On Monday, 4 June, I was called to the office of Ms Wiseman, my head teacher. It was fine – I was not in trouble, but what I did not realise was that it was going to be a special day.
Along with a group of young Ambassadors, I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the launch of the new London 2012 Olympic brand and logo, at Camden.
I, on behalf of all the Youth Ambassadors who went to Singapore with the bid team, made a pledge on stage in front of 400 people. Our pledge was: "Our generation will inspire the next generation to take up sport."
Along with a group of young Ambassadors, I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the launch of the new London 2012 Olympic brand and logo, at Camden.
I, on behalf of all the Youth Ambassadors who went to Singapore with the bid team, made a pledge on stage in front of 400 people. Our pledge was: "Our generation will inspire the next generation to take up sport."
Vancouver 2010 sustainability launch
The 2012 Editor, 5 July 2007
With the judging of shortlisted teams in the VeloPark design competition taking place this week, we were delighted to welcome Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy to our offices to join our design jury.
While Chris was in town, some LOCOG colleagues and myself met him for dinner. It's not often you get to have a meal with an Olympic Champion so we wasted no time in using the opportunity to grill him on his achievements to date, his plans for the future and the behind the scenes gossip from the cycling world.
Chris was fantastic company and gave us a fascinating insight into his training and experiences in Bolivia earlier this year where he narrowly missed out on the 1km cycling world record but smashed the 500m record.
It's refreshing to find that an Olympic Champion, world-record holder and house-hold name is completely down-to-earth and everyone enjoyed a great night in Chris' company.
While Chris was in town, some LOCOG colleagues and myself met him for dinner. It's not often you get to have a meal with an Olympic Champion so we wasted no time in using the opportunity to grill him on his achievements to date, his plans for the future and the behind the scenes gossip from the cycling world.
Chris was fantastic company and gave us a fascinating insight into his training and experiences in Bolivia earlier this year where he narrowly missed out on the 1km cycling world record but smashed the 500m record.
It's refreshing to find that an Olympic Champion, world-record holder and house-hold name is completely down-to-earth and everyone enjoyed a great night in Chris' company.
Earlier in the week, I was with the London 2012 Roadshow – which was visiting the Royal Norfolk Show, just outside of Norwich.
For anyone who has never visited their local county show – I would recommend it – from giant tractors, to giant tortoises there is genuinely something for everyone.
So it was the ideal setting for our Roadshow bus, which having braved the weather coming back from Scotland settled in for two days in Norfolk.
A lot of local kids were given the day off school – or came down with their school and the bus proved to be a popular destination.
Not only were there over 600 pledges made via the website from the show, but our pledge boards were also filled with young people’s pledges for 2012 – from wanting to be a vet by 2012, to wanting to do the triple jump at the Games in 2012 (no, it wasn’t me) I really felt that the kids who came by were genuinely excited by the opportunities that London 2012 offered.
For anyone who has never visited their local county show – I would recommend it – from giant tractors, to giant tortoises there is genuinely something for everyone.
So it was the ideal setting for our Roadshow bus, which having braved the weather coming back from Scotland settled in for two days in Norfolk.
A lot of local kids were given the day off school – or came down with their school and the bus proved to be a popular destination.
Not only were there over 600 pledges made via the website from the show, but our pledge boards were also filled with young people’s pledges for 2012 – from wanting to be a vet by 2012, to wanting to do the triple jump at the Games in 2012 (no, it wasn’t me) I really felt that the kids who came by were genuinely excited by the opportunities that London 2012 offered.
This weekend I travelled with the 2012 Roadshow to the Outsider Festival in Rothiemurchus in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore.
This amazing location was to play host to three days of Music, Comedy, Film, and loads of sporting activity both on and off site, including the 2012 Roadshow.
Our pitch was set up late on the Friday evening and we were all waiting eagerly, ready to meet and greet festival goers first thing on the Saturday morning.
Much to my surprise it was sunny and relatively warm – I had been studying the weather forecast all week, and this was certainly not to be expected!
We took full advantage of the mild weather and encouraged those turning up to participate in some of the activities available. I joined in and tried hula-hooping for what must have been the first time in at least 20 years!
Luckily they had a cheat's version of the hula – a heavier hula which was easier to keep up.
This amazing location was to play host to three days of Music, Comedy, Film, and loads of sporting activity both on and off site, including the 2012 Roadshow.
Our pitch was set up late on the Friday evening and we were all waiting eagerly, ready to meet and greet festival goers first thing on the Saturday morning.
Much to my surprise it was sunny and relatively warm – I had been studying the weather forecast all week, and this was certainly not to be expected!
We took full advantage of the mild weather and encouraged those turning up to participate in some of the activities available. I joined in and tried hula-hooping for what must have been the first time in at least 20 years!
Luckily they had a cheat's version of the hula – a heavier hula which was easier to keep up.
"It's not a launch!" I kept telling everyone in the office. "It's not a launch," I opined to ministers and mayors. "It's not a launch," I told the media - repeatedly!
But our briefing session to five hundred representatives of the cultural and creative sectors in the Royal Festival Hall was an important rite of passage as we build the Cultural Olympiad.
It wasn't a launch because the moment for grand public fanfares and announcements about individual concerts, exhibitions, events and projects is a long way off - the Cultural Olympiad doesn't start for another fourteen months!
But our briefing session to five hundred representatives of the cultural and creative sectors in the Royal Festival Hall was an important rite of passage as we build the Cultural Olympiad.
It wasn't a launch because the moment for grand public fanfares and announcements about individual concerts, exhibitions, events and projects is a long way off - the Cultural Olympiad doesn't start for another fourteen months!
I was delighted yesterday to be able to brief 500 members of the arts world on Legacy Trust UK's work with London 2012.
While we are not quite there yet in terms of being fully up and running, we are a newly formed Trust with a particular remit to help create and support cultural, sporting and arts-based activities in the run up to 2012 in order to ensure a lasting legacy throughout the UK, post the Games.
We will do this by making a small number of carefully targeted grants which will last for up to five years. We will work in close partnership with our funders, with LOCOG and with other relevant bodies to give ongoing support to the organisations we fund.
We particularly want to help them to leverage additional support to ensure that they become sustainable beyond 2012 when our job should be largely done.
While we are not quite there yet in terms of being fully up and running, we are a newly formed Trust with a particular remit to help create and support cultural, sporting and arts-based activities in the run up to 2012 in order to ensure a lasting legacy throughout the UK, post the Games.
We will do this by making a small number of carefully targeted grants which will last for up to five years. We will work in close partnership with our funders, with LOCOG and with other relevant bodies to give ongoing support to the organisations we fund.
We particularly want to help them to leverage additional support to ensure that they become sustainable beyond 2012 when our job should be largely done.
Day two of the Lincolnshire Show and the stand is busy again; lots of people signing up to the website and plenty of onlookers watching the new age curling competitions which is proving to be really popular.
The build up to the Roadshow has been pretty full on for three months now and I’m feeling really proud of everyone for making it all work so well.
We may be a bit biased but we really think the stand looks fantastic and there’s such a good atmosphere with the enthusiasm from kids spilling out and over on to the adults; it keeps us all going during the long show days.
One of the highlights for me is seeing people challenge themselves on our sign up board; we’ve had kids and adults alike writing their names and a personal challenge (ranging from ‘eating more strawberries’ to ‘competing in the Olympics’) which they have to try and achieve by 2012.
I love the fact that we actually make them pledge to achieve their ambitions, and that by doing so we might improve their lives in a small (or maybe large) way.
The build up to the Roadshow has been pretty full on for three months now and I’m feeling really proud of everyone for making it all work so well.
We may be a bit biased but we really think the stand looks fantastic and there’s such a good atmosphere with the enthusiasm from kids spilling out and over on to the adults; it keeps us all going during the long show days.
One of the highlights for me is seeing people challenge themselves on our sign up board; we’ve had kids and adults alike writing their names and a personal challenge (ranging from ‘eating more strawberries’ to ‘competing in the Olympics’) which they have to try and achieve by 2012.
I love the fact that we actually make them pledge to achieve their ambitions, and that by doing so we might improve their lives in a small (or maybe large) way.
Today Bill Morris and the Culture team updated the arts sector on plans for the Cultural Olympiad.
Last month I wrote a piece for the Daily Telegraph explaining how culture and the Games fit together - it seems an appropriate time to add it to the blog:
"Denis Howell, one of our longest-serving and more colourful ministers for sport, mused some 30 years ago that he never saw a permanent secretary from Whitehall at a Cup final but could not go to the opera without falling over them.
Denis was of earthy Brummie stock and, although an unreconstructed municipal socialist, on the occasions I discussed any issue with him, he made me feel, as a fledgling Conservative politician, that I was always about to be outflanked by him on the right.
Last month I wrote a piece for the Daily Telegraph explaining how culture and the Games fit together - it seems an appropriate time to add it to the blog:
"Denis Howell, one of our longest-serving and more colourful ministers for sport, mused some 30 years ago that he never saw a permanent secretary from Whitehall at a Cup final but could not go to the opera without falling over them.
Denis was of earthy Brummie stock and, although an unreconstructed municipal socialist, on the occasions I discussed any issue with him, he made me feel, as a fledgling Conservative politician, that I was always about to be outflanked by him on the right.
As the London 2012 Roadshow bus arrived in Lincolnshire, East Midlands, it was greeted by an ominous gathering of storm clouds and one of the most spectacular displays of thunder and lightning that the area has seen for some time.
Fears about soggy athletes and muddy sports displays were allayed however, as the day of the Lincolnshire County show dawned sunny and bright.
We got off to a great start with “MC Dougie” attracting visitors from all over the showground to get involved with the activities on offer, selflessly sacrificing his street-cred to take part in the dance routines and prompting whispers that Davina Mcall had better watch out as her presenter status is under threat…
The kids had a great time taking part in the activities and really showed off their talents. N.A.K (new age curling) proved a big hit with young and old alike, with many returning back to the stand time and time again to see if they could get better.
The dance routines inspired at lot of improvisational moves with one group trying Irish dancing steps to the music of the Scissor Sisters - a big hit with the crowd! Even their teachers joined in with Mrs France from Fosse Way school in Lincoln discovering at the Dream Stats section that she had a grip likened to that of Audrey Harrison – her class were strangely well behaved as they took note of that!
Fears about soggy athletes and muddy sports displays were allayed however, as the day of the Lincolnshire County show dawned sunny and bright.
We got off to a great start with “MC Dougie” attracting visitors from all over the showground to get involved with the activities on offer, selflessly sacrificing his street-cred to take part in the dance routines and prompting whispers that Davina Mcall had better watch out as her presenter status is under threat…
The kids had a great time taking part in the activities and really showed off their talents. N.A.K (new age curling) proved a big hit with young and old alike, with many returning back to the stand time and time again to see if they could get better.
The dance routines inspired at lot of improvisational moves with one group trying Irish dancing steps to the music of the Scissor Sisters - a big hit with the crowd! Even their teachers joined in with Mrs France from Fosse Way school in Lincoln discovering at the Dream Stats section that she had a grip likened to that of Audrey Harrison – her class were strangely well behaved as they took note of that!
When they first mentioned work experience at my school, my first reaction was, 'oh great, two weeks of wasting my time doing a boring job I will never want to do in the future', but then I thought about it again.
I thought, 'why not try and get a good placement'. And I did, the best placement in my school in fact - at the London 2012 Organising Committee (also known as 'LOCOG').
Arriving on my first day at the office in Canary Wharf was pretty daunting - being from the relatively quiet Stratford upon Avon, the contrast to London life was pretty dramatic.
Once I had my visitor pass I travelled up in the lift which seemed to stop at endless floors. Getting to the reception I was stunned by the view.
I thought, 'why not try and get a good placement'. And I did, the best placement in my school in fact - at the London 2012 Organising Committee (also known as 'LOCOG').
Arriving on my first day at the office in Canary Wharf was pretty daunting - being from the relatively quiet Stratford upon Avon, the contrast to London life was pretty dramatic.
Once I had my visitor pass I travelled up in the lift which seemed to stop at endless floors. Getting to the reception I was stunned by the view.
Read more of “From Stratford to Stratford - a week in the life of LOCOG Comms”
Posted in Work for 2012 Permalink
Amid the new brand launch and before the IOC's visit to London I attended the IOC OGKM (Olympic Games Knowledge Management) 'Arrivals and Departures' workshop in Beijing.
The IOC invited LOCOG and VANOC (Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee) to join some 50 BOCOG staff at the workshop.
A&D will be particularly challenging for our Games because we designated five official “ports of arrival” (a very technical term in IOC speak) in our bid – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and City Airports, together with Eurostar. Beijing, Vancouver, Turin and Athens will be or were predominantly single airport Games. I came away feeling better equipped to help plan our way through our more complex proposals.
The IOC invited LOCOG and VANOC (Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee) to join some 50 BOCOG staff at the workshop.
A&D will be particularly challenging for our Games because we designated five official “ports of arrival” (a very technical term in IOC speak) in our bid – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and City Airports, together with Eurostar. Beijing, Vancouver, Turin and Athens will be or were predominantly single airport Games. I came away feeling better equipped to help plan our way through our more complex proposals.
On Friday I was in South West Wales, visiting the Disability Wheelchair Spectacular at the National Indoor Arena in Cardiff.
We started the day off in Swansea at the South West Wales Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Briefing for Businesses where we talked about the opportunities for contracts from the Games.
It is really important that businesses across the UK understand that there will be lots of opportunities for them to compete for business.
I went straight from there to the Liberty Stadium, an amazing stadium that is home to Swansea City and Neath Ospreys. Here we participated in the Welsh Local Government Association conference, which provided a fantastic opportunity to talk about the role for Local Government in delivering the Games.
We started the day off in Swansea at the South West Wales Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Briefing for Businesses where we talked about the opportunities for contracts from the Games.
It is really important that businesses across the UK understand that there will be lots of opportunities for them to compete for business.
I went straight from there to the Liberty Stadium, an amazing stadium that is home to Swansea City and Neath Ospreys. Here we participated in the Welsh Local Government Association conference, which provided a fantastic opportunity to talk about the role for Local Government in delivering the Games.
I came back from our brand launch late last night, a little the worse for wear, with a big smile on my face. I was, and remain, extremely proud of a first rate group of colleagues who have worked tirelessly for the past two months to stage a major event for two audiences of 700 key stakeholders and members of the world's media that went off without a hitch, to release a brand that wasn’t leaked despite intense media interest and to deliver a huge amount of physical and digital material to stakeholders, staff, the media, and partners faultlessly. The spirit here is fantastic.
What we hope people will appreciate in time is that we have embarked on one of the biggest branding projects in this decade. We have built a brand identity which has over 40,000 elements, which will evolve over the coming months and years in many smart ways. A brand that unites the Olympic and Paralympic Games and which can work with partners, stakeholders, and for the first time ever, non-commercial stakeholders too. A brand which is flexible enough to render in multiple different formats on multiple platforms.
It's not about the shape. It’s not about the colours. It's about what we can do with it - there is a lot more to see, and you'll see it soon.
What we hope people will appreciate in time is that we have embarked on one of the biggest branding projects in this decade. We have built a brand identity which has over 40,000 elements, which will evolve over the coming months and years in many smart ways. A brand that unites the Olympic and Paralympic Games and which can work with partners, stakeholders, and for the first time ever, non-commercial stakeholders too. A brand which is flexible enough to render in multiple different formats on multiple platforms.
It's not about the shape. It’s not about the colours. It's about what we can do with it - there is a lot more to see, and you'll see it soon.
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