London 2012 blog

Here at LOCOG I have been developing work on why the Cultural Olympiad is important to people in the UK and what it should do next in order to reach those people. For me the definition of culture is broad. It encompasses food, sport, art, gardening, film, music and more. I think it is so deeply part of what makes us human that the 2012 Games embracing culture is fantastic and a real chance to bring people together in celebration all across the world.

The Cultural Olympiad is a great opportunity to bring art to wider audiences, both through its use of technology and making content more relevant to London’s diverse communities.  The definition of being from the UK is in flux, and as a Sri Lankan British I am very interested in how the Cultural Olympiad can redefine what UK culture is.

I have been working in public arts for the last 7 years specialising in Media art and Asian arts. I have found that there needs to be more opportunities for people of different backgrounds to share their individual creative voices and at the same time be unified. Can the Cultural Olympiad help achieve this? 

Read more of “Reaching the UK through culture”

So a little about me. I'm Lex, a graphic designer, with 10 years of art and design experience under my belt. I run my own design practice, run from a converted Hackney garage - surrounded by the heart of London's low-fi art and design world. My network covers an international set of designers, architects, photographers and artists - a world of creative individuals, organisations and companies cleverly shaping the way we live our lives and the things we live them with.

Running on the philosophy that routine dulls the soul, I've just returned from 9 months on-and-off in Brazil. An opportunity to explore another country and culture which lead to a 6 week design project with the British Council in Rio de Janeiro - an opportunity not to be missed.

So with fresh eyes I returned to London to start a research job with the culture team. "Great!" I thought "...but what exactly does that mean?" The answer was revealed on the 22nd Floor of a Canary Wharf building, where the LOCOG Culture team sit with a view over London and an inspiring challenge ahead - masterminding the Cultural Olympiad. From film and video making projects, to carnivals and celebrations to contemporizing Shakespeare, the Cultural Olympiad is a real opportunity to make a lasting change to the UK.

Read more of “Visual direction”

Greetings et bonjour from Vancouver, Canada! 

We had a very exciting and historic day here today – revealing our mascots to the world for the first time.  I thought london2012.com blog readers might be interested in a brief report.

One of the things we tried to do with our announcement was to ensure the mascots were revealed to the world and the local community at the same time. So, while more than 800 schoolchildren were introduced to the mascots “live” at a theatrical performance, our web team launched our mascot website, reaching many thousands of children and Games enthusiasts across Canada and around the world. You can view the website at www.vancouver2010.com where you will find fun and engaging content, a mascot video, games, interactive e-cards, and more.

Our team has put their heart and soul into this project, on behalf of all Canadians, and I think their dedication really shows. I’m reminded of the many athletes around the world who are training hard every day, covering every tiny detail, striving for excellence and dreaming of their opportunity to make Olympic history. One of the great things about the Games is that it gives us all an opportunity to do our best – whether in sport, in constructing venues, uniting our communities or developing lovable little mascots.  The Games inspire!

Speaking of our mascots, what makes them interesting and unique is that all three are mythical creatures inspired and influenced by Abboriginal mythological creatures, popular culture, Canadian culture and wildlife: one is a sasquatch, one is a sea bear and one is an animal guardian spirit. The first two are our Olympic Games mascots and the third is the Paralympic Games mascot. All three have distinctive and engaging personalities, interests and abilities. Check them out on our website and drop us a line at info@vancouver2010.com to let us know what you think.

I find it very interesting to see how the mascots reflect the character of their host community, and I hope people around the world will find ours welcoming, personable and “Canadian”. 

I wonder what mascot(s) will represent London?

Well, you’ve got lots of time yet to get to that exciting moment, and lots of time to keep guessing. In the meantime, I hope you will be entertained and inspired by our mascots as they help us share the spirit of Vancouver 2010 with you and the world.

Best wishes to you and all our friends at London 2012,

John Furlong, CEO, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 

Developing partnerships and including all the UK’s diverse communities are key to the Cultural Olympiad. I have been involved in all aspects of developing and establishing major events in London for the last 10 years, from St Patrick's day to the Mayor of London’s anti-racist festival - Rise. These events were developed and achieved success because they were rooted in strong partnerships with the communities they celebrate.

At this year's Rise festival:



Now at London 2012, as a secondee from the GLA, I have been charged with the responsibility of developing plans for festivals and carnivals which will run throughout the years of the Cultural Olympiad. For this to be successful, there has to be strong links with many different communities throughout London and the UK.

Read more of “Creating partnerships and involving communities through festivals”

The Cultural Olympiad is about everyone.  It is about those inside and outside this organisation.  When I started here a year ago, as Jude Kelly’s Personal Secretary, I used to chant “I’m not corporate, I’m creative…” . We work in Canary Wharf, everybody knows that. We are a corporation and that can seem alienating, especially in the field I’m in, but at the heart are people who genuinely believe in what they do. We are working to bring outsiders in, opening up the opportunity of the 2012 Games. The truth of it is creativity is exactly the kind of thinking we work with here.   

When I’m not here I’m based on Brick Lane, working with designers, stylists, and writers encouraging new and emerging talent to get active and develop their skills through an international magazine.  When creative professionals ask me how they can get involved in the Cultural Olympiad I always say- “You have to figure out how to include yourself.” Read about the Cultural Olympiad, watch the Vox Pops on the website, talk to each other about your ideas - start thinking like insiders.

It’s your Games, it’s your Cultural Olympiad, what are you going to do about it?

Read more of “Showing around FIFA Masters”

On Monday I attended the launch of a major new walking and cycling route for inner London. This route will provide a tremendous benefit to spectators travelling to London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games competition venues on foot or by bike through our Active Spectator Programme.

As part of the celebrations for their 60th wedding anniversary, Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh unveiled a new Jubilee Walkway panoramic panel in Parliament Square.  The panel features a raised illustration with Braille and there is also an audio version of the panel, which was designed in consultation with people of all abilities.

The Jubilee Walkway was originally laid down in 1977 as a lasting memorial to the Silver Jubilee of the Queen. It provides a signposted walking route around some of central London’s most important visitor attractions. 

Read more of “Best foot forward for 2012”

It is hard to believe that just over a week has passed since the vote to determine the Host City of the 2014 Commonwealth Games started.  The entire Glasgow 2014 team, together with hundreds of thousands of Scots around the globe, were all so nervous and excited.  It isn’t often I sit holding hands with the Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council!


 
The story of Glasgow’s bid began in February 2004, when the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland invited cities to consider making a bid for the 2014 Games.  Since then almost 2 million people have pledged their support at www.glasgow2014.com and six major supporters signed up to back Scotland’s bid.  The Glasgow 2014 team travelled to 67 nations and territories around the Commonwealth and presented a 600-plus page Candidate City File to the CGF, detailing Glasgow’s vision for the Games.  Then during the summer we welcomed delegates from 69 countries to Scotland, where we were able to bring our bid to life.

Read more of “Winning the bid, Glasgow style”

Yesterday I visited the Olympic Park for the first time since becoming Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The difference between what is there now and what will be there in 2012 is absolutely phenomenal. 

And it is a difference made more obvious when you see the deprivation in that part of the capital against the backdrop of the wealthy City just a few tube stops away. That view is an unavoidable reminder that regeneration is long overdue for the east Londoners who live around the Park site - and it is 2012 that is spurring those efforts on. 

Read more of “Laying the groundwork for a great social legacy”

For me this week has been a tale of two cities – joined together by a very special bond.  As the week ends, I am back in London – but most of the last week I have spent in China, visiting Beijing to check on its final preparations for staging the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games and learn lessons for ours in 2012.

What I found was a city unrecognisable from its popular image of a generation ago and so vibrant and increasingly prosperous that first-time visitors stand back in astonishment.

In the centre of Beijing Chinese people - especially the young - seem increasingly wealthy, with money in their pockets to spend - and driving thousands upon thousands of cars.

But with the boom comes the blur. Visibility can often be seriously limited. Prosperity has brought increased pollution to one of the world's great cities, a problem that our athletes may have to cope with in nine months time.

Read more of “Learning lessons in Beijing”

Reading Accountancy magazine a few months ago I came across an article about Neil Wood, Finance Director at LOCOG. As a former accountant for the London 1948 organising committee – the XIVth Olympiad - I decided to get in contact with Neil, who invited me in to the Canary Wharf offices. What a difference between now and 1948.

At the London 2012 offices - wall decoration includes a photo taken from Stadium at the 1948 Games:

Back then we were based in a house in Upper Brook St, Mayfair. I was a 22 year old newly qualified accountant earning £10 a week. There were about 100 staff in total, the accountants occupied the top floor, which used to be servants quarters. Our office was complete with a coal fire to keep us warm in the winter – perfect also for roasting chestnuts.

Read more of “Memories from the London 1948 Games”

You read a lot about the Games in the papers and you could, if you wanted to, form a view and an opinion based entirely on what the media say. However one of the perks of working for LOCOG is that I can, on occasion, get out to other parts of the country and find out for myself what people are thinking, what people are saying and – in many cases – what people are doing to prepare for the Games in their area. And so yesterday I travelled to East Anglia, specifically Newmarket Racecourse, where the East of England region was launching its business plan for the Games – ‘Rising to the Challenge’. 



The Games will provide all sorts of opportunities for businesses, communities and individuals all over the UK. As with most opportunities, they need to be grabbed and for a region and this was a great example of how this is happening everwhere. 

We eased ourselves into the day with a quick T'ai Chi warm up (which may seem slightly odd, but in the context of what followed, actually quite run of the mill) before we got into the nitty gritty of the presentations, where the 'Rising To The Challenge' plan was presented and I also talked about the progress made on the project so far and what was coming up in the next year or so. The region is clearly in a great position – in planning terms, as well as geographical to take advantage of what London 2012 has to offer. 

Read more of “Rising to the Challenge in the East of England”

It has been a busy week.

After unveiling the design of the new London 2012 Stadium I flew to Northern Ireland for a day long visit.

The people of Northern Ireland continue to give us outstanding support and I am always delighted to be there. They really understand the importance and value of sport, particularly what it means for local pride and building strong relationships.

I began the day by speaking at the Constructing Excellence conference held by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Invest Northern Ireland. John Armitt, Chairman of the ODA, and I talked to over 150 businesses about the range of opportunities that the Games will bring to supply goods and services to both the ODA and the London 2012 Organising Committee. Our promise is to provide as much information as we can on the contract opportunities and we wanted to encourage the Northern Irish business community to get prepared to bid for them.

Read more of “What a week”

Read more of “Full speed ahead at St Pancras International Station”

Visiting another Olympic and Paralympic host city is a bit like time travel.  Last week we were in Beijing visiting our counterparts in the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee (BOCOG) who are doing the same job as us, but four years ahead. 

The Beijing 2008 brand at the Great Wall of China:



It is immediately very daunting seeing the scale of the task so close to Games time, and also exciting to see the final stages of venue construction and the stage taking shape.

The principal new venues are simply grand. Indeed the scale of the Beijing Olympic development is immense: the Olympic Forest Park at the northern end of the Olympic Green covers some 680 hectares of newly created greenspace. This is nearly three times bigger than the entire London Olympic Park site. 

Read more of “Discussing sustainability in Beijing”

At the end of October, the ODA released the first formal edition of the Transport Plan for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Read the Transport Plan.

Find out more about the plans in a video.