November 2009

Learning from the Vancouver Aboriginal experience how to open up jobs at London 2012

Steve, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, 26 November 2009

Yesterday, at LOCOG HQ, we hosted a roundtable with Tewanee Joseph.  Tewanee, a member of the Squamish First Nation of Canada, who grew up on the Capilano Reserve in North Vancouver, British Columbia, where he excelled at a number of sports including lacrosse. He's now CEO of the Four Host First Nations Society and works on behalf of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations to ensure that the nations' traditions and protocols are recognised and respected in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Vancouver Games.

It was an inspirational meeting. 

Read more of “Learning from the Vancouver Aboriginal experience how to open up jobs at London 2012”

Wildcats get Activ8ted in Northern Ireland

Jonathan, 2012 Board member, 23 November 2009

Last week I was delighted to be back in Northern Ireland to help launch the multi-skills ‘Wildcats Activ8’ Inspire Mark project. This project is the second phase of the successful Activ8 project I visited in June of this year. (You might remember the photos of my attempts at hula hoop on my previous blog!).

Read more of “Wildcats get Activ8ted in Northern Ireland”

Welcoming athletes with learning difficulties back into the Games

David, LOCOG Diversity and Inclusion team, 23 November 2009

In the early hours of Saturday morning in Kuala Lumpur the International Paralympic Committee made a decision that will affect the lives and aspirations of millions of people with learning difficulties across the world.

Read more of “Welcoming athletes with learning difficulties back into the Games”

Top landscape awards for the Olympic Park

John, Parklands and Public Space, 20 November 2009

It was gratifying to pick up two awards for the Olympic Park on behalf of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) at the Landscape Institute's Awards ceremony - particularly the top ‘Peter Youngman Award’.

At the Awards, Sir Jonathon Porritt’s displayed a great understanding of the crucial role landscape architects can play in ensuring that we plan, design, build and refit our towns and cities to meet the challenges of climate change.

Landscape architects have played a key role at every stage of the London 2012 Games from the bid to their realisation on the Olympic Park.

How the Olympic Park will look...

Read more of “Top landscape awards for the Olympic Park”

Reflections on my visit to the Olympic Park

Leone Davis, a potential Olympic cyclist, 19 November 2009

I was so excited to be asked to visit the Olympic Park in London and see for myself where the greatest show on earth will take place in 2012. The prospect of meeting one of the greatest Olympians of our time, Jonathan Edwards, who is still the world record holder in the triple jump, an Olympic gold medallist and a member of the London Organising Committee Board, was indeed a wonderful feeling.

Read more of “Reflections on my visit to the Olympic Park”

What would de Coubertin have made of Cardboard Citizens?

Bill, Director of Culture, Ceremonies, Education and Live Sites, 17 November 2009

Just over 120 years ago Baron Pierre de Coubertin spoke on the stage right in front of me now. The founder of the modern Olympic movement led a line of distinguished thinkers, social reformers and inventors to speak here at the Toynbee Hall. It may not be the most prepossessing of London venues – but the history of the 19th and 20th centuries will tell you that it punched above its bantam weight in the scale of grand London performance spaces. Lenin, Marconi, Attlee and Beveridge all followed in de Coubertin’s footsteps. 

Read more of “What would de Coubertin have made of Cardboard Citizens?”

National Anti-Bullying Week 16-20 November 2009

Kevin, Equality Monitoring Manager, 16 November 2009

This week is National Anti-Bullying Week and I want to make people aware what it is all about.

Anti-Bullying Week highlights and tackles issues that can have a huge effect on people’s lives - issues such as harassment, racism, sexism and many more.

Read more of “National Anti-Bullying Week 16-20 November 2009”

Sharing the educational legacy of the Games around the UK

Kaycee, Young Mayor of Newham, 13 November 2009

Early on Tuesday morning I went to St. Pancras Station with Seb Coe to wave off a group of young people from Newham on a journey to Sheffield to spread the benefits of the London 2012 legacy.

Read more of “Sharing the educational legacy of the Games around the UK”

Sir Steve encourages the young athletes of Northern Ireland to be inspired

11 November 2009

I visited ‘Be Inspired’ last month, one of the outstanding projects that makes up the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

It is fantastic to see the effect the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are having across our country and particularly in young people.

Not only is the ‘Be Inspired’ project motivating youngsters to get involved in the 2012 Games through voluntary work schemes/community programmes, what is also really good to see is that young aspiring athletes are setting their sights on bigger goals and wanting to succeed at the highest level...

Read more of “Sir Steve encourages the young athletes of Northern Ireland to be inspired”

View Tube opens

Sarah, Culture team, 9 November 2009

Today, a new activity centre called the View Tube has officially opened to visitors. Its location right next to the Olympic Park enables visitors to get a panoramic view of some of the main venues for the London 2012 Games, including the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre.

Read more of “View Tube opens”

Being a part of London 2012

Sarah Barbut, Government Relations Internship, 9 November 2009

Internships can’t get much better than this;

Incredible offices… check
Prime desk location (2 meters from Seb Coe’s door)… check
Great people… check
Interesting and varied work… check
A chance to be involved in one of the biggest shows on earth… check.

Read more of “Being a part of London 2012”

How I, an East End boy, ended up at the magical world of London 2012

Abdul Hassan, LOCOG Diversity and Inclusion team, 9 November 2009

Being born and bred in the East End was always magical. When I was young, I used to look out my flat to Canary Wharf. It was like looking at a tall tower block but with the brightest torch light flashing at the top into the sky.

Read more of “How I, an East End boy, ended up at the magical world of London 2012”

Vancouver 2010...in just 100 days

The 2012 Editor, 4 November 2009

Today marks 100 days to go to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

We wish our friends in the Organising Committee all the best as they put the finishing touches to their plans to deliver what will no doubt be an exciting and enjoyable event.

Read more of “Vancouver 2010...in just 100 days”

The greenest Games ever?

Martin, Director - The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), 4 November 2009

The work the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has been doing to consider the environment when building the Olympic Park and venues is an inspiration to us all. 

It is an inspiration to environmentalists in particular.

Read more of “The greenest Games ever?”

Be as good as you can be

Jonathan, 2012 Board member, 2 November 2009

Last week it was the group of young people from an Inspire marked project in Wales who took me back to my 'performance' days with their hip hop dancing at the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff.

Read more of “Be as good as you can be”

Well on the way to delivering 'everyone's Games'

Seb, LOCOG Chair, 1 November 2009

Last night we marked 1,000 days to go to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games with a spectacular event: the BT Tower lighting up with a dramatic firework display. It was a great way to round-off a fantastic weekend of activities to celebrate this milestone.

Read more of “Well on the way to delivering 'everyone's Games'”

Lucky to be IN the BT Tower as it lit up for 1,000 days to go

Ray, London 2012 Facilities Coordinator, 1 November 2009

Saturday 31st October 2009. To some, Halloween, To me and everyone else in the Olympic Family, it was the milestone of 1,000 days to go to the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. All eyes were on the BT Tower and I was one of the lucky ones to be IN the Tower looking out!

Read more of “Lucky to be IN the BT Tower as it lit up for 1,000 days to go”