In another blow to the so called London Olympics 2012 "budget", a number of advertising agencies have pulled out.
For why?
It seems that the Olympics organisers are so desperate for cash to throw into the ever growing budgetary black hole (£12BN - including £2BN running costs - and rising), that they tried to charge the agencies £10M each for the "honour" of being a "tier three" sponsor.
Whilst the £10M was not an "up front fee" as such, any agency signing up would have been required to agree to spend millions in exchange for being named an official 2012 sponsor.
Unsurprisingly those in the advertising industry don't think that the benefits, especially during the recession, justify the outlay.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, 30 March 2009
Friday, 27 March 2009
IOC Scraps International Torch Relays
Following the shambolic 2008 Olympics international torch relay, which was dogged by security issues, protesters and criticism, the IOC has banned it for future games.
The London 2012 Olympics will see a torch relay, but one that will never leave the British Isles.
In theory the 2012 British torch relay will use a route that will ensure that 95% of the UK's population will be no more than an hour away from seeing it at some point during it's journey....the UK's failing/overburdened transport infrastructure and security measures permitting that is!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The London 2012 Olympics will see a torch relay, but one that will never leave the British Isles.
In theory the 2012 British torch relay will use a route that will ensure that 95% of the UK's population will be no more than an hour away from seeing it at some point during it's journey....the UK's failing/overburdened transport infrastructure and security measures permitting that is!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Unfit For Purpose
London Citizens, a civic campaign group, and the union Unite has decreed that hotels in central London are "unfit" to host the 2012 Olympics.
Their rationale being that the hotels pay low wages, and have "Dickensian" working conditions. The groups are calling for hotel workers to be paid a "London Living Wage" of £7.45 an hour.
Hardly surprisingly the calls have fallen on deaf ears, as the British Hospitality Association note that a recession is not the best time to be raising wages.
Both sides make valid points.
However, they are ignoring the other aspect of the hotel industry in London that makes it unfit to host the 2012 Olympics; namely the appalling quality of many of the rooms/service on offer, and the "rip off" prices charged by the the hotels for accommodation, food and drink.
Until both issues are addressed, the hapless London Olympic tourist will be faced with poor quality overpriced accommodation and service.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Their rationale being that the hotels pay low wages, and have "Dickensian" working conditions. The groups are calling for hotel workers to be paid a "London Living Wage" of £7.45 an hour.
Hardly surprisingly the calls have fallen on deaf ears, as the British Hospitality Association note that a recession is not the best time to be raising wages.
Both sides make valid points.
However, they are ignoring the other aspect of the hotel industry in London that makes it unfit to host the 2012 Olympics; namely the appalling quality of many of the rooms/service on offer, and the "rip off" prices charged by the the hotels for accommodation, food and drink.
Until both issues are addressed, the hapless London Olympic tourist will be faced with poor quality overpriced accommodation and service.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Umpire
There are short term "job" opportunities for 600 Londoners to train as referees, umpires and scorers for the 2012 Olympics.
Bursaries will be offered over the next three years to train the umpires et al, who will be qualified in 17 Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Successful applicants will attend intensive courses, and will have to officiate for at least 15 hours before qualifying.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Bursaries will be offered over the next three years to train the umpires et al, who will be qualified in 17 Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Successful applicants will attend intensive courses, and will have to officiate for at least 15 hours before qualifying.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
A Nice Little Earner?
Despite the fact that the property market has all but collapsed, there are still possibilities for those with "balls of steel" to make some money.
That at least is the view that some estate agents and property development companies are trying to propagate, in respect of property near to the Olympics 2012 site.
George Wimpey, for example, are offering packages on its Altius apartment homes development which is near the London 2012 Olympic Village.
Deals include £199,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, or fast track completion in two weeks gets you the same property for £179,995.
The theory being that demand for property near to the games will be high as 2012 approaches, ie buyers can rent out the property or "flip" them to another buyer for a premium.
We shall see!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
That at least is the view that some estate agents and property development companies are trying to propagate, in respect of property near to the Olympics 2012 site.
George Wimpey, for example, are offering packages on its Altius apartment homes development which is near the London 2012 Olympic Village.
Deals include £199,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, or fast track completion in two weeks gets you the same property for £179,995.
The theory being that demand for property near to the games will be high as 2012 approaches, ie buyers can rent out the property or "flip" them to another buyer for a premium.
We shall see!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Prime Target
It would seem that some people are becoming distinctly nervous and edgy about the security issues relating to the forthcoming 2012 London Olympics.
Lord Jopling, chairman of the House of Lords EU Committee, believes that the Government should begin talks with the EU Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) civil protection unit "as a matter of urgency".
He is quoted in the Telegraph:
"It is increasingly clear that the 2012 Olympics could be a prime target for terrorists.
It is vital that the Government takes every possible step to ensure that other EU Member States are fully prepared to assist the UK in the case of a potential attack.
We are surprised that this process is not already in hand, and we recommend the Government begin liaising with the MIC as a matter of urgency."
Lord Jopling also wants Nato to become involved:
"The lack of co-operation between the EU and Nato is especially worrying in the area of civil protection and crisis management, where there is virtually no contact between the bodies involved. This cannot be allowed to continue."
What will be the real legacy of these games?
-A police state?
-A population cowed by fear of terror attack?
Are these games really worth all of this?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Lord Jopling, chairman of the House of Lords EU Committee, believes that the Government should begin talks with the EU Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) civil protection unit "as a matter of urgency".
He is quoted in the Telegraph:
"It is increasingly clear that the 2012 Olympics could be a prime target for terrorists.
It is vital that the Government takes every possible step to ensure that other EU Member States are fully prepared to assist the UK in the case of a potential attack.
We are surprised that this process is not already in hand, and we recommend the Government begin liaising with the MIC as a matter of urgency."
Lord Jopling also wants Nato to become involved:
"The lack of co-operation between the EU and Nato is especially worrying in the area of civil protection and crisis management, where there is virtually no contact between the bodies involved. This cannot be allowed to continue."
What will be the real legacy of these games?
-A police state?
-A population cowed by fear of terror attack?
Are these games really worth all of this?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, 9 March 2009
Olympic Fat Cats
Despite the UK being in the grip of its worst recession for decades, it is comforting to know that those people who are "running" the London 2012 Olympics are still able to earn a crust.
The chief executive of LOCOG the 2012 organising committee and former banker, Paul Deighton, has a package worth up to £750,000. He has earned a a performance related windfall of up to £100K, on top of his £450K base salary and guaranteed two year loyalty bonus of £204K.
Deighton is not alone in making a nice little earner out ot he Olympics. Salaries at the Government Olympic Executive totalled £3.9M in the last 12 months, that is a staggering 30% higher than the previous year.
Precisely why government Olympics staff are able to buck the market in this way is not clear. It should also be noted that the body that they work for in fact duplicates much of the work being done elsewhere on the Olympics by other bodies.
The British taxpayer is being taken to the cleaners, by a government bulldozing it Olympics vanity project through against the wishes of the electorate.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The chief executive of LOCOG the 2012 organising committee and former banker, Paul Deighton, has a package worth up to £750,000. He has earned a a performance related windfall of up to £100K, on top of his £450K base salary and guaranteed two year loyalty bonus of £204K.
Deighton is not alone in making a nice little earner out ot he Olympics. Salaries at the Government Olympic Executive totalled £3.9M in the last 12 months, that is a staggering 30% higher than the previous year.
Precisely why government Olympics staff are able to buck the market in this way is not clear. It should also be noted that the body that they work for in fact duplicates much of the work being done elsewhere on the Olympics by other bodies.
The British taxpayer is being taken to the cleaners, by a government bulldozing it Olympics vanity project through against the wishes of the electorate.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, 6 March 2009
Horsing Around
The hapless and hopeless Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell, and LOCOG have something of a fight on their hands wrt their plans to use Greenwich Park for the 2012 equestrian events.
A campaign, No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE), has been set up to fight the plans. Thhe campaign group has a number of high profile supporters such as Dr David Starkey, Sir David Nicholas, former head of ITN, Sir Frank Berman QC, a former legal adviser to the Foreign Office, and Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield, a former chief executive of the Property Services Agency.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
A campaign, No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE), has been set up to fight the plans. Thhe campaign group has a number of high profile supporters such as Dr David Starkey, Sir David Nicholas, former head of ITN, Sir Frank Berman QC, a former legal adviser to the Foreign Office, and Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield, a former chief executive of the Property Services Agency.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Panic
In a candid admission, re the task of ensuring that the UK's communications are up to the task of covering the London 2012 Olympics, Stuart Hill BT's VP and director of BT 2012 said:
"This has to work.
This is the most complex logistical peacetime challenge I think we've had to face.
We have one spin of the circle... So I want to panic every moment from now 'til the Games to make sure we've got that right.
If a butterfly wing beats somewhere in Weymouth I want to know about it."
Would that the same level of attention to detail had gone into the original Olympics "budget"!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
"This has to work.
This is the most complex logistical peacetime challenge I think we've had to face.
We have one spin of the circle... So I want to panic every moment from now 'til the Games to make sure we've got that right.
If a butterfly wing beats somewhere in Weymouth I want to know about it."
Would that the same level of attention to detail had gone into the original Olympics "budget"!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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