photo regulations by public administration?
What DID you actually exepect these Games to look like?
- Seriously? Why? Seems to me every aspect of this farce is simply more trouble than it's worth!
Related Articles
BJP Daily
Most Popular Articles
Photographers to launch digital light meter [update]
National Geographic launches in-house stock agency
Ageing and creative decline in photography: a taboo subject
Frontline Freelance Register created to help freelance war reporters
Broomberg & Chanarin win Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2013
Tate Modern explores photography's place in the museum
Updating your subscription status 
About us
British Journal of Photography is the world’s longest running photography magazine, established in 1854, and online since 1997. A high-quality monthly printed edition is available as a subscription or from selected newsagents in the UK and around the world.
Jobs
Senior Lecturer in Photography
We have a vacancy for a Senior Lecturer in Photography at Bath School of Art and Design
Photography Tutor
We're Creative Escapes, an award winning creative holiday company based in London.
Photographer at Bonhams
Bonhams is looking for a full-time photographer for its sale catalogues
Popular Topics
