Site Moved

The Olympics has moved to www.olympicsdiary.com which will direct you to my new blog url http://the2012olympicgames.blogspot.com

Thank you for your patience.

Admin Announcement

I have changed the url on my Olympics site, and this seems to have caused some issues with accessibility.

I have changed the base url of the blog itself to http://the2012olympicgames.blogspot.com and also changed the redirect from the main urls, eg it can be found at the following url www.olympicsdiary.com

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Naked Flame Brought On Plane

David Beckham, the former England captain and part time underwear salesman, together with Princess Anne will receive the Olympic flame in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens tomorrow.

The princess, Beckham and a delegation including Sebastian Coe, will return to the UK with the flame on a special BA2012.

How is that ordinary passengers are not allowed to bring lighters onto planes, but these guys can bring a naked flame?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Civil Servants' Seven Week Domestic Sojourn

In order to ease congestion on London's lousy and third world transport infrastructure, the Timesreports that  tens of thousands of civil servants will be allowed to avoid travelling to work from 21 July six days before the opening ceremony of the Olympics until 9 September when the Paralympics finish (seven weeks later).

They will be allowed to work from home, unlike many of those who work in the private sector.

Suffice to say, many people in the private sector are asking how the civil service will function effectively during this seven week hiatus. Others observe that no one will notice the difference!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Olympic Bureaucracy

My thanks to a loyal reader who has written to me advising me of the considerable problems that she has had trying to set up a modest food concession in the Olympic Park during the forthcoming Olympics:

"I made an enquiry with regards to obtaining a unit within the Olympic grounds to sell food in 2007, at that time I was doing my catering from my home but am now established in a premises specialising in authentic Guyanese foods including Caribbean foods. 

At the time of my enquiry I was advised that an organisation would be set up to deal with the Olympics. 

In May 2009 I contacted the organisers, and I was advised that I needed to registered to be considered for any opportunities, so in May I registered.

On the 11 May 2009 I was sent an email confirming my registration. 

I have since been in contact with Compete 4 regularly.

They sent me to London 2012, and then finally I have been directed to my Council, who do not understand why I was sent to them.

I have been told that I need to wait, and if I am successful I would be informed. However, there are now less than 75 days left until the games and I still do not know my position.

From my understanding this Olympics is supposed to help small businesses, but I am struggling to obtain any information as to my position.

Please can you help me?"

It  is clear to me that the bureaucracy involved has not been at all helpful to this loyal reader, who only wants a simple answer to her question as to whether she has been successful or not.

Can anyone help her please?

Thanks.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Sonic Games

Not content with turning London into an armed encampment for the Olympics, organisers have now deployed a long range acoustic device (LRAD) which can be used both as a high-powered loud speaker and to emit an ear-piercing beam of sound (ie a sonic weapon).

The MOD claim that it would be used primarily in ''loud hailer mode'', in order to issue verbal warnings to any boats on the River Thames that were causing concern.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Last Remaining Olympics Tickets On Sale

The last 900,000 tickets for the Olympics are now on sale for 20,000 previously failed
applicants.

There are mixed reports of success and failure from people trying to use the online ticket site.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

A Bad Omen - Ill Wind Blows Flame Out

The Olympic flame was lit in Olympia Greece today, and then (according to Paul Kelso) was blown out by the wind.

Is this ill wind a bad omen for the London Olympics, or for Greece?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Locog Reneges On Another Promise

Locog has reneged on yet another promise, and has decreed that it will charge up to £15 for 30,000 tickets for prime vantage points for the Olympics cycling event at Box Hill and up to £15 for 3,500 tickets for the start and finish area of the time trial at Hampton Court Palace.

Locog had previously promised that the admission would be free.

Additionally, smelling more money to be made, Locog will sell about 6,000 tickets at £10 each over the last three days to watch a large television screen on Henman Hill at Wimbledon. There will be no tennis on the outside courts on those days.

Locog are offering these "new" tickets for sale on 23 May.

However, the Telegraph reports that these are in fact a sop "to fend off criticism from nearly a million applicants who will again fail to secure any tickets in the next round of sales which start on Friday".

This Friday will see the sale of 928,000 tickets.

Ticketmaster executive Chris Edmonds has warned that the expected demand will create a slow computer system, that could take 20 minutes to process a payment:

“People will have to have patience."

Which roughly translated means:

"In order to maximise our profits we didn't invest in a system that can handle the load, tough luck!"

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Security Snafu - Fake Bomb Smuggled Into Olympic Park

Despite turning London into armed encampment, it appears that those in charge of security of the London Olympics still have a few "issues" to address.

Number one on the list being the report that a fake bomb was smuggled into the Olympic park, 24 hours before yesterday's official opening!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

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The Olympics - The World's Largest Catering Event!

Those of you who thought that the Olympics are about sport are sorely misguided, they are not about sport according to Jon Woods the general manager for Coca-Cola UK & Ireland.

What then are the Olympics about, if not sport?

“The Olympics will be the biggest single catering event in the UK since the Second World War.” 

All clear now?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

New Olympic Threat Emerges - Moths!

Despite turning London into an armed encampment during the Olympics, it seems that the authorities cannot protect the visitors to the games from every threat.

Experts are warning of the threat posed by oak processionary moths, which may well infest the oak tree in East London where the Olympics will be held.

In their caterpillar stage they are covered in 63,000 toxic hairs, which can trigger asthma attacks. Airborne hairs can cause painful skin and throat rashes, running eyes, vomiting and dizziness.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Olympics Turns London Into Armed Encampment

Up to six surface to air missile batteries may be deployed in London, to defend the capital from airborne attack during the Olympics.

Two housing complexes, Bow Quarter in Tower Hamlets and the Fred Wigg Tower in Waltham Forest, have both been identified as potential sites.

Blackheath Common and Oxleas Wood, both in south east London, plus William Girling Reservoir in the Lea Valley Reservoir Chain in Enfield and Barn Hill at Netherhouse Farm in Epping Forest are also being considered as sites.

Meanwhile, this week, there will be a military exercise in London with thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen joining police to test security preparations ahead of the games.

Is hosting the Olympics really worth all of this?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Heathrow Cover Up - A National Disgrace

As loyal readers and hapless Heathrow passengers know, Heathrow's ability to process passenger arrivals in a speedy and efficient manner has collapsed.

This of course could not come at a worse time for the government, as with the Olympics (and Diamond Jubilee) just around the corner the country will be at the centre of the world's media eye just when large numbers of tourist/visitors are expected to pass through Heathrow.

Faced with this collapse of efficient arrivals' processing at Heathrow it seems that, according to the Telegraph, the powers that be within the failing UK Border Agency (UKBA) are trying to cover up their failure.

On Saturday BAA, the owner of Heathrow, tried to issue a leaflet apologising to passengers for the “very long delays” and saying people entering the country “deserved a warmer welcome”.

The leaflet suggested that passengers should complain to the Home Office.

Unfortunately for BAA, Marc Owen the director of UKBA operations at Heathrow, told BAA the leaflet was “inappropriate”.

He made threats to BAA:

“The leaflet is not all right with us. It is both inflammatory and likely to increase tensions in arrivals halls especially in the current atmosphere. 

It is inappropriate in that it is not for you to display how to complain on our behalf. 

Please refrain from handing out [the leaflets] or I will escalate [the matter] with ministers who are likely to take a very dim view. I know there are copies in the hall and your troops are ready with them.”

For good measure he also told BAA to stop passengers taking pictures of the queues in the arrivals hall.

The Daily Telegraph also has in its possession emails from within UKBA detailing the extent of the chaos.

It is quite clear that the current procedures being used at Heathrow to process arrivals are failing, and most certainly will not cope with the forthcoming Olympics.

This is a national disgrace!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Heathrow Clusterfuck

Earlier this month I wrote the following:

"Heathrow believes that its temporary Terminal 6 will be able to cope with the departing Olympics VIPs after the Games.

All very well, if you are a departing VIP. However, what of those coming to the UK before and during the Games?

It seems no one running Heathrow has thought of that. Step forward Culture Select Committee chairman, John Whittingdale, who has pointed out the elephant in the room and said that not enough thought seemed to have been given to ways of coping with long queues at immigration.

Seemingly, the much maligned and inept UK Border Agency (UKBA) is whining that it has insufficient money to open all of its passport stations.

Mr Whittingdale is quoted by the BBC as saying that MPs:

"did not leave the briefing confident that Heathrow was ready to cope with the arrival of a huge number of competitors, Olympic family and visiting tourists in timely fashion.

We understand that significant preparations have been made to accommodate unusual sporting equipment, special lanes for the Olympic family, welcoming arrangements for competitors and additional Olympic ambassadors.

However, far less thought seems to have been given to the issue of how to deal with long queues at immigration.

The UKBA (UK Border Agency) representative suggested that there was insufficient funding to ensure all passport stations would be open.

While visiting tourists will understand that the Olympics is a busy time, if the wait (at immigration) is in excess of an hour it may deter tourists from returning. The second impact may be that planes cannot unload their passengers into the terminal due to capacity being exceeded. This would lead to circling in the air, planes being left on runways or planes blocking gates."

In other words, Heathrow will be more of a shambles than ever during the peak travel season."

It seems, as news reports of 3 hour delays at Heathrow immigration show, that the shambles is already upon us.

Figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph, covering the first two weeks of April, have revealed the extent of the chaos faced by people flying into Heathrow.

Immigration Minister Damian Green was told he will have account for the chaos when he appears before the Home Affairs Select Committee and explain the chronic queues that are doing "huge damage" to Britain's reputation.

There are fears that the problems are tarnishing the UK's image, particularly with the London Olympics only three months away.

Heathrow is a clusterfuck, by anyone's standards!


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Olympics "Budget" Beyond Belief!

The arguments over the Olympics "Budget" continue, with the Public Accounts Committee laying to Jonathan Stephens the most senior civil servant in soon to be "resigned" Jeremy Hunt's Department for Culture Media and Sport.

The Telegraph reports that the cost of providing security for the games has rocketed skywards, eg elements of the main contract with private security provider G4S (the company that illegally bans photos being taken on public land) have increased by up to seven times.

Liberal Democrat MP Ian Swales said it was “beyond belief” that the Government would have agreed to such a huge increase in the security budget (£86M to £284M) if it had not been forced to do the deal in a hurry having underestimated the original requirement. 

PAC took Stephens to task for this, along with his response to a recent PAC report which described the Olympic budget as “finely balanced”.

Margaret Hodge (Chairman of PAC) quite rightly said that PAC had the right to tell the public the real cost of the Olympics.

For good measure Hodge, again quite rightly,  said it was “dishonest” not to acknowledge that some costs outside the Games budget, such as transport improvements, could be interpreted as Olympic spending.

Stephens claims that he remained “very confident” that the Games would be delivered within the £9.3BN budget.

Which is all very well except that, as has already been pointed out, the "budget" is £12BN!

The whole Olympics "Budget" is in fact beyond belief!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Jeremy Hunt Soon Out of Office

Jeremy Hunt, the  UK Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, is under heavy pressure to explain the extent of his links with News Corporation while the company was lobbying to get approval for its buyout of BSky.

Bookmakers have now suspended any further bets on him to be next Cabinet minister to leave office.

Paddypower:

"BREAKING: We have suspended betting on politician Jeremy Hunt leaving cabinet. Something big is about to go down...??!!"

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Newham's Social Cleansing

Wherever the Olympics is held, those deemed "undesirable" and a potential threat to the "brand image" of the host city are always moved on.

Step forward Newham Council in East London, where this year's summer Olympic Games will be held, which has decided to cleanse itself of its less "desirable" inhabitants by trying to move 500 families to Stock -on-Trent.

A spokesman for Newham told The Telegraph that the new housing benefit cap of £400 a week had made it difficult to find private homes for low-income families.

"Newham – along with other London councils – is under significant pressure.

We are doing everything we can to ensure we have good quality, affordable housing which is fairly distributed. 

 Alongside a number of other London councils, we are also exploring the option of working with housing associations outside the borough to house people with an immediate need in the private sector, when there is no other alternative."

The solution for Newham is simple. All they have to do is ask one of their councillors, Ayesha Chowdhury, to help out. She has financial interest in a string of properties in Newham.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

G4S Ban Photographs

It seems that some journalists had a wee bit of a run in with G4S, the private security company protecting the Olympics park, the other day when G4S tried to stop photos being taken by the journalists on public land.

The Guardian reports:

"Private guards at the Olympic park have been filmed forcibly attempting to stop the media taking pictures and footage of the complex in east London, raising new concerns about potentially aggressive and over-intrusive security during the Games.

During the incident two guards from G4S, the security giant which is recruiting at least 10,000 staff for the event, attempted to clamp their hands over the lenses of stills and video cameras, even though the footage is being shot on public land.

While there are numerous rules about photography and filming inside the Olympic complex itself, which is private land, there are no restrictions on the use cameras from public areas."

Apparently no one told G4S that photos can be taken from public land.

This "misunderstanding" by G4S over the law does not bode well for the smooth and "harmonious" running of the games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

A Farking Waste of Money - The £5K Sandcastle

Congratulations to Locog for coming up with new ways of wasting money on the London 2012 Olympics.

This time they took four days and spent £5K on building a 13ft-high sandcastle on Weymouth beach, to mark the 100 day countdown to the Olympics.

Unfortunately, those of you wishing to go and see the sandcastle will be sorely disappointed. Once the requisite PR pictures were taken, the sandcastle was demolished.

For why?

Locog and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council decreed that it was a health and safety hazard. Therefore, instead of hiring a security company to guard it, they hired a mechanical digger to destroy it.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Coe Unveils Olympics Slogan

With 100 days to go until the London Olympics, Lord Coe has unveiled the Olympics slogan:

"Inspire a Generation"

Hmm, not that inspiring is it?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

British Beers Banned

How ironic that at this summer’s London Olympics, a celebration of all that’s great about Britain, British beer is banned.

For why?

Dutch brewer Heineken has a £10M sponsorship agreement million for ‘sole pouring rights’ at all Olympic venues!

British branded beers are persona non grata.


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Heathrow Olympics Chaos Predicted

As I noted earlier this month, Heathrow believes that its temporary Terminal 6 will be able to cope with the departing Olympics VIPs after the Games.

All very well, if you are a departing VIP. However, what of those coming to the UK before and during the Games?

It seems no one running Heathrow has thought of that. Step forward Culture Select Committee chairman, John Whittingdale, who has pointed out the elephant in the room and said that not enough thought seemed to have been given to ways of coping with long queues at immigration.

Seemingly, the much maligned and inept UK Border Agency (UKBA) is whining that it has insufficient money to open all of its passport stations.

Mr Whittingdale is quoted by the BBC as saying that MPs:

"did not leave the briefing confident that Heathrow was ready to cope with the arrival of a huge number of competitors, Olympic family and visiting tourists in timely fashion.

We understand that significant preparations have been made to accommodate unusual sporting equipment, special lanes for the Olympic family, welcoming arrangements for competitors and additional Olympic ambassadors. 

However, far less thought seems to have been given to the issue of how to deal with long queues at immigration.

The UKBA (UK Border Agency) representative suggested that there was insufficient funding to ensure all passport stations would be open.

While visiting tourists will understand that the Olympics is a busy time, if the wait (at immigration) is in excess of an hour it may deter tourists from returning.

The second impact may be that planes cannot unload their passengers into the terminal due to capacity being exceeded. This would lead to circling in the air, planes being left on runways or planes blocking gates."

In other words, Heathrow will be more of a shambles than ever during the peak travel season.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Septic Bladder Ducks Olympics Draw

Septic Bladder, President of FIFA, is ducking out of attending that London 2012 Olympics football tournament draw at Wembley on April 24.

For why?

Seemingly he has a diary clash, and his absence is absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he wants to avoid the British media!.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Sex Pistols Say No

The Sex Pistols have declined an invitation to perform at the closing ceremony on 12 August of the 2012 Olympics, where part of the show will be entitled A Symphony of British Music.

It is speculated that the refusal may be to do with the fact that performers are paid a nominal £1 fee for appearing.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Heathrow's Temporary Terminal Six

Heathrow has unveiled its temporary terminal (Terminal Six) designed to cater solely for athletes and officials involved with London 2012.

Terminal Six will be used for the three days after the closing ceremony on 12 August, when over 10,000 athletes and 37,000 bags will be diverted away from the other terminals during the period.

The terminal is approximately the size of three Olympic swimming pools. No flights will leave from the terminal, therefore athletes will be bussed to departure lounges.

What can possibly go wrong?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Olympics Is All Shuttlecocks!

Apparently 1,100 shuttlecocks will be sued during this summer's London Olympics!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

BA's Olympics Dove Aircraft Revealed

I see that the Union Jack logo on the tail fin has lost its red, white and blue.

Are we ashamed of our national flag?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Honking Banned

Despite the very obvious problems that this summer's Olympics will bring to London, eg transport chaos, Transport for London (TfL) has chosen to focus on a somewhat lesser issue namely that of honking truckers.

TfL has issued a code of conduct for delivery drivers, who will be working nights to deliver supplies during the 2012 London Olympics.

The code asks that the drivers refrain from whistling or honking their horns, so that those who are asleep are not disturbed.

The guidelines will apply when the Olympic Route Network is enforced. The network will result in loading bays being closed, which means that deliveries will have to take place at night.

Lets' see how this works in practice then!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Great Escape

Travelex estimates that approximately four million Britons will leave the UK in the five days leading up to the Olympic Games in July.

Many want to escape the visiting crowds and blanket television coverage, as well many just hating sport per se.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Beware Olympics Hubris

Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, is flying into London for the final inspection before the Summer Olympics.

Rogge is expected to heap praise upon the organisers. In fact the Olympic co-ordination commission chairman, Denis Oswald, is also very pleased with how things are going and is quoted in the Telegraph:

“We are in a rather comfortable situation.

A few months before the Games, everything is in place.

We are not pushing to finish things as we had to do before. We feel confident. We can refine a few small things, but basically London is ready and will be ready.” 

Gentlemen beware Olympics hubris!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

ODA £200 Parking Fine Nixed

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has been thwarted in its plans to levy fines of £200 on those who park on the Olympic Route Network (ORN) during the Games.

Kerching!

The transport secretary Justine Greening has rejected this plan, noting that it would be an unnecessary burden in a challenging economic climate.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

A Nice Little Earner - Torchbearers Charged For Torch

People who have volunteered to carry the Olympic torch around the UK, have received an email from the powers that be (London 2012) telling them that they will have to pay £199 if they want to keep the torch as a souvenir.

However, not everyone will have to pay the charge (if they want to keep the torch). Some sponsors of the torchbearers (eg Coca-Cola) have stated that the torchbearers it nominates will not have to pay.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Three Cheers For The Blue White and Blue

The official outfits of Team GB for the London Olympics have been revealed today on Facebook.

For reasons best known to the designer (Stella McCartney) she has used the Union Jack but removed the red from it and replaced it with blue.

She claims that she wants the athletes to be "proud of their identity".

That being the case, why bastardise the Union flag?

Result: Loser!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Sponsorship Stupidity - The True Olympic's Spirit

The paranoia of Olympics sponsors (when it comes to protecting their "investment" in the London Olympics) knows no bounds.

Last month I wrote:

"There seems to be something of a hissy fit going on between the BOA and the agents of one of the sponsors of the London 2012 Olympics.

The agents of some competitors, who are sponsored by Nike, have told the BOA that athletes would be in breach of contracts if they are forced to wear Team GB’s official ”presentation outfit” which is sponsored by Adidas.

The agents have told the BOA that athletes might have to take off their shoes before mounting the presentation dais.

The BOA have hit back, and said that the rules mean that the athletes must wear the sponsor's (Adidas) footwear at all times."

The issue over footwear won't die down, the Telegraph reports that Aidan Kirkwood (a soldier injured in Afghanistan) was required to cover up the Raebok logo on his trainers with white tape when he appeared at an Olympic torch relay event this week.

There's the true "Olympic spirit" for you, money before sport or community spirit!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

There Won't Be Chaos At Heathrow!

As citizens of, and regular travellers to, the UK know our airports (especially London airport) are operating at overcapaicity, shambolic and prone to descend into chaos at the merest hint of a snowflake or ash cloud. Therefore it should come as no surprise at all to learn that four major airlines (British Airways, BMI, Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet) have warned about the congestion and chaos likely at our airports (especially Heathrow) during the forthcoming Olympics.

Despite the fact that airlines know something (one would have thought) about the business in which they operate, Sebastian Coe is having none of it and is insisting that the airports will operate well during the games.

He is quoted by the BBC:

"There won't be chaos.

Heathrow Airport operates at full capacity all the time....we have a very good operational plan...", with Heathrow "operating a very effective service".

Hmmm, that's all very well in theory. However, he neglected to point out that Heathrow, because it operates at full capacity, often descends into chaos when the slightest little thing (eg one snowflake) goes wrong.

A temporary terminal (Terminal 6) is being constructed at Heathrow, to ease congestion.

British Airways, BMI, Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet remain unimpressed:


"As the situation currently stands the industry believes that there is a significant risk of severe delay and disruption at all of London's major airports unless urgent action is taken

Time is running out to ensure that any changes to procedures and the appropriate training are in place prior to the Games."

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Dorries Objects To Relaxed Sunday Trading

The absurdly out of date Sunday Trading Act 1994, that states that shops over 280 square metres in England and Wales are restricted to any six hours of continuous trading between 10:00 and 18:00 on Sundays, will be suspended for eight consecutive weekends commencing 22 June for the duration of the Olympics. 

The fact that Nadine Dorries opposes this relaxation of this hangover from the Victorian era shows what a truly inspired move this is!

Let us hope that the "relaxation" becomes permanent.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

RMT Backs Driverless Trains

Last month I wrote:

"It appears that the RMT are in favour of driverless trains and, having rejected the £500 bribe offered to drivers to do their normal job during the London Olympics, will be balloting their members about strike action."

Well, the RMT continue to vote for driverless trains; the RMT has rejected an £850 bonus for London Underground (LU) employees to work during the Olympics.

Driverless trains here we come!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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OIympics Budget Cat Is Finally Out of The Bag

The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), and the rest of the government, are less than pleased that the true costs of the Olympics £12BN (including £2BN running costs) has finally hit the headlines of the mainstream media.

The Telegraph reports that Jonathan Stephens, the senior civil servant at DCMS, has written to Margaret Hodge (Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee) to complain about the fact that PAC have quoted a figure higher than the £9BN sanctioned by the government and dutifully reported by the MSM.

The £2BN running costs will come from the taxpayer (therefore it is a cost). However, the government is so keen to keep the headline figure below £10BN (a psychological breakpoint) that it is using an accounting fudge to hide the extra £2BN (by claiming some monies will be recouped, and others are not "Olympic costs").

Smoke and mirrors will no longer hide this con trick, the budget cat (reported here in 2007) is finally out of the bag and about time too!


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Porridge

It seems that whilst those who compete in the Olympics stadium this year will be fit and healthy, many of those who constructed it were/are not.

The Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) have stated that many of the 12,000 builders working on the stadium were living an 'unhealthy lifestyle', and that 28% were obese.

It seems that the workforce were living the high life at night (gorging on takeaways etc), then skipping breakfast. This then caused them to be fatigued by lunchtime, and increased the accident rate.

The solution offered by ODA was to serve bowls of porridge at £1 a bowl.

Accidents in the morning apparently decreased, as blood sugar levels and food cravings were "normalised".


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Michelle Obama To Lead US Olympics Delegation

Michele Obama will lead the US delegation at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Budget Is £12BN

I am amused to read that MPs and the mainstream media have finally woken up to the fact that the London Olympics "budget" is not £9.3BN (as is usually stated by politicians and the media) but in fact close to £12BN (as I have always stated).

For why?

There are £2.2BN running costs on top of the £9.3BN construction costs!

I have been warning about this accounting sleight of hand for many years, eg 2007:

"Adding further pressure to the already out of control London Olympics budget (currently standing at £12BN, including £2BN running costs); Tessa Jowell revealed that the bill for policing London and the United Kingdom during the Games had soared from £200M, at the time of the 2005 bid, to a total of £1.2BN."



Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Unofficial London 2012 Promotional Video

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Sensitivity Training

Volunteers who have stepped forward to help out at the London 2012 Olympics will be given a "sensitivity" questionnaire, in order to ensure that they do not unintentionally offend those attending or competing in the games.

These questions form part of a “diversity and inclusion” questionnaire.

Here is the questionnaire (as per the Telegraph), some of the multiple choice possible answers are quite idiotic.

1. Sexual Orientation: A spectator complains to you that there are two men holding hands sitting next to them - they feel very uncomfortable and would like you to tell the couple to stop. What do you do?

a) You tell the person to stop being a homophobic idiot and walk away.

b) You want everybody to feel comfortable and welcome at the Games, so you politely ask the couple to stop holding hands.

c) You explain that there is a huge diversity of people at the London 2012 Games, which includes gay, lesbian and bisexual couples.

2. Ethnicity/Race: You need to point out one of your team members to another colleague who requires his level of expertise. How do you describe him?
a) The tall black guy with short dark hair.
b) That guy over there, who looks like an athlete.
c) As your colleague is black, you are worried about sounding racist when you describe him, so you select another less qualified team member to assist instead.

3. Gender/Gender Identity: A spectator approaches you asking politely where the nearest toilets are. You are not sure if the spectator is male or female. What do you do?
a) Panic - you are not qualified to make this decision. Explain politely that you do not know, and sadly cannot be of assistance.
b) Just in case, tell them where the male, female and accessible toilets are.

c) Ask the spectator politely if they are male or female, so that you can direct them appropriately.
4. Disability: You are stopped by two spectators. Your attention was drawn by the man as he called over to you politely from a short distance away. The man is accompanied by a lady in a wheelchair. She has a speech impairment and speaks very quietly. She is asking you a question but you are finding it very difficult to understand her. What do you do?
a) Turn to the non-disabled man and ask him what she is saying.
b) Tell her politely that you are unable to understand her, and you are very sorry, but you need to be at your team briefing in two minutes.
c) Tell her that unfortunately you are unable to understand her, and ask if there is anything you can do to help her communicate with you.

5. Age: You have been asked by your Team Leader to assign several duties to you and your team members. One of your team members is a great deal older than the others, what do you do?
a) Ask your colleagues if they have any preferences or issues with any of the duties you need to share out, and then assign appropriately. Your older colleague does not raise any issues, so you give him one of the more physically demanding roles, as he says he has done it before.
b) Assign duties regardless of the colleague in question.
c) Wink cheekily at your older colleague and explain that you will be kind on his 'old bones' and the 'young 'uns' can do the running around today.

6. Belief: You are chatting to a fellow Games Maker at the security line while waiting to access the venue. They point out a woman in front of you who is wearing a scarf on her head and remark 'surely she won't be allowed to wear that in the venue!'. What do you say in response?
a) Ignore the comment and change the subject.
b) Point out that the woman is wearing a hijab, which is a form of Muslim headwear some women choose to wear as part of their faith.
c) Wait until your first shift with the colleague wearing the headscarf and raise your issue in front of them and your fellow team members.

Answers: 1) c; 2) a; 3) b; 4) c; 5) a; 6) b

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Handshakes Banned

The British Olympic Association (BOA), ever vigilant about the health safety of our nation's athletes, have come up with a "terrific wheeze" to keep our athletes safe.

The BOA have banned them from shaking hands with rivals and dignitaries at the London Olympics, lest some bug be passed on.

Given that other teams are not advised about handshakes, does this not make the BOA look rather ridiculous?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Dow - It's Still Not A Wrap!

The ongoing controversy over Dow's sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics continues, as Indian officials and politicians have stepped up the pressure to boycott the opening and closing ceremonies and other Games events.

Despite the fact that Dow did not own the chemical company involved in the Bhopal disaster at the time of the disaster (it bought Union Carbide 16 years after the disaster), many people want Dow to be stripped of its sponsorship rights.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Dampen Demand

Willie Walsh, chief executive of International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns BA (the official airline of the Olympic Games) has warned that the Games will "dampen" demand for its flights, especially business class flights.

This is hardly surprising, given that the Olympics will be hugely disruptive to London's already overstretched and poorly performing third world transport infrastructure, anyone with any sense will pro-actively do all they can to avoid flying to or being in London during the Games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Pillock!

Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, has told the Guardian that civil disobedience could be timed to disrupt the 2012 Games.
 
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Under Budget?

In a remarkable display of financial ignorance, the Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson has said that he is increasingly confident that the 2012 Olympic Games will come in under budget.

For why?

Current figures show that the £527M contingency budget has yet to be touched.

All very well, maybe. However, Robertson ignores the elephant in the room.

When the UK organically tendered for the games the "budget" was £2.4BN. This "moveable feast" has subsequently grown to £12BN (including £2BN running costs, which the media and politicians conveniently forget to mention).

On budget?

Don't make me laugh!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Tube Workers Vote For Driverless Trains

In January I wrote the following:

"It seems that our downtrodden and hard working Tube drivers feel a tad hard done by wrt the offer made by London Underground of a £500 bonus for shift working during the Olympics.

The RMT has rejected the £500 bonus, saying that the money was not an adequate reward for being on duty during the event.
RMT general secretary comrade Bob Crow is quoted by the BBC:

" It is well-documented that transport will be the biggest logistical challenge throughout the Olympics period.

All we are calling for is a fair deal for all the staff involved in delivering the colossal transport challenge that we will be facing this summer and the negotiations to achieve that are ongoing."

Given that the Tube drivers do not feel up to the job of doing what they are paid to do, the solution to this problem is simple; install driverless trains and remove the drivers altogether.

Problem solved!"

It appears that the RMT are in favour of driverless trains and, having rejected the £500 bribe offered to drivers to do their normal job during the London Olympics, will be balloting their members about strike action.

Boris Johnson is already promising driverless trains, as a means of finally putting paid to comrade Bob Crowe, the bete noir of the travelling public.

Comrade Crow is quoted in the Telegraph:

“RMT reiterates our stance that all grades of transport employees are entitled to a decent financial reward for their efforts transporting huge numbers of passengers during the Olympics and are entitled to take leave during the summer.


Working conditions and important agreements should not and need not be attacked in order to facilitate Olympic running.”

Driverless trains here we come!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog Not Backing Britain!

Following the furore over recently published evidence that some Olympics merchandise manufactured in China was produced using child labour, Sebastian Coe (Chairman of Locog) is quoted by Procurement Leaders:

“We place a high priority on environmental, social and ethical issues when securing goods and services. As soon as we were made aware of the Playfair 2012 report, we instructed our independent monitor to carry out a comprehensive investigation and review. The outcome of this will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

We have taken a lead in ethical sourcing and supply chain management but there is always more to do and we are committed to making a real difference to workers’ lives and creating a valuable legacy that we can share.”

That's fine, but could not all of this been avoided had Locog not instead sourced their supplies of Olympics tat from UK based companies instead of from China?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog and The Cruel Engine of Disappointment

Locog continues to be given a well deserved public pillorying by those who are less than impressed with its lack of transparency over Olympic ticket sales.

The latest kicking comes from Boris Johnson. He has demanded greater transparency in the Olympic Games ticketing process, and has dubbed the ticket system run by Locog “the cruel engine of disappointment.”

Locog continue to refuse to publish details until the tickets have been sold, by which time of course the horse will have well and truly bolted!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Olympics White Elephant

The white elephant of the London Olympics, ie the stadium, will cost the hard pressed British taxpayer a further £2M on top of the current Olympics "budget" of £12BN.

For why?

It seems that the stadium is not up to Premier League standards, and that the pitch will need to be ripped up (it doesn't have under-soil heating) after the games and replaced at a cost of £2M.

Locog et al keep banging on about the "legacy" of the games.

For sure there will be a legacy, specifically:

- one very large white elephant (the stadium), and
- a large bill (currently estimated at around £12BN plus)

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Council Houses Rented Out For £5,000 a Week

Following the lead of others involved in the Olympics, some council house tenants  (according to the Telegraph) are looking to make some money out of the Olympic games and are offering their homes for rent at up to £5,000 per week during the London Olympics.

Given that this is a breach of the terms of the lease, those renting their properties out might care to reflect as to whether the short term financial gain is worth losing their home over.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog Loses Its Grip

The Telegraph reports that, despite the past hype pressurising people to rush to buy them, there are in fact around 4 million unsold tickets for the London Olympics.

Locog don't appear to be on top of things, as they have admitted that they are still working out last minute seating plans at venues.

Quote:

"We simply do not have a full picture to present at the moment."

Locog will release the 4 million unsold tickets in April, of which 1 million cover most sports and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Unsurprisingly, some people who were pushed into buying tickets for lesser events (because the hype implied that the main events had all been sold out) are more than a little aggrieved at having been taken for a ride.

To add insult to injury, in the money making spirit of the Games, Locog are now attempting to charge people for lining the streets to watch the cycling event at Box Hill!

Previous assurances (which Locog deny ever making), that the event was free, have been swept aside in the spirit of mammon.

London Assembly’s economic development committee chair Baroness Doocey is quite rightly less than impressed with Locog, re charging for watching the cycling she said it would be "dreadful and most regrettable".

The Olympics are about money, not sport!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog's Lack of Transparency

The ongoing controversy over Locog's handling of Olympics ticket sales (eg as highlighted in the recent Channel 4 Dispatches "Olympics Tickets for Sale") won't die down.

Unsurprisingly, The London Assembly’s Economy, Culture and Sport Committee has accused Locog of hiding behind its legal status as a private company and claiming commercial confidentiality despite benefiting from significant taxpayer funds.

The Telegraph reports that the committee has demanded that Locog reveals details of the ticket sale operation, including how many tickets have been sold at each price point at each venue and the total allocation of sponsor tickets, by Feb 27.

A report prepared for the committee, Sold Out?, said:

“Our conclusion, with the Games just a few months away, is that Locog has not yet done enough to ensure the transparency of the ticketing process. 

Locog’s lack of openness raises the risk that public trust in the process will diminish, fuelling a sense among Londoners that the opportunity to attend an Olympic and Paralympic Games in their own city was never truly within their reach. 

Locog told the Committee it intended to make the distribution of tickets roughly equal between the different price points for each event. However, we have received no confirmation that this principle has been implemented. 

Locog cited both data protection rules and the need to maintain commercial confidentiality as reasons why the information would not be published until after the Games. We do not accept these arguments. 

We fail to see therefore how commercial confidentiality can reasonably be used as a justification for non-publication of information which is clearly in the public interest. 

There is now even less transparency than in Sydney: despite having now sold the vast majority of tickets for the Olympic Games, Locog still refuses to publish a breakdown of the number of tickets available, or sold, to the public for each session. 

There are legitimate concerns that the most popular events may have a disproportionate number of the highly-priced tickets, and so far Locog has done very little to dispel these fears.”

Despite having sold the majority of the tickets, Locog still refuses to publish a breakdown of the tickets available, tickets sold, or how many were available for each session.

Why?

The committee chairman, Dee Doocey, said:

“Locog’s legal status should not excuse them from the transparency and openness we expect in other areas of public life.

It is completely unacceptable that an organisation that only exists because of a huge investment of public money can hide behind its status as a private company to avoid questions it does not like.

Locog is putting public confidence at risk by refusing to provide a complete breakdown of how many tickets were available for each event.”

Why does Locog choose to remain so secretive, given that it receives money from the taxpayer, what it is it afraid of?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Tickets for Sale

Channel 4 broadcast a very interesting edition of Dispatches last night, which probed the reality behind the spin spewed forth by Locog about where tickets for the Olympics are really going.

Locog promised that 75% of the tickets would be "affordable and accessible" to ordinary people. However, not 75% of every kind of seat!

Additionally, for good measure, the programme also noted that those with money can buy access to the special Olympics road lanes (reserved for the "great and good" of the Olympics).

Quote:

"We've spent £9 billion (Editor's note: actually it's £12BN if you include running costs) paying for the London 2012 Olympics. 

The organisers say London 2012 will be an accessible and affordable Games, leaving a lasting sporting legacy. But 1.8 million British people applied for tickets in the public ballot - over a million applied for the 100 metres final alone - and the vast majority were disappointed. 

So who got the tickets and for what events? 

Antony Barnett investigates in this Dispatches Special."

As I have stated repeatedly, the Olympics are about money not sport!

Watch the programme in full via this link Olympics Tickets for Sale.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympic Vandalism In Greenwich

Nothing will stand in the way of the Olympics, as evidenced by these photos of the vandalism and destruction of the Blackheath Gate in Greenwich Park.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Barefoot Athletes

There seems to be something of a hissy fit going on between the BOA and the agents of one of the sponsors of the London 2012 Olympics.

The agents of some competitors, who are sponsored by Nike, have told the BOA that athletes would be in breach of contracts if they are forced to wear Team GB’s official ”presentation outfit” which is sponsored by Adidas.

The agents have told the BOA that athletes might have to take off their shoes before mounting the presentation dais.

The BOA have hit back, and said that the rules mean that the athletes must wear the sponsor's (Adidas) footwear at all times.

What a complete load of old bollocks and fuss over a matter of footwear.

There seems to be too much money and too many corporate egos involved with these games.

As noted many times before, the Olympics are about money not sport!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog Kicks Business In The Teeth Again!

Not content with awarding certain manufacturing contracts to China, Locog have decided to award the contract for printing 11 million Olympics tickets to Weldon, Williams & Lick of Fort William, Arkansas.

The tickets will then be air freighted over to the UK (there's "green thinking" for you!).

Locog appear to be run by unpatriotic cretins!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Deighton's Bonus Reviewed

The Telegraph reports that, as a result of the ongoing uproar over bonuses to directors of failing organisations, that the remuneration commission will determine if the complicated series of bonuses due to London organising committee (Locog) chief executive Paul Deighton will be maintained.

In theory Deighton could earn a £1M bonus, which he has already stated will go to charity.

The remuneration committee will also review the bonus of the previous chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, now Network Rail chief Sir David Higgins.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics To Crash The Interent

In one of the more bizarre threats arising from the Olympics to life on this planet as we know it, the Cabinet is warning that the London 2012 Olympics may well crash the internet.

The Cabinet Office's official advice, Preparing your Business for the Games, claims that the UK's telecoms system may be unable to cope with demand to access the internet in certain areas. 

Quote:

"It is possible that internet services may be slower during the Games or, in very severe cases, there may be dropouts due to an increased number of people accessing the internet."

It goes on to warn that there may be data caps to try to spread the load.

To my humble view this scaremongering is reminiscent of the overblown hype of the Y2K "problem" (that turned out to be a damp squib). My gut feeling is that this alleged "capacity shortage" will be used as an excuse to turn off certain social media networks at critical moments.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Greed - Greedy Hoteliers Get Their Fingers Burned

In August last year I wrote the following:

"How "refreshing" to read that, despite the ever worsening global financial situation, the hoteliers of London intend to screw every last penny from visitors to London next year during the Olympics.

The Telegraph reports that London hotels intend to treat tourist as prostrate milch cows eg:

- A double room at the Sheraton Park Tower, in Knightsbridge, this month costs £209 a night. The price quoted for a stay in August next year is £605.

- A night at the West London, in Leicester Square, costs around £290 this August. The same room during the Games will cost just under £540.

- The Berjaya Hotel in Kensington, goes for broke and intends to increase some of its room rates by a factor of 10. Rates typically range from £89 to £199. For every day of the Olympics, the price is £999 a night.

As noted many time before on this site, the Olympics are not about sport but are in fact about money.

Given the ongoing financial turmoil, it is to be hoped that these greedy hoteliers get their fingers well and truly burned for their naked opportunism."

I am therefore very amused to see that those hotel operators who thought that they would make a quick buck out of the London Olympics have had their fingers well and truly burned.

Locog have had to publicly humiliate themselves (not for the first time) by admitting that they had overestimated the number of rooms needed by officials, media, sponsors and assorted freeloaders for the coming games.

By how much did they overestimate the demand?

By a staggering 20%!

Locog have had to hand back 120,000 of the total 600,000 nights booked for the Olympics.

Needless to say this 20% reduction in bookings has given the greedy hotel industry a well deserved kick in the goolies.


Tour operators are now panicking and have warned that the newly available rooms will not boost visitor numbers.

For why?

- the vacancies have come too late
- tourists have been put off by the naked greed of the hotel operators
- tourists have been put off by the transport/travel chaos expected in London during the games

It is estimated that up to one million beds will go unsold over the Olympic period, costing the tourism industry around £3.5BN.

Now who was it who said that the Olympics would be a boon to tourism?

Oh yes, Locog!

My advice to any tourist brave enough to endure the chaos of London during the Olympics is to negotiate hard with the hotels (who are desperate for business), don't let the greedy bastards get away with overcharging you for a shoddy room and lousy service!


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Boris Says "Go By Tube"

I am amused to read that Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, is urging Olympic chiefs to take the Tube during London 2012

Quote:

"To all members of the International Olympic Committee, I urge them to do the right thing - get on the Jubilee Line because they'll love it."

There is even a new website showing hotspots on London's underground system.

Great!

One small problem, has Boris not heard that Comrade Crow has rejected the £500 bribe offered to Tube workers for doing their normal job?

 Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Tube Workers Reject £500 - The Olympics Gravytrain

It seems that our downtrodden and hard working Tube drivers feel a tad hard done by wrt the offer made by London Underground of a £500 bonus for shift working during the Olympics.

The RMT has rejected the £500 bonus, saying that the money was not an adequate reward for being on duty during the event.

RMT general secretary comrade Bob Crow is quoted by the BBC:

"It is well-documented that transport will be the biggest logistical challenge throughout the Olympics period.

All we are calling for is a fair deal for all the staff involved in delivering the colossal transport challenge that we will be facing this summer and the negotiations to achieve that are ongoing."

Given that the Tube drivers do not feel up to the job of doing what they are paid to do, the solution to this problem is simple; install driverless trains and remove the drivers altogether.

Problem solved!


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"