This has been a busy week for London 2012. Let's see what has been happening...
Work has now been completed at Eton Dorney, the London 2012 venue for Rowing and Canoe Sprint. This image shows the new bridge at the finish line of the lake.
A huge amount of construction progress has been made on the Olympic Village. Why not take a quick peek and see it for yourself on the London 2012 webcams!
Performers from the Heathrow Gymnastics Club create the shape of an Olympic Cauldron and Flame on the...
Read more of “Photos of the week construction, cauldrons and cooking!”
0 Comments on this postJudo's such a great sport - it's massively physically demanding, but also mentally challenging. One of the best ways I heard it described was as 'a physical game of chess'. Because there are different weight categories, you can do it no matter what shape or size you are. It's really good for children because it's very much about discipline and self-defence too.
Read more of “Fancy a physical game of chess? Try judo”
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Jonathan Edwards, London 2012 Board member, 27 May 2010
Yesterday I visited Eldon Junior School in Edmonton to launch a great initiative called 'Let's Get Cooking Around The World'. You can watch a video of me and the kids talking about our visit.
It's a languages project which is part of our Get Set education programme, and also part of the Inspire programme. The Year 4 students at Eldon Junior School had a great time learning how to make Brazilian mango and banana smoothies and speak Portuguese at the same time!
Read more of “Inspiring children to cook and learn languages”
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James, LOCOG Director of Venues and Infrastructure, 27 May 2010
I am very pleased that this week we announced the final agreement for the locations of all our venues, with Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics moving to Wembley Arena.
This will be a spectacular venue, and of course already has a world-class reputation. It means that Wembley will be a real hub for the Games, with Wembley Stadium already hosting the Football finals.
Read more of “Where are we up to with preparations for the London 2012 venues?”
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Hilary, LOCOG Badminton Manager, 27 May 2010
Yesterday we announced that Badminton will be held in Wembley Arena at the London Olympic Games in 2012 – moved, for a number of reasons, from the original temporary venue.
Wembley hosted the All England Open Badminton Championships for 37 years from 1957 to 1994 so it has a long badminton history and, of course, an excellent reputation for hosting world-class events.
Read more of “Wembley Arena will be a great venue for Badminton in 2012”
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Bill, Director of Ceremonies, Education and Live Sites, 26 May 2010
The Games, so they say, have the power to shake the earth on its very axis – OR to pierce right to the emotional core of a tiny community. I was lucky enough to see both last week.
Read more of “The power of the Games is huge: on a local and global scale”
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Deborah, Torch Relay Producer, 26 May 2010
On a rooftop in London this morning, the dreams and aspirations of 'Team Torch' suddenly became real. Seb announced the scope and scale of the Torch Relay – 70 days, 8,000 Torch Bearers, the fact that 95% of the UK population will be within a one hour journey of the Flame, and the news that it will arrive on the 18th May 2012. We also announced the three presenting partners who will help us to deliver the Torch Relay – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.
Read more of “London 2012 Torch Relay: bringing the Games to your doorstep”
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Graham Edmunds, Paralympic swimmer and double gold medallist, 24 May 2010
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of opening the first Our Sporting Life exhibition at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames. The exhibition is an Inspire mark project and the first of over 100 exhibitions to open across the country celebrating British sporting heritage, from different communities and sports.
Read more of “Celebrating Our Sporting Life”
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Chris Holmes, LOCOG Director of Paralympic Integration, 24 May 2010
Later this year when the British Paralympic Association reaches its 21st Birthday there will be much to celebrate and reflect upon. There have been stunning sporting performances across a myriad of Games, organisational change which has seen the association grow in number and stature and, since 2005, the phenomenal focus on a home Games in London in 2012.
Read more of “BT provides more great Paralympic support”
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This image is one of the latest aerials taken of the Olympic Park. This shot captures how well construction is going: Work on the Aquatics Centre roof is well advanced and the Stadium is making brilliant progress. Truly a breathtaking view to behold.
Read more of “Photos of the week: Olympic Stadium”
1 Comments on this postYesterday saw the launch of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.
The big day kicked off with a pre-launch screening at a primary school in Tower Hamlets. Attended by LOCOG Chair Seb Coe and CEO Paul Deighton, the event was a resounding success and we received nothing but positive feedback from the pupils.
Read more of “Introducing the London 2012 mascots to the world”
2 Comments on this postWith the paint literally still wet at the newly completed extension of ExCeL, Frank Mantek, Germany’s national weightlifting coach, described the 2012 Olympic Games Weightlifting competition and training venue as ‘perfect’.
Kind words indeed from a man widely considered to be one of the world’s best and most experienced weightlifting trainers.
Read more of “The coach behind the world’s strongest man”
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Paul, LOCOG Head of Venue Development, 18 May 2010
We've got 36 competition venues and more than 50 non-competition venues for the Games. Can you imagine how much equipment we are going to need to build them and kit them out?!
We have to issue tenders for the supply and installation of all equipment and overlay, and will be looking to work with the best organisations from the events industry. Some contracts will be very big and span multiple venues, whilst others will be smaller and cover the more specialist installations that are needed for the Games.
Read more of “Thousands of items needed to kit out the London 2012 venues”
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Neil, LOCOG Town Planning Manager, 18 May 2010
As the Venues and Infrastructure Town Planning Manager, I am responsible for the submission of all LOCOG's town planning applications. We will be making over 100 applications this year and next for permission to do the work needed to transform locations into Games-time venues.
For example, we are building a temporary arena at Greenwich Park to host the Equestrian events, installing temporary seating and archery ranges at Lord's Cricket Ground, and transporting sand to turn Horse Guards Parade into the Beach Volleyball venue.
Read more of “Getting the green light for work on London 2012 venues”
0 Comments on this postThe Amateur Boxing Association finals returned to East London and the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green at the weekend. As Alex described in his blog about the evening, Knocked out by boxing, we were in for a real treat.
This time, the domestic highlight of the amateur boxing year had even more spice as boxers were desperate to impress and book their place at the Commonwealth Games.
Read more of “We'll be in for a treat when ExCeL hosts Boxing in 2012”
0 Comments on this postI'm not sure how I feel about boxing. In a way, I have always been a bit resistant to the combat sports, perhaps grudgingly accepting that they have a place in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It's hard, however, to resist the infectious enthusiasm shown by Matthew Archibald, LOCOG Boxing Manager. And after his recent excellent, passionate presentation to LOCOG staff, I accepted his invitation to attend the ABAE National Elite Championship Finals.
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Lauren Smith, Team GB Synchronised Swimming, 17 May 2010
I first tried synchronised swimming when I was 11. I couldn't swim then, but I had done gymnastics for eight years so my teacher suggested I give it a go. I love synchronised swimming because it is so different and never gets boring. There are always new things to learn and master.
Read more of “Why synchronised swimming deserves greater recognition”
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Uzma, Marketing Assistant, 14 May 2010
This week has been a busy week for London 2012, as you can see...
Construction continues on the facility building and the finishing pool at the Lee Valley White Water Centre (formerly known as Broxbourne). The pool will be filled with water this summer - definitely heating things up before the Games!
As Head of Event Services, my role is to make sure that all spectators visiting the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have a fantastic experience.
There are many things that can make the Games experience really special for spectators. Their focus of attention should be on the sporting event, but other factors will come into play that make a real difference to how people enjoy the Games.
Read more of “Putting on a great Games for spectators”
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Adam Pengilly, Team GB Skeleton racer, 13 May 2010
On Monday I attended my first meeting of the LOCOG Athletes' Committee. Since my election to the IOC Athletes' Commission during the Vancouver Games, I have been given the opportunity and responsibility to be more involved in the planning for the London Games in 2012. It was great to meet the other athletes on the LOCOG committee who are helping to make sure we provide the best possible experience for the athletes in 2012.
Read more of “The Olympic Village will be right for the athletes at London 2012”
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