As unlikely as it seems, given the image of London as being fog bound and perpetually wet, the 2012 Olympic Games in London could be hit by water shortages.
That will be the case, unless Thames Water (the company that leaks/wastes vast quantities of water because it does not fix its pipes) gets its act together in time.
Labour MP Harry Cohen said that Thames Water's network lost 894 million litres a day, enough to fill 350 Olympic swimming pools.
Cohen said that the company's claim that it is doing all it can to tackle the problem was "a fib".
Quote:
"If we don't get this right, we will also have drought order restrictions in the lead up and during the 2012 Olympics and that would be to the detriment of those Games."
The good news is that Thames Water's profits leapt to £346M last year.
Wednesday, 28 June 2006
Friday, 16 June 2006
Danger UXB
Congratulations to Morrison and Edmund Nuttall, the two firms who have won the £200M contract for the demolition and clean up works on the 270 hectare site of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
There is a lot of work to do, the site has been blighted by decades of industrial use and is the largest patch of derelict and contaminated land in London.
There is also expected to be a large cache of unexploded bombs on the site, dropped by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War.
There is a lot of work to do, the site has been blighted by decades of industrial use and is the largest patch of derelict and contaminated land in London.
There is also expected to be a large cache of unexploded bombs on the site, dropped by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War.
Tuesday, 13 June 2006
The Corrupt Olympics
It is reported that the sacking of the vice-mayor of Beijing, Liu Zhihua, who oversaw the construction of Olympic venues for the 2008 Beijing has unleashed a wave of commentary about corruption and graft in the lead up to the 2008 Games.
Seemingly Liu was not shy of indulging his own passions and built a pleasure palace for himself, staffed by young concubines on the outskirts of Beijing.
Foreign companies trying to work on the Games are reporting a widespread culture of graft and corruption.
Liu was sacked after he demanded a bribe from a foreign businessman, for the sale of land in Zhongguancun. Liu then refused to hand over the land, despite having been paid off, the businessman then reported him to the authorities.
Beijing is proving to be a tad sensitive over the corruption allegations, and have shut down any websites that comment on them.
Liu may well face the death penalty, defraud the state of more than $500K and you are executed!
But what of his boss?
Seemingly Liu was not shy of indulging his own passions and built a pleasure palace for himself, staffed by young concubines on the outskirts of Beijing.
Foreign companies trying to work on the Games are reporting a widespread culture of graft and corruption.
Liu was sacked after he demanded a bribe from a foreign businessman, for the sale of land in Zhongguancun. Liu then refused to hand over the land, despite having been paid off, the businessman then reported him to the authorities.
Beijing is proving to be a tad sensitive over the corruption allegations, and have shut down any websites that comment on them.
Liu may well face the death penalty, defraud the state of more than $500K and you are executed!
But what of his boss?
Monday, 12 June 2006
Bad Morals Hit Olympics
Liu Zhihua, the Vice-Mayor of Beijing who was in charge of urban planning, construction and sports activities for the 2008 Olympics, has been fired for corruption and "bad morals".
The Beijing Municipal People's Congress removed him after finding him guilty of misdemeanors, his case will be further investigated.
Over 115,000 members of the Communist Party were punished in 2005, for corruption and other offences.
Regarding the great world "Bung Fest", that is currently being played out in Germany, Panorama dished the dirt on the corruption and bribery in FIFA last night; well worth watching if you have the opportunity.
I wonder if it is possible to hold an international sporting event without corruption and kickbacks?
The Beijing Municipal People's Congress removed him after finding him guilty of misdemeanors, his case will be further investigated.
Over 115,000 members of the Communist Party were punished in 2005, for corruption and other offences.
Regarding the great world "Bung Fest", that is currently being played out in Germany, Panorama dished the dirt on the corruption and bribery in FIFA last night; well worth watching if you have the opportunity.
I wonder if it is possible to hold an international sporting event without corruption and kickbacks?
Saturday, 10 June 2006
Thursday, 8 June 2006
Cutbacks
It seems that the expected cost overruns of the 2012 London Olympics have spurred the organisers to try to cut back on some of their plans.
The revised blueprint for the Games include changes made to reduce the risk of the budget spiralling out of control, and to ensure that the local community benefits from facilities after the Games are over.
The plan for the Stratford site, is now based on a smaller area than originally envisaged with less ambitious landscaping.
Lord Coe said:
"We have a compact and exciting site which crucially works for the community after the games have gone."
Given the money shortage, more space has been allocated to corporate sponsors in the central part of the Olympic park They will be asked to cough up more sponsorship money for the Games.
The Olympic Delivery Authority claim that the changes were not primarily money motivated.
Well of course they are!
The revised blueprint for the Games include changes made to reduce the risk of the budget spiralling out of control, and to ensure that the local community benefits from facilities after the Games are over.
The plan for the Stratford site, is now based on a smaller area than originally envisaged with less ambitious landscaping.
Lord Coe said:
"We have a compact and exciting site which crucially works for the community after the games have gone."
Given the money shortage, more space has been allocated to corporate sponsors in the central part of the Olympic park They will be asked to cough up more sponsorship money for the Games.
The Olympic Delivery Authority claim that the changes were not primarily money motivated.
Well of course they are!
Wednesday, 7 June 2006
China Sows The Seeds of The Olympics
As part of its preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China has turned its eyes towards the weather; it is very concerned that Beijing is enduring a 7 year drought and has been plagued by dust storms.
In order to fight back against the forces of nature, China will "seed" the clouds with rockets and chemical pellets to try to make it rain.
Not only will this, if it works, alleviate the drought, it will also clear the pollution.
It is in fact the tradition in Beijing to seed the clouds before public holidays.
As to whether it will work or not, only time will tell.
In order to fight back against the forces of nature, China will "seed" the clouds with rockets and chemical pellets to try to make it rain.
Not only will this, if it works, alleviate the drought, it will also clear the pollution.
It is in fact the tradition in Beijing to seed the clouds before public holidays.
As to whether it will work or not, only time will tell.
Tuesday, 6 June 2006
Beijing Cleans Up
As Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games, it is making plans to clean up the city. Specifically it will try to eliminate drugs, prostitution and under-aged drinking in city bars and dance halls.
Venues will be rated A, B, or C following joint inspections carried out by city police, commerce and cultural authorities.
Vice police chief He Angang said:
"By the 2008 Olympic Games, the city's entertainment spots will be drug free, that is our goal."
If the Chinese manage this feat, they should tell the secret of their success to the rest of the world.
Oddly, the new rules will not affect bath houses and massage parlors.
Venues will be rated A, B, or C following joint inspections carried out by city police, commerce and cultural authorities.
Vice police chief He Angang said:
"By the 2008 Olympic Games, the city's entertainment spots will be drug free, that is our goal."
If the Chinese manage this feat, they should tell the secret of their success to the rest of the world.
Oddly, the new rules will not affect bath houses and massage parlors.
Monday, 5 June 2006
The Duke of Edinburgh Vents His Spleen
The Duke of Edinburgh vented his spleen the other day, on the subject of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.
He described the opening and closing ceremonies as "bloody nuisances", and called for them to be banned.
Warming to his theme, he said that the opening and closing ceremonies destroy the spirit of the games; it is about competition and not extravaganza.
Quote:
"They ought to be banned. They are a pain in the neck."
He also said that he hoped to do "as little as possible" during the 2012 Olympics in London, by which time he will be 91 years old.
I fully agree with the Duke, in fact I would go one stage further; ban the Games entirely, they are a complete waste of time and money and are most certainly nothing to do with good sportsmanship.
He described the opening and closing ceremonies as "bloody nuisances", and called for them to be banned.
Warming to his theme, he said that the opening and closing ceremonies destroy the spirit of the games; it is about competition and not extravaganza.
Quote:
"They ought to be banned. They are a pain in the neck."
He also said that he hoped to do "as little as possible" during the 2012 Olympics in London, by which time he will be 91 years old.
I fully agree with the Duke, in fact I would go one stage further; ban the Games entirely, they are a complete waste of time and money and are most certainly nothing to do with good sportsmanship.
Thursday, 1 June 2006
Distribution Deal Announced
ProLogis, a US provider of distribution facilities and services, has announced that an industrial park it is developing in China will be used as the main logistics and distribution centre for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
ProLogis Park Beijing Airport has been designated as the official distribution site for Olympics-related equipment and material by the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee.
The 100,332 square metre site will also be used for warehousing, light assembly and administration of logistics operations.
ProLogis Park Beijing Airport has been designated as the official distribution site for Olympics-related equipment and material by the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee.
The 100,332 square metre site will also be used for warehousing, light assembly and administration of logistics operations.
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