London 2012 Olympic stadium. Photograph: Graeme Robertson
The eternal sales pitch of the Olympics is that ferocious, monomaniacal competition brings people together in glorious harmony. Might there be a minor contradiction there? As the London games draw nearer, further evidence supports my pet theory that "Olympiad" is just another word for long distance, tooth-and-nail trouble and strife.
This week's grand furore over the RMT union and Unite's leader Len McCluskey considering making the games a focus for protest and industrial action illustrated this vividly. The huge investment and attention centred on the games and the massive political anxiety about its success in showcasing London and the whole of Britain to the world inevitably make it a magnet for conflict.
Meanwhile, the bitter row over the involvement of Dow Chemical continues. Even at the level of complete trivia a feisty contest is underway over which Olympics organising body has produced the most desirable merchandise . The games are about social justice, publicity and profits as well as sport. Gold medals aren't the only prizes up for grabs.
The Guardian on London
Len McCluskey: unions should consider disrupting London Olympics
Tube workers' union declares formal dispute over Olympic pay
Olympics expected to come in on budget
What has Boris Johnson actually done for London?
Ken Livingstone pledges return of EMA for London students
Siobhan Benita: unique selling point required?
'Driverless' tube trains: a guide to the guff
London falling: youth violence, feuds and fear scar the capital's heart
London falling: when will we get a grip on serious youth violence?
Boris's Bus (A Political Journey) Part 36: A Hot Debut
Occupy London protesters evicted
Occupy London encampment cleared - video
Met chief reveals string of lunches with NoW editors
Police apologise to Mark Duggan's family for not telling them of his death
Woman guilty of manslaughter of teen stabbed at Victoria station
Witchcraft trial: couple found guilty of boy's murder in London
Ritual abuse of children: a hidden and under-reported crime
French presidential frontrunner makes campaign stop in London
London: the sixth largest French city
London blogosphere
Cyclists in the City went to Labour's cycling summit at the House of Commons and got a nice surprise:
The entire summit felt astonishingly consensual. Representatives from the freight industry, the AA and the construction industry added real value to the discussion and there was significant overlap with many of the comments being made by representatives of the cycling community.
It's an engrossing report. Now read on.
Coming up: special announcement
From Monday for two weeks the Guardian will be inviting its readers to participate in a unique crowdsourcing project about London and its forthcoming mayoral election.
Each day at Comment is free and my London blog I'll be inviting you to contribute policy ideas to our very own Manifesto for a Model Mayor, which will be published in e-book form by the end of the month.
An article telling you more about this exciting exercise in Guardian open journalism will appear on Sunday morning at 11.00. The aim is to paint a picture of a dream mayoral candidate and the policies to bring his or her vision for the capital to life. What sort of London do want a mayor to help build? Get thinking now. We need your help!