Last week construction started three months ahead of schedule on the Olympic Stadium. To mark the milestone, an event was organised at the Team Stadium site offices which included the first visit by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as new Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Have a read on to see a quick selection of images from the day.
John Armitt, Chairman of the ODA and Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair show the Olympic Stadium model to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah Brown and the new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson:
Have a read on to see a quick selection of images from the day.
John Armitt, Chairman of the ODA and Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair show the Olympic Stadium model to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah Brown and the new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson:
Although an employee of the London Borough of Newham, I have been working at the ODA Planning Decisions Team (PDT) for about six months on the Stratford City development.
In almost all cases, the either the PDT or ODA Planning Committee make the decision on planning applications within the Olympic Park and Stratford City site. Any planning applications that are not key to the delivery of the Games (for example, the shopping centre development) are passed back to Newham Council to make a decision.
The Stratford City site is broken into seven zones and I am most closely involved with the Zone 1 part of the site, being developed by Westfield. This contains the 140,000m² retail centre as well as the development of offices, residential, leisure, community and hotel uses.
In almost all cases, the either the PDT or ODA Planning Committee make the decision on planning applications within the Olympic Park and Stratford City site. Any planning applications that are not key to the delivery of the Games (for example, the shopping centre development) are passed back to Newham Council to make a decision.
The Stratford City site is broken into seven zones and I am most closely involved with the Zone 1 part of the site, being developed by Westfield. This contains the 140,000m² retail centre as well as the development of offices, residential, leisure, community and hotel uses.
70 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing...
I'm off out to Beijing on 10th July (42 days and counting), I'll be heading up a team looking after Network Seven, the Australian Broadcaster during the Games. Network Seven will be taking 184 clients in three waves out to Beijing and it’ll be my responsibility to look after their every need. My responsibilities will include pre-event planning and preparations of all hotel systems, hotel room and guest handling procedures, as well as being the key contact for any operational matter and trouble shooting.
This is a fantastic opportunity for me to gain a real insight into how a hotel operates during the Olympic & Paralympic Games. From the experience I hope to be able to input my learnings into the first draft of the London 2012 Accommodation operating plan.
I look forward to sharing my learnings soon!
I'm off out to Beijing on 10th July (42 days and counting), I'll be heading up a team looking after Network Seven, the Australian Broadcaster during the Games. Network Seven will be taking 184 clients in three waves out to Beijing and it’ll be my responsibility to look after their every need. My responsibilities will include pre-event planning and preparations of all hotel systems, hotel room and guest handling procedures, as well as being the key contact for any operational matter and trouble shooting.
This is a fantastic opportunity for me to gain a real insight into how a hotel operates during the Olympic & Paralympic Games. From the experience I hope to be able to input my learnings into the first draft of the London 2012 Accommodation operating plan.
I look forward to sharing my learnings soon!
One of the nice things about the Olympic and Paralympic world is meeting colleagues doing the same job as you but from other Host Cities. The IOC Sport and Environment Commission meets once a year and as well as general discussions around environmental initiatives of National Olympic Committees and various international sport federations, it is an occasion for the environment and sustainability representatives from the four current Host Cities to meet.
On this occasion we had a full house; we were joined for the first time by Natalia Onischenko, the new ecology advisor to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Hers will be a big task; the environmental implications of the Winter Games are always more challenging in view of the alpine environments in which they take place. So it is good to see that Sochi is bringing together a professional ecology team so early in the preparation phase of the Games.
On this occasion we had a full house; we were joined for the first time by Natalia Onischenko, the new ecology advisor to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Hers will be a big task; the environmental implications of the Winter Games are always more challenging in view of the alpine environments in which they take place. So it is good to see that Sochi is bringing together a professional ecology team so early in the preparation phase of the Games.
As one might imagine, there is a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between London and the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is probably no surprise either that the usual means of travel is by air between London and Geneva. But is there a better way?
This week I'm at the annual meeting of the IOC’s Sport and Environment Commission, in Lausanne and felt this was an ideal opportunity to try the overland route by train. I knew the high-speed leg to Paris would be fine; for starters it is always a pleasure to see the new St Pancras International station. Within a handful of minutes we are speeding past the Olympic Park site at Stratford – a brief glimpse of daylight as we flash through the future Stratford International station before emerging beside the large wind turbines at Dagenham. Into a tunnel again, under the Thames and a brief stop at the new Ebbsfleet International, and then we really get going – flying without taking off; within less than two and a half hours from leaving London we are in Paris.
The next bit is not ideal but the RER trains across Paris to the Gare de Lyon are at least frequent and quick. Within an hour I am leaving on the TGV via Dijon, Frasne, Vallorbe and final destination Lausanne.
All aboard at the Gare de Lyon:
This week I'm at the annual meeting of the IOC’s Sport and Environment Commission, in Lausanne and felt this was an ideal opportunity to try the overland route by train. I knew the high-speed leg to Paris would be fine; for starters it is always a pleasure to see the new St Pancras International station. Within a handful of minutes we are speeding past the Olympic Park site at Stratford – a brief glimpse of daylight as we flash through the future Stratford International station before emerging beside the large wind turbines at Dagenham. Into a tunnel again, under the Thames and a brief stop at the new Ebbsfleet International, and then we really get going – flying without taking off; within less than two and a half hours from leaving London we are in Paris.
The next bit is not ideal but the RER trains across Paris to the Gare de Lyon are at least frequent and quick. Within an hour I am leaving on the TGV via Dijon, Frasne, Vallorbe and final destination Lausanne.
All aboard at the Gare de Lyon:
A lasting legacy for disabled Londoners, visitors and tourists alike
Steve, Culture team, 29 May 2008
As many of you may know, one of my responsibilities here at LOCOG is to co-ordinate our disability arts, culture and sport programme. I've been in post for just over three months and was asked to attend a meeting with the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) to discuss how we and other partners can make 2012 accessible to disabled people.
Sometimes in this job the sheer scale of 2012 and what we are all trying to achieve just hits you out of the blue. Last Friday was one of those mornings. Around the table were gathered representatives from MLA, funders, disabled people's organisations, national charities, Government and the Mayors Office. We were all focused around an excellent new report they have produced about the opportunities for disabled people in relation to 2012.
It felt like the journey really had started. At the time of the Games there will be around 9 million spectators at over 100 sporting and cultural venues. Add to this other family members and friends, then a conservative estimate of maybe 1 million could be disabled or deaf. I have been so impressed that all of our planning is integrated between the Olympic and Paralympic Games – there isn't that poor access officer stuck in the corner in a lonely office ordering ramps! But the challenge is mind boggling. Think about it for a moment – not only transport and stadiums need to be accessible but hotel rooms, restaurants, our arts and cultural organisations, carnivals and street theatre, sporting events and even the pubs!
Sometimes in this job the sheer scale of 2012 and what we are all trying to achieve just hits you out of the blue. Last Friday was one of those mornings. Around the table were gathered representatives from MLA, funders, disabled people's organisations, national charities, Government and the Mayors Office. We were all focused around an excellent new report they have produced about the opportunities for disabled people in relation to 2012.
It felt like the journey really had started. At the time of the Games there will be around 9 million spectators at over 100 sporting and cultural venues. Add to this other family members and friends, then a conservative estimate of maybe 1 million could be disabled or deaf. I have been so impressed that all of our planning is integrated between the Olympic and Paralympic Games – there isn't that poor access officer stuck in the corner in a lonely office ordering ramps! But the challenge is mind boggling. Think about it for a moment – not only transport and stadiums need to be accessible but hotel rooms, restaurants, our arts and cultural organisations, carnivals and street theatre, sporting events and even the pubs!
Read more of “A lasting legacy for disabled Londoners, visitors and tourists alike”
Taking part in the launch of the Cultural Olympiad launch weekend is easy!
Roli, Culture team, 28 May 2008
Did you know that you too could be part of the launch of a UK-wide programme of cultural events - the launch of the Cultural Olympiad?
The 26-28th September is a chance for people all over the UK to try something new and different, to encourage a real sense of community involvement, to think differently about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and most importantly to demonstrate a creative UK.
The weekend will be the starting point of our journey to find exciting and innovative projects and events that are taking place across the whole of the UK. This will be a celebration on a scale never done before and I hope will attract an incredibly wide range of people to take part in arts and culture. Whether you are staging an event or attending one, we want to see you get involved.
The 26-28th September is a chance for people all over the UK to try something new and different, to encourage a real sense of community involvement, to think differently about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and most importantly to demonstrate a creative UK.
The weekend will be the starting point of our journey to find exciting and innovative projects and events that are taking place across the whole of the UK. This will be a celebration on a scale never done before and I hope will attract an incredibly wide range of people to take part in arts and culture. Whether you are staging an event or attending one, we want to see you get involved.
Read more of “Taking part in the launch of the Cultural Olympiad launch weekend is easy!”
It is unusual for a blog to simply be someone else's message but the article below prompted me to reproduce some of it and to particularly reinforce the messages at the end from some of our leading ambassadors, Tanni and Mike Brace. Messages of progress and opportunity. Read it not with 'outrage' but with Mike's words in mind -
'The presence of a special guide denotes progress,' according to Mike Brace, the chairman of the British Paralympic Association. 'It's a clumsy attempt to override years of limited awareness. It's not ideal, but up to seven years ago, they might not have acknowledged disabled people at all.'
'The presence of a special guide denotes progress,' according to Mike Brace, the chairman of the British Paralympic Association. 'It's a clumsy attempt to override years of limited awareness. It's not ideal, but up to seven years ago, they might not have acknowledged disabled people at all.'
It's not often you get an Olympic champion anywhere near the Eurovision Song Contest. However, this year, one helped win it. Meet Evgeny Plyushenko, the 2006 men's Figure Skating Gold Medallist and backing dancer for this year's Eurovision champ, Dima Bilan. At the after-party, Mr Plyushenko repeated his routine on dry land. Never seen a triple salchow on carpet before but the boy pulled it off beautifully.
It was only a matter of time before Russia won, and they picked a massive star this year to be their representative. Not his first time, either (he came 2nd in 2006). Just to be extra sure, the song was produced by Timbaland. At the press conference after Russia came through Tuesday’s semi-final, Plyushenko said "It’s like the Olympic Games here, there are so many people here. I skated for you guys." So there.
This was my first live Eurovision after a 2 year break and I’d forgotten just how euphoric the atmosphere is. Maybe not everyone learns the songs in advance (although I know it’s not just me) but everyone was on their feet singing, cheering and waving random flags (San Marino, anyone?) throughout the 3 hour 20 minute show. The atmosphere was fantastic, as were the energy levels. Even the voting flies past when you’re there, in the arena, living every douze points.
It was only a matter of time before Russia won, and they picked a massive star this year to be their representative. Not his first time, either (he came 2nd in 2006). Just to be extra sure, the song was produced by Timbaland. At the press conference after Russia came through Tuesday’s semi-final, Plyushenko said "It’s like the Olympic Games here, there are so many people here. I skated for you guys." So there.
This was my first live Eurovision after a 2 year break and I’d forgotten just how euphoric the atmosphere is. Maybe not everyone learns the songs in advance (although I know it’s not just me) but everyone was on their feet singing, cheering and waving random flags (San Marino, anyone?) throughout the 3 hour 20 minute show. The atmosphere was fantastic, as were the energy levels. Even the voting flies past when you’re there, in the arena, living every douze points.
Read more of “Olympic Ice Skating and the Eurovision Song Contest”
I've started to see and hear the images, sounds and thoughts about the 5 Host Boroughs from students involved in Welcoming the World. They're insightful and surprising - not least of all because they show images of contrast possibly found only in London.
Jonilda, from Windrush Primary, Greenwich appreciates the tranquility of the Thames and the graffiti art scene: 'It's really peaceful and calm and you can walk to the river and see all the swans and fish and animals. It is also the best because there are really nice people and lovely pieces of art on the walls and vans and it looks great.'
What I've enjoyed most about the programme however is the unexpected elements, such as the interaction between students and the community and the reflection about their areas during the process.
Natasha, from Rush Croft School, Waltham Forest says she 'benefited from this project because working with professional photographers helped me improve my photographic skills. I'm also better at approaching people...':
Jonilda, from Windrush Primary, Greenwich appreciates the tranquility of the Thames and the graffiti art scene: 'It's really peaceful and calm and you can walk to the river and see all the swans and fish and animals. It is also the best because there are really nice people and lovely pieces of art on the walls and vans and it looks great.'
What I've enjoyed most about the programme however is the unexpected elements, such as the interaction between students and the community and the reflection about their areas during the process.
Natasha, from Rush Croft School, Waltham Forest says she 'benefited from this project because working with professional photographers helped me improve my photographic skills. I'm also better at approaching people...':
Seat 9, Row P, Block K – National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Beijing: a great view straight down the 100 metres track, and we’re sitting – no, standing – right behind the ceremonial flag poles as the Union Jack rises to take centre stage. A sell-out crowd in this most remarkable of stadia claps and cheers politely then goes silent. The National Anthem rings out of the PA system as we celebrate a Brit taking Gold here in Beijing. Celebrate? And how!
No – not fantasy, this is reality. We're at the final test event – 'The Beijing Good Luck Games' - before the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. David Weir has just won the 5,000 metres wheelchair race for Britain. If it feels this good now – what will Team GB success feel like in three months time? And how will our plans for the Handover Ceremony stand up in this very stadium on 24th August and 17th September?
That's the main reason for the visit. We've been in meetings with our opposite numbers from the Beijing Games Organising Committee for the last couple of days, but the plans, the technical specifications and the brainstorms can only take you so far. You can't beat seeing it for real. So a small group from our production team including Creative Director, Stephen Powell, are here to walk the course, to smell the atmosphere and to get the measure of this unique sporting theatre. We know we can't match the Chinese Ceremonies for scale and spectacle – and indeed our job is to be different - to reflect one or two simple messages about London, the UK and our youthful ambitions for the 2012 games.
With every visit to Beijing I find myself more perplexed. I'm in awe at the achievements of the tiger economy and the beauty of this most ancient of civilisations, but with everything I see and learn I realise how little I really understand. You peel away each and every layer only to find far more underneath – a mixture of paradox and complexity.
No – not fantasy, this is reality. We're at the final test event – 'The Beijing Good Luck Games' - before the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. David Weir has just won the 5,000 metres wheelchair race for Britain. If it feels this good now – what will Team GB success feel like in three months time? And how will our plans for the Handover Ceremony stand up in this very stadium on 24th August and 17th September?
That's the main reason for the visit. We've been in meetings with our opposite numbers from the Beijing Games Organising Committee for the last couple of days, but the plans, the technical specifications and the brainstorms can only take you so far. You can't beat seeing it for real. So a small group from our production team including Creative Director, Stephen Powell, are here to walk the course, to smell the atmosphere and to get the measure of this unique sporting theatre. We know we can't match the Chinese Ceremonies for scale and spectacle – and indeed our job is to be different - to reflect one or two simple messages about London, the UK and our youthful ambitions for the 2012 games.
With every visit to Beijing I find myself more perplexed. I'm in awe at the achievements of the tiger economy and the beauty of this most ancient of civilisations, but with everything I see and learn I realise how little I really understand. You peel away each and every layer only to find far more underneath – a mixture of paradox and complexity.
Watch a video from the launch event which marked the official start of construction on the Olympic Stadium.
I am passionate about supporting young creative talent. One of the greatest opportunities we have culturally is how we work with the creative industries. London's creativity is driven from small, independent artists and creatives. They range from magazines that celebrate different facets of the fashion industry to collective design studios that conceive of "Tofu" as cartoon characters; basements where digital grime is being sonically mastered, and mobile 3D rendered games and type fonts created. These practices support and encourage new talent and they are a lynch pin in the UK’s creative successes. I am working at the way the creative industries engage both with London 2012 and as part of the UK-wide Cultural Olympiad.
Within London 2012 this gives me an opportunity to work with many new departments. Luckily, I have a "peach" from the Cultural Leadership placement, Gabre, helping shape and create this work with me. We are starting with a Design Audit of creative opportunities throughout London 2012, to identify areas where creative approaches can be incorporated into our work.
The other aspect of my work questions whether the Cultural Olympiad could engage with and provide an offer to the creative industries? Certainly the vibrant music scene across the UK is so intimately linked with creativity it is hard to ignore. Product and object design could link in with the Olympic Carnival for example, as could urban design, street design and street art with many of the other Cultural Olympiad projects.
Within London 2012 this gives me an opportunity to work with many new departments. Luckily, I have a "peach" from the Cultural Leadership placement, Gabre, helping shape and create this work with me. We are starting with a Design Audit of creative opportunities throughout London 2012, to identify areas where creative approaches can be incorporated into our work.
The other aspect of my work questions whether the Cultural Olympiad could engage with and provide an offer to the creative industries? Certainly the vibrant music scene across the UK is so intimately linked with creativity it is hard to ignore. Product and object design could link in with the Olympic Carnival for example, as could urban design, street design and street art with many of the other Cultural Olympiad projects.
It’s been a busy year so far across the Olympic Park site but yesterday was certainly one of the biggest and most high-profile milestones we have achieved on the project to date.
Starting construction on the Olympic Stadium, three months earlier than planned, was always going to be a big moment and to welcome the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on site to mark the occasion was an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved in the project.
It was a tremendous honour to take the Prime Minister around the site and to introduce him to the many faces and organisations that have helped us get this far in the project. The encouraging speech he made about our progress on site gives us all a huge boost as the ‘big build’ phase of the project gets underway.
With the speeches complete it was out onto the Stadium bowl itself where a special area had been set up for media interviews. Facing a number of cameras and photographers in this project is nothing new but today it was quite literally a moving experience as the ground literally shook beneath us each time one of the huge concrete piling columns was driven into the ground!
Me, left, with (clockwise) Sarah Brown, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, LOCOG Chair Seb Coe and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell as we view the Stadium site from the viewing platform:
Starting construction on the Olympic Stadium, three months earlier than planned, was always going to be a big moment and to welcome the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on site to mark the occasion was an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved in the project.
It was a tremendous honour to take the Prime Minister around the site and to introduce him to the many faces and organisations that have helped us get this far in the project. The encouraging speech he made about our progress on site gives us all a huge boost as the ‘big build’ phase of the project gets underway.
With the speeches complete it was out onto the Stadium bowl itself where a special area had been set up for media interviews. Facing a number of cameras and photographers in this project is nothing new but today it was quite literally a moving experience as the ground literally shook beneath us each time one of the huge concrete piling columns was driven into the ground!
Me, left, with (clockwise) Sarah Brown, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, LOCOG Chair Seb Coe and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell as we view the Stadium site from the viewing platform:
Read more of “A successful event marking the start of construction”
Visiting the Olympic Park today to mark the official start of construction on the Olympic Stadium gave me a great feel for how the venue will be in 2012.
I discussed with Tessa Sanderson where the Javelin run-up and throwing area would be and even which direction the wind may be blowing in. Being a field athlete it will be great having the whole crowd clapping for me as I prepare for my throw. I can't tell you how excited I am about the Games in 2012.
I honestly think it is going to be the best Games ever, not just because of the sporting element but also because the cultural aspect will be fantastic. London is the best city in the world - it's so diverse.
Meeting Gordon Brown today:
I discussed with Tessa Sanderson where the Javelin run-up and throwing area would be and even which direction the wind may be blowing in. Being a field athlete it will be great having the whole crowd clapping for me as I prepare for my throw. I can't tell you how excited I am about the Games in 2012.
I honestly think it is going to be the best Games ever, not just because of the sporting element but also because the cultural aspect will be fantastic. London is the best city in the world - it's so diverse.
Meeting Gordon Brown today:
While I was at the Olympic Park today for the official launch of the start of construction on the Olympic Stadium, I was trying to imagine exactly where the Long Jump pit would be and tried to visualise myself competing there.
The Stadium site looks amazing - I'm sure the London 2012 Games are going to be great and the Stadium is really going to provide the wow factor.
Meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and ODA Chairman John Armitt at the launch event with fellow athlete Goldie Sayer:
The Stadium site looks amazing - I'm sure the London 2012 Games are going to be great and the Stadium is really going to provide the wow factor.
Meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and ODA Chairman John Armitt at the launch event with fellow athlete Goldie Sayer:
Read more of “Imagining where the Long Jump will be in 2012”
I work as part of Team Stadium, responsible for contaminated ground monitoring. I have been actively working on the project for 12 weeks.
Originally from Dagenham, I was delighted to see the 2012 Games awarded to London. The Games themselves will be a great event and opportunity for the country. The regeneration of Stratford and surrounding areas will demonstrate to the world the skills, commitment and management expertise that exist within the UK, something we all know exists but do very little to shout about!
I recently relocated from the UK to live in France so I probably have one of the longest weekly commutes on the project. My unplanned return to work in London has special meaning for me. My daughter Lisa won the 1500m at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games in and she has been identified as a possible member of the GB team for the Beijing 2008 Games. She is currently being ranked 17th in the world for the 1500m. At 24-years-old Lisa has every chance of competing in 2012. It was great to be able to stand in the middle of the Stadium site and tell her that, for once, I beat her there.
Lisa at the Commonwealth Games:
Originally from Dagenham, I was delighted to see the 2012 Games awarded to London. The Games themselves will be a great event and opportunity for the country. The regeneration of Stratford and surrounding areas will demonstrate to the world the skills, commitment and management expertise that exist within the UK, something we all know exists but do very little to shout about!
I recently relocated from the UK to live in France so I probably have one of the longest weekly commutes on the project. My unplanned return to work in London has special meaning for me. My daughter Lisa won the 1500m at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games in and she has been identified as a possible member of the GB team for the Beijing 2008 Games. She is currently being ranked 17th in the world for the 1500m. At 24-years-old Lisa has every chance of competing in 2012. It was great to be able to stand in the middle of the Stadium site and tell her that, for once, I beat her there.
Lisa at the Commonwealth Games:
London Better Together Day – the Changing Rooms experience...
John, Nations and Regions team, 21 May 2008
The area of Tower Hamlets served by Bromley-by-Bow Centre is one of the most deprived in the country, and also one of the most culturally diverse. The Centre provides vital services to the community, from health to social and cultural. It is one of few green spaces for many miles around. And it's also a stone's throw from the site of the Olympic Park.
Its development began some 24 years ago. Then it was just a small church with a congregation of 6 or 7, with no connection to the community. The then Minister (now Lord) Andrew Mawson kickstarted a long process of social and economic regeneration in the area. It has led to massive change; the Centre now serves some 2,000 visitors each week. It has a really well functioning health facility and provides a real fulcrum for community life.
It was to this humbling location that a small LOCOG team turned up on a grey and overcast London morning, to make our contribution to London Better Together Day, a day when volunteers from the 'business community' help to transform the city we live in. We were treated extremely well by our hosts, and after a short briefing and tour, were assigned our task for the day. This was to clear out and 'makeover' two rooms in the Centre used by the community for art projects. It was a real before and after – Changing Rooms – experience. On first sight, the rooms were cluttered and really dirty, the most obvious thing about one of the rooms was the industrial sized metal sink taking up most of the floor.
Here's the team as they prepared for the days hard graft...
Its development began some 24 years ago. Then it was just a small church with a congregation of 6 or 7, with no connection to the community. The then Minister (now Lord) Andrew Mawson kickstarted a long process of social and economic regeneration in the area. It has led to massive change; the Centre now serves some 2,000 visitors each week. It has a really well functioning health facility and provides a real fulcrum for community life.
It was to this humbling location that a small LOCOG team turned up on a grey and overcast London morning, to make our contribution to London Better Together Day, a day when volunteers from the 'business community' help to transform the city we live in. We were treated extremely well by our hosts, and after a short briefing and tour, were assigned our task for the day. This was to clear out and 'makeover' two rooms in the Centre used by the community for art projects. It was a real before and after – Changing Rooms – experience. On first sight, the rooms were cluttered and really dirty, the most obvious thing about one of the rooms was the industrial sized metal sink taking up most of the floor.
Here's the team as they prepared for the days hard graft...
Read more of “London Better Together Day – the Changing Rooms experience...”
It has become something of an urban myth: the Red Arrows have been banned from the Opening Ceremonies of London 2012. As the man responsible for delivering the ceremonies for London 2012, all I can say is: it's news to me.
We haven't actually started thinking about our ceremonies for 2012 yet; we're far more pre-occupied with the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing this year, where we have eight minute sections in each which mark the handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London.
So let me put the record straight once and for all: The Red Arrows have not been banned. They may feature, they may not. It's simply not on our radar yet.
We haven't actually started thinking about our ceremonies for 2012 yet; we're far more pre-occupied with the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing this year, where we have eight minute sections in each which mark the handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London.
So let me put the record straight once and for all: The Red Arrows have not been banned. They may feature, they may not. It's simply not on our radar yet.
Today, the first test train arrived at the new Orient Way sidings facility - a huge milestone for the ODA Transport team.
After a weekend of intense activity and work by the Orient Way project team, we watched the12-carriage National Express East Anglia train pull into the new facility at 9.22am - and it all went without a hitch.
After a weekend of intense activity and work by the Orient Way project team, we watched the12-carriage National Express East Anglia train pull into the new facility at 9.22am - and it all went without a hitch.
Preparing for Beijing
Christine Ohuruogu, athlete, 19 May 2008
Recently I visited the Olympic Park site where I had a photo shoot for a national newspaper supplement.
It was great to visit the Park for the first time and in particular to see where the Olympic Stadium will be in 2012.
I still live close to Stratford and still train in the area, so I have obviously heard a lot about the preparations for the London 2012 Games. There are so many diggers around the site that are moving mounds of soils so construction can start on the main venues shortly.
It was great to visit the Park for the first time and in particular to see where the Olympic Stadium will be in 2012.
I still live close to Stratford and still train in the area, so I have obviously heard a lot about the preparations for the London 2012 Games. There are so many diggers around the site that are moving mounds of soils so construction can start on the main venues shortly.
Welcoming Seb to a potential Sailing Pre-Games Training Camp facility
Bob, Pwllheli Sailing Club Events Committee Chairman, 16 May 2008
I'm pleased to say the thirteenth day of the month was a good luck day for the sailors at the UK International Contender competition at Pwllheli. After three windless days, the sun shone and the breeze kicked in.
Seb arrived in time to meet competitors and watch the fleet launch off the beach.
Across Tremadog Bay the gleaming sands of Dyffryn Ardudwy were just visible and Seb recalled his training sessions running on the dunes.
Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club (in its 50th Anniversary) is celebrating its selection as a London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp earlier this year and we were able to demonstrate the positive impact the Games can create for local communities. Seb met several young club sailors, who enjoyed a conversation about their sailing ambitions.
For me Seb's visit was the culmination of ten weeks of success in North Wales. Firstly, with the selection of Plas y Brenin (Mountain Biking) and Canolfan Tryweryn (Canoeing) as other PGTCs, it confirms the world–class natural resources in Snowdonia for these outdoor sports.
Seb arrived in time to meet competitors and watch the fleet launch off the beach.
Across Tremadog Bay the gleaming sands of Dyffryn Ardudwy were just visible and Seb recalled his training sessions running on the dunes.
Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club (in its 50th Anniversary) is celebrating its selection as a London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp earlier this year and we were able to demonstrate the positive impact the Games can create for local communities. Seb met several young club sailors, who enjoyed a conversation about their sailing ambitions.
For me Seb's visit was the culmination of ten weeks of success in North Wales. Firstly, with the selection of Plas y Brenin (Mountain Biking) and Canolfan Tryweryn (Canoeing) as other PGTCs, it confirms the world–class natural resources in Snowdonia for these outdoor sports.
Read more of “Welcoming Seb to a potential Sailing Pre-Games Training Camp facility”
A cultural experience...down the sewer
David, Head of Environment and Sustainability at 2012, 15 May 2008
...There goes the charabang
Looks like I'm gonna be stuck here the whole summer
Well what a bummer
I can think of a lot worse places to be
Like down in the street
Or down in the sewer
Or even on the end of a skewer
The Stranglers, 1977
Don't let it be said that the Sustainability team miss out on all the fun. On Tuesday we were guests of Thames Water's Sewer Week; invited to a guided tour of Abbey Mills pumping station and a walk along the old Bazelgette sewers at Hackney Wick.
Suited and booted, ready to go down the sewer:
We had the second annual conference of the All Party 2012 Group today and we shared the occasion with the Industry and Parliament Trust
(Fellow: yours truly). In 3.5 hours we had speakers from the London Development Agency (Tom Russell), the Cultural Olympiad (Sarah Weir), Much Wenlock (Chris Cannon), WheelPower (Robin Courage), Security (Robert Raine and Tarique Ghaffur from the Met Police), Tessa Jowell and Seb Coe; so a pretty amazing line up.
Robin Courage touched many nerves when he said that no Government money had been forthcoming to bring Stoke Mandeville (where the original Games for athletes with a disability began in 1948, leading to the worldwide movement now known as the Paralympic Games) up-to-speed (he helped raise £10 million). Now - almost because his surname is courage - he is leading a team to raise £5 million to provide 2012 sporting wheelchairs for 2012...
Meanwhile the Much Wenlock Olympian Society again spelled out that it was William Penny Brookes not Pierre de Coubertin who was responsible for the modern Olympic movement (as indeed he was).
(Fellow: yours truly). In 3.5 hours we had speakers from the London Development Agency (Tom Russell), the Cultural Olympiad (Sarah Weir), Much Wenlock (Chris Cannon), WheelPower (Robin Courage), Security (Robert Raine and Tarique Ghaffur from the Met Police), Tessa Jowell and Seb Coe; so a pretty amazing line up.
Robin Courage touched many nerves when he said that no Government money had been forthcoming to bring Stoke Mandeville (where the original Games for athletes with a disability began in 1948, leading to the worldwide movement now known as the Paralympic Games) up-to-speed (he helped raise £10 million). Now - almost because his surname is courage - he is leading a team to raise £5 million to provide 2012 sporting wheelchairs for 2012...
Meanwhile the Much Wenlock Olympian Society again spelled out that it was William Penny Brookes not Pierre de Coubertin who was responsible for the modern Olympic movement (as indeed he was).
The challenge of dust emissions on the Olympic Park
Julian, former resident of Clays Lane Estate, 15 May 2008
Engaging with your critics is sometimes a difficult thing to do. As a former resident of the Clays Lane estate who had been 'decanted' or, as I prefer to say, evicted to make way for the Olympics I had been emailing the ODA and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for some time with questions about the Eastway Cycle Track, a large area of open space next to my former home where I used to enjoy walking but which is contaminated with industrial pollutants and even some radioactive material and is now being remediated prior to construction of sports facilities.
I can't say I had been entirely happy with the responses. The ODA invited me to meet Lawrence Waterman, in charge of health and safety for the ODA, Richard Jackson, the ODA's environment manager and Giorgia Sharpe, community relations manager to discuss my concerns.
I can't say I had been entirely happy with the responses. The ODA invited me to meet Lawrence Waterman, in charge of health and safety for the ODA, Richard Jackson, the ODA's environment manager and Giorgia Sharpe, community relations manager to discuss my concerns.
Read more of “The challenge of dust emissions on the Olympic Park”
My relationship with the whole London 2012 project started before London won the Games - we were helping Neil (in LOCOG’s Community relations team) get in touch with Chinese community, getting support for the bid. Since then, I have sat on the London 2012 Forum, discussing issues with people from all the various communities in London.
The beauty for us of course is that this year the Games are in China, in Beijing, which gives a bit of extra flavour in our relationship with LOCOG: we have an even greater opportunity to build the relationship and share ideas and information - as we did yesterday. We were asked if we could help raise Chinese cultural awareness among London 2012 staff - especially for those who are going to Beijing programmes to get first-hand Games experience.
We were of course delighted to help and yesterday saw it all come together, in an informal (yet hopefully informative) education day.
The beauty for us of course is that this year the Games are in China, in Beijing, which gives a bit of extra flavour in our relationship with LOCOG: we have an even greater opportunity to build the relationship and share ideas and information - as we did yesterday. We were asked if we could help raise Chinese cultural awareness among London 2012 staff - especially for those who are going to Beijing programmes to get first-hand Games experience.
We were of course delighted to help and yesterday saw it all come together, in an informal (yet hopefully informative) education day.
Something pretty amazing must have been happening in Mexico in the mid 60s. Perhaps it was the summer of love that got to them. Of course they knew they had the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup on the way – maybe that was the trigger for a creative leap forward – especially in graphic design. I need to find out more and I now know where to go.
Last night was the opening of a remarkable exhibition of Olympic Posters at the Museum of Childhood in London’s Bethnal Green. The Museum is a branch of the V & A and they have one of the best collections of Olympic posters. To mark the year of handover from Beijing to London they’ve created the most exhaustive and illuminating of exhibitions. Just about everything is there – from formal proclamations of the early British pioneers of the Olympian Games in Much Wenlock and the Cotswolds in the mid 19th century through to the current crop of posters from Beijing and some glimpses into the future in London.
I'm wondering if I’ve got the 'sell' right here? Is the history of posters, and Olympic posters at that, a rather 'train-spotting' branch of cultural nerdism? Absolutely not.
Last night was the opening of a remarkable exhibition of Olympic Posters at the Museum of Childhood in London’s Bethnal Green. The Museum is a branch of the V & A and they have one of the best collections of Olympic posters. To mark the year of handover from Beijing to London they’ve created the most exhaustive and illuminating of exhibitions. Just about everything is there – from formal proclamations of the early British pioneers of the Olympian Games in Much Wenlock and the Cotswolds in the mid 19th century through to the current crop of posters from Beijing and some glimpses into the future in London.
I'm wondering if I’ve got the 'sell' right here? Is the history of posters, and Olympic posters at that, a rather 'train-spotting' branch of cultural nerdism? Absolutely not.
This weekend I was lucky enough to attend a fantastic weekend of sport back oop north in sunny Manchester.
The weather was perfect, the programme of sports was incredible, and as a newcomer to the Paralympic World Cup, I was blown away by the level of skill and physicality of some of the events.
A banner at the Paralympic World Cup:
My first match of the day on Friday was Women's Wheelchair Basketball - GB versus China. These girls were fast and the match was a good introduction to the skill needed to manoeuvre the sports chairs around the court. The men were to follow later and that was a whole different ball game, making me glad that I wasn't a referee or official running around in the middle! Unfortunately our ladies lost out and were beaten by China who had a really strong and focused side. But the men beat Sweden in the afternoon to take them into the semi-finals on Saturday.
The weather was perfect, the programme of sports was incredible, and as a newcomer to the Paralympic World Cup, I was blown away by the level of skill and physicality of some of the events.
A banner at the Paralympic World Cup:
My first match of the day on Friday was Women's Wheelchair Basketball - GB versus China. These girls were fast and the match was a good introduction to the skill needed to manoeuvre the sports chairs around the court. The men were to follow later and that was a whole different ball game, making me glad that I wasn't a referee or official running around in the middle! Unfortunately our ladies lost out and were beaten by China who had a really strong and focused side. But the men beat Sweden in the afternoon to take them into the semi-finals on Saturday.
Of all the small to medium-sized businesses that have the opportunity to be involved with London 2012, bus and coach operators must be somewhere at the top of the list.
In addition to helping to provide the vehicles needed to get athletes, officials and media around the Games, we need buses and coaches to help get thousands of spectators there too.
So, it was with this in mind that I attended a workshop for bus and coach operators based in the South West, near Bristol. This workshop was arranged by the trade body the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), which we work with closely.
This photo shows me (on the right) with Giles Fearnley, CPT President:
In addition to helping to provide the vehicles needed to get athletes, officials and media around the Games, we need buses and coaches to help get thousands of spectators there too.
So, it was with this in mind that I attended a workshop for bus and coach operators based in the South West, near Bristol. This workshop was arranged by the trade body the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), which we work with closely.
This photo shows me (on the right) with Giles Fearnley, CPT President:
Read more of “Building relationships with transport operators”
I have been working on the Olympic Park for about nine months now, on the north of the Park, and have been given the opportunity to work in different areas. I started on the Park as an operative on the weighbridge. Weighbridges are one of the tools that we use to monitor the amount of soil/waste/material/crushed concrete etc around the Park.
We also monitor the movement of contaminated soil that needs to be cleaned and cleared before it can be reused somewhere else on the Park. Being next door to the soil washing machine is a great way to actually see my input into the process. It goes in dirty and comes out clean!
My line manager realised that I have an interest in the environmental side of my role and has been helping me gain experience in this area, which isn’t just on the weighbridge. This week I have had the opportunity to be involved with the measures and evaluation of general waste. I have been researching the different kinds of waste and how to separate them efficiently so that they can be recycled or reused. For example, separate skips for separate materials (this is not only cost effective but follows London 2012's sustainability plan).
Before coming here, I was out of work and am really happy to have been given the opportunity to actually learn whilst on the job, and then to be appointed on the Olympic Park is perfect for me as I live down the road in Greenwich. This project will be the pinnacle of my career, something I can tell the grandkids! I am very proud to be here and thankful to my employer who has given me the opportunity to have my own personal input into the Games.
Coming to work is never a chore and I look forward to what I could be learning next.
We also monitor the movement of contaminated soil that needs to be cleaned and cleared before it can be reused somewhere else on the Park. Being next door to the soil washing machine is a great way to actually see my input into the process. It goes in dirty and comes out clean!
My line manager realised that I have an interest in the environmental side of my role and has been helping me gain experience in this area, which isn’t just on the weighbridge. This week I have had the opportunity to be involved with the measures and evaluation of general waste. I have been researching the different kinds of waste and how to separate them efficiently so that they can be recycled or reused. For example, separate skips for separate materials (this is not only cost effective but follows London 2012's sustainability plan).
Before coming here, I was out of work and am really happy to have been given the opportunity to actually learn whilst on the job, and then to be appointed on the Olympic Park is perfect for me as I live down the road in Greenwich. This project will be the pinnacle of my career, something I can tell the grandkids! I am very proud to be here and thankful to my employer who has given me the opportunity to have my own personal input into the Games.
Coming to work is never a chore and I look forward to what I could be learning next.
Interesting fact about Newport: it is the home of one of only eight transporter bridges in the world, moving whole segments of road from one side of a river to the other. Interesting fact about Cwmbran Stadium near Newport, is that it was on that athletics track, in May 1984, that Zola Budd, in her memorable bare feet, set the Welsh All Comers 1500m record of 4.04.39. A record which still stands today.
Newport and Cwmbran Stadium was also the first port of call for the visit of Jean Tomlin (LOCOG's HR Director), Amanda Delew and I on a day trip to Wales. This was the final leg of a series of visits to the three other UK home nations, where the objective has been to discuss with local stakeholders LOCOG's plans for volunteering in 2012. After successful trips to Scotland and Northern Ireland (some travel problems notwithstanding), this was another very worthwhile visit.
Cwmbran Stadium not only holds fond memories for Zola, it also hopes to do so in the future for a team from a country participating in the 2012 Games. It is one of 31 Welsh facilities which will be in the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide to be launched in Beijing. It will be in the Guide for Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football and indoor Volleyball.
Read more of “Volunteering in Wales and the Harry Potter connection”
The British Olympic Association (BOA) have launched a new Team GB website ahead of the Beijing 2008 Games.
There's lots of interesting information about the Team GB athletes. Over the next few months 'Brits to Watch' out for at the Games will be recording personal video diaries on the road to Beijing. You can already log on see what it was like to carry the Beijing Olympic Torch from Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor, and enjoy the Team GB’s Synchronised swimming duet’s underwater video diaries.
The website also includes:
- Profiles/biogs on all selected Team GB athletes
- The ability to search by region and find out where the athletes are from
- A detailed competition schedule
- All the latest news and results from the heart of Team GB
- A photo gallery of Team GB's past and present Olympic triumphs
- Information on the Games and the Host City and the Olympic sports themselves.
Take a look: www.teamgb.com
My name is Mark. I work as a health and safety advisor for the north of the Olympic Park.
Working on such a high profile project that is as large as this has been very challenging and rewarding for me. The health and safety of all persons involved in this project from the site labourers right through to those who are directing the project is of paramount importance. We have a slogan on site that says 'nothing is so important that it cannot be done safely'.
Working on such a high profile project that is as large as this has been very challenging and rewarding for me. The health and safety of all persons involved in this project from the site labourers right through to those who are directing the project is of paramount importance. We have a slogan on site that says 'nothing is so important that it cannot be done safely'.
Read more of “Maintaining health and safety standards on Olympic Park”
I started swimming when I was five and started competing when I was about eight, for a local club in the diddy leagues. I swim and compete because I like it, it’s fun. I like being busy, I like being active. It’s as simple as that.
I was inspired to take it more seriously when I watched Nyree Lewis swim in the Athens 2004. She got her gold and I wanted to start competitively in disabled sport – I wanted to be her. Seeing her on TV really helped, it really struck a chord.
My first international competition was at the Durban 2006 World Championships. You can’t compete internationally until your 12 and I’d turned 12 two weeks earlier – I was the youngest ever selected.
I was inspired to take it more seriously when I watched Nyree Lewis swim in the Athens 2004. She got her gold and I wanted to start competitively in disabled sport – I wanted to be her. Seeing her on TV really helped, it really struck a chord.
My first international competition was at the Durban 2006 World Championships. You can’t compete internationally until your 12 and I’d turned 12 two weeks earlier – I was the youngest ever selected.
Read more of “Inspiring young people about Paralympic sport”
There’s nothing like a sunny day for putting people in a good mood, so we were delighted that an ODA and LOCOG visit to Weymouth and Portland on Friday was bathed in glorious sunshine.
The trip to the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy was a chance for ODA and LOCOG Chief Executives, David Higgins and Paul Deighton, to visit the venue which will host the Sailing events in 2012 and to view the work that is now underway to enhance the facilities for the Games.
Paul and David visit the Sailing venue:
The trip to the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy was a chance for ODA and LOCOG Chief Executives, David Higgins and Paul Deighton, to visit the venue which will host the Sailing events in 2012 and to view the work that is now underway to enhance the facilities for the Games.
Paul and David visit the Sailing venue:
A major ambition in the bid for London’s Olympic Games and Paralympic Games was the plan to engage with people right across the UK – to excite them and get them to play a part in it.
One aspect of this is to talk to their elected representatives, and so we organised a visit by Seb Coe (our Chair) and Paul Deighton (our Chief Executive) to Glasgow and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to see as many key politicians and civil servants as we could cram in – as well as to join the emerging bid company for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games for an event with students and staff from central belt universities.
We ended up seeing just about everyone – from private meetings with the First Minister Alex Salmond and the Minister for Sport Stewart Maxwell, through to a grilling by MSPs on the heavy-weight parliamentary Health and Sport Committee, useful talks with the main government officials and of course the Glasgow 2014 team itself.
L-R: Paul and Seb with Alex Salmond:
We held our second accommodation seminar on Thursday 24th April for hoteliers and accommodation suppliers. We have over 13,000 student rooms signed up across London universities at Games time so we decided to hold the seminar at Imperial College London - we have several hundred rooms reserved there for the media and technical officials in 2012.
So, with invites sent out we waited for the acceptances to roll in. 172 people later and we were in business.
The seminars are held to engage the hospitality industry and explain how London will operate in 2012. We had presentations from our workforce and security teams: they will play an important part in the smooth running of the accommodation function during the Games. Paul Deighton, our Chief Executive, talked about construction progress on the Olympic Park and out vision for 2012.
So, with invites sent out we waited for the acceptances to roll in. 172 people later and we were in business.
The seminars are held to engage the hospitality industry and explain how London will operate in 2012. We had presentations from our workforce and security teams: they will play an important part in the smooth running of the accommodation function during the Games. Paul Deighton, our Chief Executive, talked about construction progress on the Olympic Park and out vision for 2012.
Posted in Accommodation Permalink
Popular tags
- Cloud
- List
- Aquatics
- Aquatics Centre
- Athletics
- Beijing
- Beijing 2008
- Business
- Ceremonies
- Culture
- Cycling
- East London
- East of England
- Education
- Get Set London roadshow
- Handover
- LOCOG
- London
- ODA
- Olympic Park
- Olympic Stadium
- Paralympics
- Seb Coe
- South West
- Sponsorship
- Sustainability
- Swimming
- Transport
- Velodrome
- West Midlands
- Work for 2012
- young people
Recent Posts
Friday
Recent Comments
- Contact us
- Web accessibility statement
- Jobs
- Privacy policy
- Terms of use
- About this site
- Freedom of information
- Copyright
The official site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games