2010 Olympic branding challenge

Over thirty police officers were counted at Centennial Square on Friday during the No Olympics protest.

That’s not including the snipers that were reported to be on the rooftops or the officers on horseback or the officers that make up the dedicated security detail of the torch itself. It doesn’t include the officers at the legislature who were keeping tabs on the main performances or the plain clothes officers, military personnel or the private security contractors that were also apparently hired.

This police presence is an integral part of the Olympic brand management strategy (for more on this, from me, check out this post and this post). But, unfortunately for the Olympic experience, it’s slowly becoming part of the associations that people make with the Olympics – that means it’s becoming part of the Olympic brand itself.