24th July - 6:30pm - The Pig in Paradise (side room)
As we celebrate the Olympic torch passing through town, Hastings Socialist Party are holding a meeting on the politics of the Olympic Games under Capitalism.
We may well enjoy watching the sportsmen and women’s skill, strength and stamina and likely we will see records broken, but behind the entertainment, promises are being broken. Promises that hosting the games here will bring about affordable housing, decent jobs, increased participation in sport, and economic advantages lie in tatters, as the greatest sporting show on earth has been dragged down by crass commercialization and increased state repression.
The bill (paid by taxpayers) for the Olympics continues to rise astronomically, yet we are told that we have to face rising costs of living, soaring rents, slave labour Workfare schemes and huge unemployment, because there isn’t enough money to invest in jobs, housing and education.
The real winners are the big businesses and capitalist class who are making huge profits at our expense and are buying parts of the facilities built for the Olympics rather than being used to provide genuinely affordable housing and used to benefit local communities, as was promised, for the long-term future. The Capitalist system, however, only has eyes for short-term profit. For the multi-national corporations, the Games are just an immense merchandising opportunity.
So come along and give us your opinion, as we consider the alternative to these expensive and corporate Olympic Games.
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