On that point, in my mind, something like the Olympic identity shouldn't require any knowledge of design or any understanding. There are millions of brands out there that create a positive impact immediately and these I feel absolutely no loathing for whatsoever. I completely respect that in most instances a lot of thought goes into an identity to make a successful visual impact and create a 'brand'. For the case of the Olympic logo (leaving aside the 'identity') it seems to me like these people at Wolff Olins were taking the piss. I can't believe that not one person in that studio/board room didn't say "but... it's a bit, well, shit isn't it?". The logo just doesn't seem to do anything it should and from the public reaction, back in 2007 or whatever, it would appear that the majority of the public feel the same.
Again, I thought a brand/logo ought to create an opinion and gets it's point across in a glance and at a glance, or after looking at it many times, that logo is still rubbish in my opinion. And regarding the plonking, you can't deny that on that Wolff Olins page they don't do anything other than show the same logo (in different colours) carefully placed on things. Having looked at the links you shared there I can see there is more to it, but that doesn't come across in that initial link.
I'll admit that I don't have the most positive perspective on 'design' in this context which I find (rightly or wrongly) too closely linked to 'modern art'. From the outside there seems to be too much bullshit involved and unjustified peer backslapping etc. I apologise if that's an ignorant and unfair generalisation but I can only tell it likes I sees it.