The Olympic Joke

The Associated Press reports that the BBC is to parody preparations for the London 2012 Olympics in a new comedy series.

"Twenty Twelve" has been shot in the style of mockumentary series "The Office".

The BBC says the six-part series will deal with "such hot topics as how to phase the traffic lights across London to get people from west to east."

Writers have also tried to make light of the process of selling a taekwondo hall after the Olympics, the search for someone to run the Cultural Olympiad and how wind turbines will operate in the absence of wind.

The series will air on BBC 4. Broadcast dates haven't been announced.

The real life preparations have been comical enough (not least the farce over the "budget"), the BBC don't need writers it is writing itself.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

£3K For a Ticket!

The Telegraph reports that Locog are debating ticket prices for the London Olympics 2012.

It seems that some in Locog want to abandon the "cheap ticket promise", and charge up to £3K for tickets for the opening ceremony.

Now, for those of us who live in the real world, £3K is clearly an absurdly high price and would undermine any public support that there may be for these games.

However, Locog do not live in the real world and have spent money on hiring consultants to add their "insights" to the ongoing price debate. The consultants have advised that £1K is the tipping point for pricing tickets.

As to whether Locog will heed the advice, or indeed realise that spending money on consultants to tell them the "bleedin' obvious" point that £3K is an absurd price, is anyone's guess!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Utter Bollocks!

The taxpayer funded national tourism agency VisitBritain has come up with advice, in the from of a guide, on how to interact with those travelling to the UK in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Included in this nonsense are helpful gems, such as, not mentioning to Mexicans their nation's 1840s' war with the US.

What utter bollocks, and what a spectacular waste of money!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Olympics Storage Area

London Olympics organisers have upset residents near Drapers Field in Waltham Forest, with their plans to build an Olympics storage facility for athletes' equipment on the field which is (ironically) currently used by 9,000 people a month for sport and other leisure activities.

Although the field would return to public use after the games, locals are of the view that the plans are contrary to the Olympics ethos about encouraging people to take up sport.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Food Matters

Whilst the ODA may think that it has a great plan for ferrying athletes, IOC officials, the media and assorted Olympics hangers on to and from the 2012 London Olympics (via specially designated Olympics routes) it may have forgotten the needs of the ordinary people of London.

How, for instance, is fresh food going to be transported around the capital if some of the key routes are blocked for use by Olympics officials et al?

Natalie Chapman, of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), is quoted in the Telegraph:

"It will be a huge challenge.

Difficult is the understatement of the century. It will be pretty hellish, especially as we are expecting an upsurge in business and will have to make even more deliveries with less time available to us.

With non-perishable goods it would be sensible to stockpile. But with high-value goods and the problems of cash flow, that is not always easy. Restaurants may have to work rather longer hours to receive their food."

No doubt a plan will be put in place, but at what cost?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

We're Backing China

It is "refreshing" to see that the IOC are still helping support the Chinese Olympics, even though they ended in 2008.

The IOC has announced the allocation of accredited positions to journalists for the 2012 London Olympics. Out of the 5,600 possible positions British journalists have been allocated a paltry 500, whereas Chinese journalists have been allocated 200.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Ker Farking Ching!

It is nice to see that those in charge of the London Olympics 2012 have come up with a novel, and amusing, way to make money out of the games.

They will fine anyone not authorised to use the designated Olympics roads during the games £200.

The designated roads cover approximately 2.5% of London's road network, and cross through some of the most congested areas of London.

The concept of these designated roads is to allow athletes, International Olympic Committee members, Olympic sponsors, the media and other junket hangers on not to endure what the average Londoner endures every day when trying to get to work.

All right for some, isn't it?

Ker Farking Ching!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Banquo's Ghost

The BBC, with a degree of partisan delight, report that Former Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has been offered a place on the Olympic board running the Games.

I don't recall her as being particularly good when she was Olympics Minister, or am I biased?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Pissing In The Wind

The Olympics minister, Hugh Robertson, has engaged in the futile activity of pissing in the wind by urging the executives of the Olympic Delivery Authority to exercise some restraint wrt their pay and bonus packages.

It was revealed this month, for example, that ODA chief executive David Higgins is Britain's highest paid quango chief, on £384K last year. In fact, 9 ODA executives earn more than the Prime Minister's annual salary of £142,500.

Mr Robertson has suggested that ODA executives could make a gesture of deferring their bonuses until after the Games in 2012.

Fat chance!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Revenues Up?

It seems that, according to the Telegraph, as a result of the number of people pre-registering their interest in buying tickets for the London 2012 Olympics, accountants have upped their best estimate of revenue.

Seemingly they expect revenues to exceed £2.15BN, an increase of approximately £200M.

All very nice, maybe.

However, as the ticket prices have yet to be announced, how can they be so sure that these pre-registrants will actually follow through and buy their tickets?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

"Modest"

Figures recently released by the Government show that the nine senior executives at the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are paid more than David Cameron's annual salary of £142,500.

However, Sir Craig Reedie, the architect of London's bid to host the Games and now a member of the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board, has told insidethegames:

"I think the professionalism that has been shown by the people at the top ODA is outstanding and in world competitive terms, the remuneration is modest."

So that's alright then!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Pie In The Sky

I see that a proposal for cable cars crossing the Thames, that has been knocking around since the 1990's, has been dusted off again using the London 2012 Olympics as the catalyst.

Transport for London (TfL) have it in mind to use cable cars to transport 2,500 people per hour between the Greenwich peninsula and the Royal Docks.

TfL believe that the £25m cost can be covered by the private sector.

Call me cynical, but I guarantee that this gets nowhere.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

U Turn On Cheap Tickets

The Telegraph reports that London Olympics organisers are backtracking on a promise, made during the bidding phase, to provide large numbers of cheap tickets for the 2012 games.

Seemingly the finances are now so tight that Locog needs to raise an extra £441M from ticket sales.

The ticket policy and prices will be presented this week, for approval to the International Olympic Committee.

Ker farking ching!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Money Matters

The Guardian reported last week that David Higgins, the chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, earns between £390,000 and £394,999 a year. One of the 15 people working on the games who are paid more than David Cameron's £142,500.

Howard Shiplee, the director of construction, receives between £285,000 and £289,999. Godric Smith, its head of communications, gets nearly £200,000. In 2008, Higgins also received a £205,000 bonus.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Legacy Action Plan Delayed

Regeneration and Renewal reports that the publication of the Olympic legacy action plan, setting out how a goal to narrow the gap between east London and the rest of the capital on seven measures by 2030 will be met, has been delayed.

Seemingly "the current financial climate" is the excuse for the delay.

I wonder how often that will be used as an excuse for other delays, in the run up to the 2012 games?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Boris Urges Commonsense

It is refreshing to see at least one politician displaying some commonsense, wrt the London 2012 Olympics.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has called for the marathon and triathlon events to be held at the weekend, in order to minimise the disruption to the transport network.

At last, a politician has the guts to admit (albeit indirectly) that London's transport network is shite and that the slightest extra pressure on it will cause meltdown.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are not happy with Boris's proposals, and want the events held during the week.

Evidently the IOC is used to travelling first class away from the "hoi polloi" and has never had to endure the tube, train or bus system in London during rush hour.

Can someone tell me why we want these games in London?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Restrictions on Ticket Purchases

As noted a while ago on this site, Visa credit/debit cards have a sponsorship deal for the London 2012 Olympics which ensures that fans who want to buy tickets by card for the games can only do so if they use Visa.

Additionally, Visa credit and debit cards will be the only ones accepted at shops or cash machines at Olympic venues.

Unsurprisingly, some people are of the view that this is an unfair restriction. The Office of Fair Trading is now looking into the matter and is quoted by the BBC:

"The OFT and the European Commission are aware of these issues and are currently in discussion about what action, if any, should be taken."

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Oilympics

Lord Coe, Chairman of the London Olympics, has defended BP's sponsorship of the games and stated to the BBC that the oil spill in the Gulf "does not make a difference to us at all".

BP is a top tier sponsor of the 2012 Games.

London and Florida will both have their own legacies to look forward to.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Epic and Intimate

Danny Boyle, artistic director of the London Olympics July 27 2012 opening ceremony, has told the Telegraph that it will be "epic and intimate".

However, he has also stated that he does not intend to try to compete with Beijing's 2008 ceremony which cost £70M.

The event will highlight Britain's "idiosyncrasies".

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Slumdog Olympics

Slumdog Millionaire director, Danny Boyle, will be the artistic director for the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony, organisers have announced.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"