Street Art Removed From London During Olympics

Street artists say 'Beijing was more open-minded'.

London is famed for its street art but authorities have been accused of a heavy-handed approach to cleaning up art during the Olympics.

Street artist James Cochran, Aka Jimmy C with his latest piece of work, depicting the face of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt

James Cochran, whose vivid mural of the world's fastest man Usain Bolt beams over an east London car park, said he was careful to seek official approval before shaking the first aerosol can. The British-Australian artist told AFP: "They said, 'By the way, don't touch the Olympic rings—there's very strict copyright control on that'. They're getting a bit authoritarian. The Olympic Committee have got to be careful that they don't infringe on freedom of expression. Sometimes you think, 'Jeez, Beijing was more open-minded.'"