Olympics

Banned: author Iain Sinclair

Library banned me for criticising olympics, says author

Benedict Moore-Bridger
22 Oct 2008

Athletes fear cost cuts will harm 2012 village

A LONDON author has been banned from his local library for writing an essay criticising the London 2012 Olympics.

Iain Sinclair was booked to appear at Stoke Newington Library to talk about his new book Hackney, That Rose Red Empire.

But the invitation was suddenly withdrawn after the author wrote an essay in the London Review of Books, entitled The Olympics Scam.

The essay said the venue would be nothing more than a huge shopping mall in Stratford and that the legacy would be "lasting shame".

After the essay appeared, Sinclair was phoned by the library who told him he was no longer welcome. Sinclair said: "The person who invited me was told they were no longer allowed to have me because I had been critical of the Olympics."

A spokesman for Hackney council said it would be inappropriate to host a launch for a book "expressing controversial or political opinions".

However, Sinclair ridiculed this, saying: "They can't know anything about this book because it is not published for another three months."

Reader views (3)

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This guy has given an opinon which seems fair and valid.

Might well turn out to be true as well.

The athletes probably wish they were going to Paris and so do us taxpayers...

- Mark, Watford, 22/10/2008 20:50
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I couldn't seem to submit a comment about athletes fears cost cuts will harm 2012 village at the bottom of that story so am posting it here. Oh dear! Whilst having nothing against the Olympics, I think those commenting should recognise the fact that money is very tight at the moment, and we have far more important things to be worrying about than how the athletes are housed for a few weeks. Does it really matter? As long as they have a roof over their head and food to eat I am sure they will be fine. Honestly, London has a LOT more to worry about at the moment and should be concentrating on other things, not diverting money into something which only lasts a few weeks!

- Ken Joralemon, London, UK, 22/10/2008 13:19
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Banned for telling the truth.

- Cam, Hackney, 22/10/2008 12:35
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