23 JulRemember it’s our Olympics, so let’s claim it back

I’ve remain doggedly optimistic about the Olympics even in the face of the, quite frankly, horrific sponsors. But I understand why people feel fed up with all the sponsorship.

Out of a total cost of £12 billion, corporate sponsors pay only £2billion, which mainly comes via LOCOG. Despite the small percentage they pay they have extraordinary rights. Not only do they get their own Games Lanes, but they’ve also claimed ownership over certain elements of the Games, for example the Torch Relay.

I enjoyed my local Olympic Torch ceremony as I had the honour of meeting some brilliantly inspiring torch bearers. However, after three hours of advertising dressed up as entertainment I started to feel like Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange.

But then I got an idea: I’ve always believed that digital is the democratisation of communication, and tools like smart phones and You Tube make sharing thoughts, views and information so easy. So why not use these tools to portray the Olympics through the eyes local people? But to do that I need your help.

This is my ask: I’m looking for citizen shot footage of the Olympic Torch Relay. Anything you’ve shot on your phone, camcorder or any other device. I’m specifically looking for footage from Saturday 21st July when the torch came to Waltham Forest in London. However if you have something else that you think is real gold then get in touch and let me know. I’m looking for both footage of the torch itself and also anything that expressed your thoughts and feelings on the day, so long as it was shot on the day on the Relay route.

For further details and information on how to share the footage please contact me

 

_____

Terms and conditions

You must own the footage yourself and be willing to give us permission to use it free of charge
Do not send us footage of anything you have filmed off a TV or local Big Screen
By sending us footage you are consenting to it being in a short film we’re making for Waltham Forest Council as part of the Artists Taking Part project