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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Party Poopers

Chris Allison, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, has warned that last minute events in 2012 to celebrate the Olympics could be "dangerous".

Mr Allison is heading the Met's 2012 security planning and preparations, and told the London Assembly's Health and Public Services Committee last week:

"People have got to understand that 2012 will be a very different year.

This is why it is important for the Greater London Authority to get people to sign up to say they are not going to do something last-minute because that could be dangerous.

They (event organisers) need to see that there will be a challenge for us in 2012 and to self-regulate."

I can't see this working at all.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Failed

In April I noted that the lofty plans by the ODA to use the canal system to supply raw materials for the Olympics site were unsustainable.

"..the financial downturn has scuppered the plans to carry out the necessary dredging work. Therefore the tide is only high enough to carry barges for a few hours each day..."

Today The Times reports that the plans have "failed".

By the way, it cost us £20M.

How many more Olympic promises will fail?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Pathetic!

The organisers of the London 2012 Olympics (currently budgeted to cost us £12BN - including £2BN running costs) had promised to create a "skills legacy".

So, with two years to go, how is this "skills legacy" doing?

The Evening Standard reports that the London Olympics has created only nine qualified tradesmen and women to date.

Pathetic!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Piss and Wind

As with all plans of mice, men and the ODA things do rather tend to fall apart when confronted with reality.

Such fate befell the grandiose plans of the ODA to construct a 120M wind turbine at the North end of the Olympic park, which was meant to supply 20% of the Olympic park's energy during the games.

David Higgins, CEO of the Olympic Delivery Authority, confessed to defeat the other day stating that the scheme was "no longer feasible".

Seemingly new health and safety measures had meant the original design was no longer viable, and the preferred bidder had pulled out.

No other contractors had come forward.

Another Olympic dream bites the dust!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Money Well Spent

Despite the Olympics "budget" running out of control (currently standing at £12BN including £2BN running costs), the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has paid Pringle Brandon £5K per annum (for the last 4years) for advice on how to divide up open-plan workspaces, and where it would be best to put desks.

Great!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Anti Doping Line Opened

The UK will launch of a confidential 24-hour hotline that will encourage anonymous callers (athletes, coaches, support staff, parents and friends etc) to provide tip-offs about those they think might be cheats, or supply and traffic in performance-enhancing substances during the Olympics.

All very well, maybe.

However, I guarantee that this will be abused.

What better way to put an athlete off his/her game by having them investigated for drugs the day before an event?

Who would want to do that?

Fellow competitors, bloody minded individuals, people with money bet on the event.

The list is endless.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Countries Tout Tickets

In a rather amusing development, the IOC has all but accused four (albeit unnamed) countries of touting tickets for the recent Vancouver Winter games.

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) receive a quota of tickets that they can sell to the public in their home country. However, some NOCs have been in the habit of passing the tickets on to touts for profit.

Gilbert Felli, an IOC director, has stated that four countries would be punished (they will receive a reduced ticket allocation for the London games) for the way in which the sales of their Vancouver allocation were handled.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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