Man arrested at London Olympics for ‘failing to smile’

A British man suffering from Parkinson’s disease has been detained because he “failed to smile and look like he was enjoying himself” while watching the Olympic cycling road race.

The British police threw the 54-year-old to the floor and handcuffed him just as cyclists passed by, reported The Daily Mail.

“I was sitting minding my own business. Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this seven-foot wall, threw me to the floor and cuffed me so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement”, said Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier.

“It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson’s”, he added.

The British police said that he was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence “based on his manner, his state of dress and his proximity to the course” and “a group of protesters”.

However, Worsfold said officers told him that he had been arrested and questioned because he was not smiling.

On 27 July, the British police also arrested 182 activist cyclists as the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony was being held in London.

The British police said Worsfold’s arrest was a result of “the heightened level of security due to the high profile nature of the event and the sheer number of spectators”.