http://www.london2012.com/blog/http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/15/the-challenge-of-dust-emissions-on-the-olympic-park.phpJulian, former resident of Clays Lane EstateEngaging 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. http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/15/the-challenge-of-dust-emissions-on-the-olympic-park.phpThu, 15 May 2008 14:40:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/15/a-cultural-experience-down-the-sewer.phpDavid, Head of Environment and Sustainability at 2012Oh s@*t! 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 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. It was a truly amazing experience. We were winched down into the great cavernous tunnels built over 150 years ago to help alleviate the great stench of 1856 – when Parliament had to close because the odour from the polluted Thames became unbearable. You may have an image of crawling along narrow pipes but these are like underground cathedrals: they would fit a tube train and the brickwork is some of the best you will ever see. Almost unblemished after all this time, they are a testament to one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th Century. http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/15/a-cultural-experience-down-the-sewer.phpThu, 15 May 2008 11:42:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/13/paralympic-world-cup-manchester.phpAnthony, PA, Design & RegenerationThis 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 - 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.http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/13/paralympic-world-cup-manchester.phpTue, 13 May 2008 12:19:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/12/getting-work-on-the-olympic-park-as-a-site-operative.phpLouis, Site Worker, Olympic Parkhttp://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/12/getting-work-on-the-olympic-park-as-a-site-operative.phpMon, 12 May 2008 15:17:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/12/building-relationships-with-transport-operators.phpAllan, ODA TransportOf 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:http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/12/building-relationships-with-transport-operators.phpMon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/09/volunteering-in-wales-and-the-harry-potter-connection.phpJohn, Nations and Regions teamInteresting 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. http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/09/volunteering-in-wales-and-the-harry-potter-connection.phpFri, 9 May 2008 16:20:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/09/have-you-seen-the-new-team-gb-website-yet-.phpThe 2012 Editorhttp://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/09/have-you-seen-the-new-team-gb-website-yet-.phpFri, 9 May 2008 13:56:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/08/maintaining-health-and-safety-standards-on-olympic-park.phpMark, health and safety advisorMy 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'.http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/08/maintaining-health-and-safety-standards-on-olympic-park.phpThu, 8 May 2008 17:52:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/07/inspiring-young-people-about-paralympic-sport.phpEleanor, Paralympic SwimmerI 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. http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/07/inspiring-young-people-about-paralympic-sport.phpWed, 7 May 2008 11:10:00 +0100http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/06/testing-the-waters-at-weymouth-and-portland.phpStuart, ODA Press OfficerThere’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:http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/05/06/testing-the-waters-at-weymouth-and-portland.phpTue, 6 May 2008 14:22:00 +0100