Appalled by coporate aspect to relay

The photographs only recorded part of the actual event. There are, thank goodness, no signs in any picture of the Samsung, LloydsTSB or Coca-Cola Marketing vehicles (including the staff who gave out free bottles of Coke to spectators) which led the Relay procession and effectively relegated the torch carrier to the back of the line.

I, and members of my family and friends, all watched and were appalled by the priority given to the corporate sponsors’ vehicles in what had been spun as a event in which ordinary people took centre stage. Whilst being grateful and appreciating that the Courier did not include photos of the sponsors’ vehicles, concentrating instead on the torch carriers, it just goes to prove what impression you can give of events by clever photography. - R Grenville, via email.