The first ever Manchester anti-corporate olympics happened on Sat 21st Aug.
The point was to reclaim public spaces such as Market St as space for people to enjoy themselves, not just buy products, and to show that sport is for fun and for everyone not just for millionaire athletes and their corporate sponsors.
The point was to reclaim public spaces such as Market St as space for people to enjoy themselves, not just buy products, and to show that sport is for fun and for everyone not just for millionaire athletes and their corporate sponsors.
The Athens Olympics construction for the Olympic Games has led to the deaths and injuries of many workers. Roma families have been driven from their homes and hundreds of stray dogs poisoned to "clean up the streets" for the Olympics.
Last year in Manchester the Commonwealth Games meant shutting public swimming pools and the sell-off of public buildings and public spaces such as Piccadilly Gardens.
This year we decided to do something different.... so sporting slogans saying "sponsered by nobody" we raced into the Market Street er..stadium.
Some passers-by joined in with the games (including the most wicked pensioners in Manchester and young lads who ran in every race, and wore dresses in the drag race). Lots of people watched and laughed. Other events included the tomarto and spoon race (forwards and backwards!.. its harder with tomartos than with eggs), the three legged race (I just couldn't get how to do it), the binbag sack race, and finally the amazing "shopping" marathon (see marathon instructions below)and slow-motion race. We gave out stickers and chocolates for playing not winning. There were lots of sporting highlights, including an interesting conversation with a big name sports company employee saying her company had nice factories, and being asked if she'd heard of the sweatshops? Then there was the jaw on the floor expression of the manager of Starbucks, getting chucked out of HMV for having the cheek to dance to music you haven't paid for and the grand finale of Ronald MacDonald having a heart attack in the foodcourt.
Market Street Marathon Instructions (or make up your own)
1. Go into JJB Sports, find a ball and bounce it on the floor 3 times.
2. Go into HMV. They are playing music very loud so have a bit of a dance.
3. Go into Starbucks, go up the stairs and touch the purple pole
4. Run back down Market St. to the Food Court. Ronald MacDonald will be waiting for you. Ronald is confused about nutrition - he eats far too many greasy burgers and sugary drinks. Give Ronald a healthy-eating tip and get a sticker in return.
Hope someones got some photos.
Don't Just Watch, Play!
Last year in Manchester the Commonwealth Games meant shutting public swimming pools and the sell-off of public buildings and public spaces such as Piccadilly Gardens.
This year we decided to do something different.... so sporting slogans saying "sponsered by nobody" we raced into the Market Street er..stadium.
Some passers-by joined in with the games (including the most wicked pensioners in Manchester and young lads who ran in every race, and wore dresses in the drag race). Lots of people watched and laughed. Other events included the tomarto and spoon race (forwards and backwards!.. its harder with tomartos than with eggs), the three legged race (I just couldn't get how to do it), the binbag sack race, and finally the amazing "shopping" marathon (see marathon instructions below)and slow-motion race. We gave out stickers and chocolates for playing not winning. There were lots of sporting highlights, including an interesting conversation with a big name sports company employee saying her company had nice factories, and being asked if she'd heard of the sweatshops? Then there was the jaw on the floor expression of the manager of Starbucks, getting chucked out of HMV for having the cheek to dance to music you haven't paid for and the grand finale of Ronald MacDonald having a heart attack in the foodcourt.
Market Street Marathon Instructions (or make up your own)
1. Go into JJB Sports, find a ball and bounce it on the floor 3 times.
2. Go into HMV. They are playing music very loud so have a bit of a dance.
3. Go into Starbucks, go up the stairs and touch the purple pole
4. Run back down Market St. to the Food Court. Ronald MacDonald will be waiting for you. Ronald is confused about nutrition - he eats far too many greasy burgers and sugary drinks. Give Ronald a healthy-eating tip and get a sticker in return.
Hope someones got some photos.
Don't Just Watch, Play!