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

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

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

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

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

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

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

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

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

Boris Fails To Walk on Water

The Olympics has been used as an excuse and target for many politicians and organisations to push for their pet projects to be funded, completed and be publicised.

Sadly for Boris Johnson his plan for a £60M floating "River Park" (which should have been opened in time for the Olympics)  has been blocked by the Port of London Authority (PLA).

The public park would have included eight linked pavilions on pontoons, running along the north bank for more than half a mile from the Millennium Bridge to the Tower of London, along with a lido and a new jetty for Thames ferry services.

The PLA believes that this would have created a navigation hazard, and as such the City of London Corporation are now reviewing the scheme.

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 Establishment Weighs In

I see that the establishment is weighing in to the furore over the allegations about "secret" cash payments made to a member of the Olympic Park legacy Committee by West Ham.

The establishment doesn't want the row to delay plans for the stadium

Well, of course it doesn't!

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"

250,000 Miss Out On Olympic Tickets

Those of you who applied for tickets for the London 2012 Olympics, but who failed to get any (estimated by the Telegraph at being around 250,000) may take some comfort in the fact that neither Boris Johnson (Mayor of London) nor Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport appear to have been allocated any either.

However, it is quite likely that these two gentlemen will be able to attend the games; as the government has applied for 9,000 tickets (for VIPs and civil servants) and local authorities have also been allowed to buy tickets (outwith the ballot, using taxpayers' money)

Did Locog not tell these queue jumpers that the daft ticket ballot procedure that they designed was meant to be fair?

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"

Money Up Front

The London organising committee (Locog) continues to defend its ticket allocation and payment process (described by Boris Johnson as "a bit peculiar").

It has begun to deduct money from applicants' bank accounts. However, it may be as late as 24 June before those charged know what tickets they have been allocated.

Why do it in this manner?

Locog have provided the answer to the Telegraph:

"It is really important..is our ability to nail our revenues from tickets."

As noted before on this site, the Olympics are about money not sport.

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"

Spurs Fights On

In February West Ham won the approval of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for taking over the Olympic stadium after the 2012 games.

However, Tottenham Hotspur their rivals for the stadium were not happy and last month launched an application for a judicial review into Newham Council's role in arranging a £40M loan to finance West Ham's move to the stadium.

The Telegraph reports that Spurs have taken further action and have asked the High Court to start a separate judicial review into the roles of several other key parties involved in awarding West Ham the stadium.

A Tottenham statement read:

"The club has today sought permission from the High Court to bring a claim against the Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited, the Mayor of London, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for judicial review of a series of decisions made by them to appoint a joint bid by the London Borough of Newham and West Ham United Football Club as preferred bidder in a competition for the lease of the Olympic Stadium.

As previously reported, the club continues to hold discussions with both local and national government bodies in order to seek to agree a feasible stadium solution."

Sour grapes, or is this equivalent to the FIFA scandal now developing?

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 Green Olympics?

Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, has been warned that the increase in traffic (as a result of the London Olympics in 2012) will breach pollution limits.

The result?

London will be fined £300M by the EU!

Now worries, just add that to the Olympic "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"

It's Hammer Time

It would seem that the increasingly vitriolic and acrimonious battle between Spurs and West Ham, for control of the Olympic stadium post 2012 Olympics, has been resolved.

West Ham United are expected to be recommended as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium on Friday, when the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) will meet.

Seemingly Spurs' plans to rip up the athletics track, thus denying any form of athletics legacy as promised in the original bid for the games, was a step too far.

Once OPLC ratify the bid, it will then pass to London mayor Boris Johnson and government ministers Jeremy Hunt and Eric Pickles for final approval.

As to whether a combined track and football stadium is actually economically viable, only time will tell. Once the economic success/failure of the Hammers' legacy is actually known, those who have made the decisions and backed the bid will have long since moved on.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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

Boris Nixes Blatter

I was highly amused to read that Boris Johnson has withdrawn the offer of a free stay in the Dorchester hotel for Sepp Blatter, and assorted cronies from FIFA, for the 2012 Olympics.

A money saving exercise, or retribution for the FIFA vote?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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

Boris Urges Commonsense

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

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

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

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

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

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

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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

Boris's Massive Erection - Cloud Cuckoo Land

Boris Johnson's competition for building an Olympics tower (the £15M cost of which will be funded by Lakshmi Mittal, the steel magnate) have received a number of "interesting" entries, including one from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a cloud of inflatable plastic bubbles that would float above London's skyline.

The MIT architects are quoted in This is London:

"It proposes an entirely new form of observation deck, high above the Olympics — one from which one can not only see the whole of London, but the whole of the world, immersed in the euphoric gusts of weather and world data.

It offers London's highest park and an immersion within both our great clouded skies and the cosmos of our dataworlds — as well as a live information system transmitting data and imagery from around the city and the world."

'Nuff said!

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"

Olympics Now Costs £14BN

It seems that my warnings about the costs of the Olympics being out of control, made repeatedly on this site, are proving to be correct.

The Telegraph reports that the oft reported budget figure of £9.325BN is in fact bollocks. Note, I have repeatedly stated that the figure (even if costs don't rise) should be £12BN as there are around £2BN of running costs that need to be added in.

However, on top of this, the Telegraph notes that there are "hidden" costs being spent by other public bodies that amount to at least £2.7BN.

That brings the total cost of the Games (including £2BN running costs) to over £14BN.

My personal bet is that the costs will hit around £20BN by the time these games are held in 2012.

The hapless Olympics minister, Tessa Jowell, told Parliament last year:

"I have made it absolutely clear to all the many stakeholders in the Olympics that £9.325 billion is the absolute limit of public money, whether it comes from the lottery, the London council taxpayer or the Exchequer."

LOL!

The London Olympics will turn out to be a white elephant of monumental proportions.

BTW, I did warn the Mayor of London (20 June 2008) about the budget:

"Boris

I will stake my reputation (such as it is) on the fact that the cost for the games will hit £20BN

http://the2008olympics.blogspot.com/search?q=%C2%A320BN

Remember, on top of the current "budget" of £10BN there are £2BN running costs..you do know that don't you?

Good luck!

Ken Frost MA FCA FIPFM"

Oddly enough, he never answered!

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"

Boris's Massive Erection

Full marks to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, for thinking big.

He has plans for a massive erection, to be erected for the London 2012 Olympics, that will rival the Eiffel Tower.

The 400ft tower (a cross between a Native American totem pole and a pylon) will be built at the Stratford Olympics site, and the £15M cost will be funded by Lakshmi Mittal the steel magnate.

At night "Boris's Erection" will be illuminated using power generated from solar panels.

Well, let's see how this goes then:)

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"

Boris Battles IOC

I see that Boris Johnson is going into battle against the IOC et al, over plans to build a £40M temporary venue near the 02 in Greenwich.

According to Adrian Warner of the BBC:

"Expect plenty of rows on this for months yet. And also expect Johnson to dig in hard to get his way.

2012 has become very political. This row is so acrimonious that Johnson rushed in front of TV cameras this week without even telling 2012 he planned to do so.

Boris has stepped out of the Olympic tent. The 2012 consensus has been shattered. With the IOC also ready to play a hard game, we are in for some interesting days."

My money's on Boris winning this one!

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"

Boris Bans Hookers

Boris Johnson is trying to avert the expected massive influx of prostitutes into London in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

He wants mobile phone operators to target the phone numbers advertised on the thousands of sex calling cards that adorn London phone boxes, and cut their numbers off.

That will have but a minimal effect, as most of the advertising is done online these days.

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"

It Hardly Ever Rains! II

Re my earlier article about claims by those who should know better that hardly ever rains in London:

"Mayor of London Boris Johnson claimed it was dry 94% of the time.

Olympic minister Tessa Jowell said: "In the unlikely event that, at some point it rains, people are used to pulling on raincoats in this country."

Maybe they should take a look at the London Olympics webcam?

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"

Boris Was Right

Boris Johnson was right, when he proudly declared in Beijing that "ping pong is coming home".

Quarterly tracking figures from Sport England show that, of the 31 sports measured according to how many people played them at least once a week, only table tennis recorded an increase. Nine (including football, rugby and gymnastics) showed a decline.

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"

Jowell Contradicts Johnson

Tessa Jowell has contradicted Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, over the legacy of the London Olympic Stadium.

Johnson said last week that it would be "very foolish to rule out" retaining at least a 50,000 capacity as England bids to host the 2018 World Cup

However, Jowell claims that it will not be a potential venue for the 2018 World Cup.

"We don't need another football stadium, we have got Wembley.

Funding the maintenance of a stadium between 2012 and 2018 is quite a stretch, so I think we will continue to develop the plan that we have for the Olympic Stadium."

The one small problem with Jowell blocking this is that she will be leaving Parliament at the next election, some two years before the Games. The final decision over the legacy of the stadium will therefore be made by someone else.

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"