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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Showing posts with label Sebastian Coe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sebastian Coe. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Coe Unveils Olympics Slogan
With 100 days to go until the London Olympics, Lord Coe has unveiled the Olympics slogan:
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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"Inspire a Generation"Hmm, not that inspiring is it?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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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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
Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, 27 February 2012
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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“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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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, 27 January 2012
Lord Coe Gets His Figures Wrong
Lord Coe is quoted on Bettor speaking about the Olympics "budget":
"We will maintain a balanced budget to the completion of the project and the infrastructure will be delivered within the budget that has already been agreed by government.
Occasionally some things are slightly more than you expect. On a lot of occasions they’re slightly less than you expect, but overall those changes have taken place within that £9.3bn envelope.”
Aside from the fact that the original "budget" when the UK tendered for this leviathan was under £3BN, Lord Coe is mistaken about the current "budget" for the games.
When the running costs of over £2BN are included, the actual cost of the games will be £12BN.
I wonder why Locog et al keep "forgetting" to mention these running costs?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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"We will maintain a balanced budget to the completion of the project and the infrastructure will be delivered within the budget that has already been agreed by government.
Occasionally some things are slightly more than you expect. On a lot of occasions they’re slightly less than you expect, but overall those changes have taken place within that £9.3bn envelope.”
Aside from the fact that the original "budget" when the UK tendered for this leviathan was under £3BN, Lord Coe is mistaken about the current "budget" for the games.
When the running costs of over £2BN are included, the actual cost of the games will be £12BN.
I wonder why Locog et al keep "forgetting" to mention these running costs?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Thursday, 28 July 2011
Going For A Bong
I am gemused to read the public spat between the upper echelons of the Olympics (past and present) over proposals to relax the punishment for athletes who get caught taking illegal drugs for recreational purposes (as opposed to taking them to improve their performance).
Lord Coe said:
"You want to be part of this project, then don't take drugs."
The trouble is Lord Coe has forgotten (or chooses to ignore) that coffee, fags and booze are also drugs. Whilst they are perfectly legal, they still are drugs (some of which, I am sure, our top class athletes do use on occasions).
The issue is not the drugs per se, by society's hypocritical attitude to "legal" and "illegal" drugs.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Friday, 8 July 2011
Coe Appeals For Tickets
Lord Coe has made an appeal has been made for Olympics grandees to return unwanted tickets so that UK residents can buy them.
Fat chance!
Why give away so many in the first place then?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Fat chance!
Why give away so many in the first place then?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Thursday, 2 June 2011
Sebastian Coe Evades A Ticket Question
Sebastian Coe has evaded a question posed to him by the Telegraph about the shambolic ticketing process.
10. How much interest is Locog earning on the ticket revenue?
A. Any income received from ticket sales forms part of Locog's £2billion budget to stage the Games. We constantly balance our income with our costs.
In the event anyone within Locog actually knows the answer to this, and has the guts to answer it, please let me know.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
10. How much interest is Locog earning on the ticket revenue?
A. Any income received from ticket sales forms part of Locog's £2billion budget to stage the Games. We constantly balance our income with our costs.
In the event anyone within Locog actually knows the answer to this, and has the guts to answer it, please let me know.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Wednesday, 25 May 2011
The Ongoing Olympic Ticket Farce - Midnight Deadline
Locog have promised to have charged 60% of the successful Olympic ticket applicants by today (Wednesday) midnight.
According to the Guardian, Locog still claim that their "fluid" deadline stands; despite the fact there is little evidence that many people have seen money moved from their accounts.
Lord Coe admits that the ticketing system is not perfect, no kidding!?
However, he claims that Locog were right not to publicise the fact that British citizens could have bought tickets for the games (on a first come, first served basis) from foreign websites.
For why?
Locog were protecting the applicants from scammers.
Hmmm...how very noble of them!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
According to the Guardian, Locog still claim that their "fluid" deadline stands; despite the fact there is little evidence that many people have seen money moved from their accounts.
Lord Coe admits that the ticketing system is not perfect, no kidding!?
However, he claims that Locog were right not to publicise the fact that British citizens could have bought tickets for the games (on a first come, first served basis) from foreign websites.
For why?
Locog were protecting the applicants from scammers.
Hmmm...how very noble of them!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Ticket Deadline
People have until 2359 BST today to apply for 6.6 million London Olympics tickets on the London 2012 website.
Prices range from £20 to £2,012.
However, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe has warned that only 50% of tickets for the major events could be available to the public after sponsors are allocated their share.
Applications will be processed in May and June, and those who have been successful will be notified by 24 June.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Prices range from £20 to £2,012.
However, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe has warned that only 50% of tickets for the major events could be available to the public after sponsors are allocated their share.
Applications will be processed in May and June, and those who have been successful will be notified by 24 June.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Monday, 4 April 2011
Knobheads
Lord Coe has waded into the dispute between the knobheads running the British Olympic Association (BOA) and Locog.
The dispute is over how any post Games surplus (there's optimism for you!) should be defined.
The BOA argues that the surplus should be calculated before any loss from the Paralympics is taken into account. Locog and the IOC argue that the Olympics and Paralympics should be treated as an integrated whole.
Lord Coe is thoroughly fed up with the increasingly absurd and greedy position taken by the BOA, he is quoted in the Telegraph as saying that it is a "spurious case":
"This is not about a sum of money or a contractual misunderstanding, this is very clear, and the best demolition of that case is the IOC's judgment and they are the only appropriate organisation to adjudicate on that.
The Government have made it very clear there is no public money in settlement of that case, the IOC have made their position clear and as the organising committee we are running hard to maintain a balanced budget."
Sadly for Lord Coe the BOA are not listening, and are simply not interested in facing reality.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Monday, 24 January 2011
The White Elephant
Lord Coe, Chairman of the 2012 London Olympics, has come out against Tottenham's plans to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Olympic Games.
Lord Coe does not like the idea that Tottenham, if successful in their bid, would knock the stadium down and replace it with one more suitable for football. The problem being that when the UK made the bid for the Olympics, the bid team promised that the stadium would be used for athletics after the event (ie that there would be a sporting legacy).
The other bidder, seemingly preferred by Lord Coe et al, is West Ham (who claim that they will allow athletics events to be hosted there).
The question is, aside from the PR headlines that the battle between these two clubs is generating, are the clubs really sure that they want to own a stadium based in East Stratford (ie move their team and fans there)?
Could it be that these two bids may actually fizzle out when people actually realise the consequences of buying this white elephant?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Lord Coe does not like the idea that Tottenham, if successful in their bid, would knock the stadium down and replace it with one more suitable for football. The problem being that when the UK made the bid for the Olympics, the bid team promised that the stadium would be used for athletics after the event (ie that there would be a sporting legacy).
The other bidder, seemingly preferred by Lord Coe et al, is West Ham (who claim that they will allow athletics events to be hosted there).
The question is, aside from the PR headlines that the battle between these two clubs is generating, are the clubs really sure that they want to own a stadium based in East Stratford (ie move their team and fans there)?
Could it be that these two bids may actually fizzle out when people actually realise the consequences of buying this white elephant?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Tuesday, 22 June 2010
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
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
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Mascot To Be Unveiled
Hold onto your hats, at 7PM (BST) tonight, the London 2012 Olympics mascot will be unveiled.
The "buzz" from the London Olympics bunker is that the mascot will be "adventurous", and won't be an animal.
Lord Coe has semi spilt the beans, he has been telling the USA media that the mascots are a child friendly creation formed from a drop of steel from the Olympic Stadium.
Seemingly the mascots are based on a story by children's author Michael Morpurgo, and are aimed aimed particularly at children.
Why would that be?
Well, the games are all about money and the mascots will be sold. Child "I want one" power is an effective marketing tool.
I wonder if it will receive the same "warm" welcome that the "Lisa Simpson Gives Head" logo received?
I'll hazard a guess that it's a couple of marbles.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
The "buzz" from the London Olympics bunker is that the mascot will be "adventurous", and won't be an animal.
Lord Coe has semi spilt the beans, he has been telling the USA media that the mascots are a child friendly creation formed from a drop of steel from the Olympic Stadium.
Seemingly the mascots are based on a story by children's author Michael Morpurgo, and are aimed aimed particularly at children.
Why would that be?
Well, the games are all about money and the mascots will be sold. Child "I want one" power is an effective marketing tool.
I wonder if it will receive the same "warm" welcome that the "Lisa Simpson Gives Head" logo received?
I'll hazard a guess that it's a couple of marbles.
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"
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Olympic Tickets Costs Rise
Unsurprisingly statements made in 2004 by Lord Coe, that the minimum cost of tickets to see the London Olympics 2012 would be around £15 are proving to be a tad exaggerated.
Olympics organisers have back peddled on the £15 starting price, and now say that the price quoted by Lord Coe was based on Dollars and therefore the price has now moved upwards.
Needless to say, the organisers still claim that the tickets will be "highly affordable".
We shall see.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Olympics organisers have back peddled on the £15 starting price, and now say that the price quoted by Lord Coe was based on Dollars and therefore the price has now moved upwards.
Needless to say, the organisers still claim that the tickets will be "highly affordable".
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"
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
No Cuts?
In spite of the recession, Lord Coe continues to insist that the "fluid" budget for the London 2012 Olympics (currently standing at £12BN, including £2BN running costs) will not be cut.
Given that the government is planning to make cuts in the public sector of up to 30%, quite how he can make such an unrealistic and frankly ridiculous promise is a mystery.
No project or spending commitment is ringfenced. The Olympics is most certainly a target for cuts, as it is a badly managed waste of money that was not professionally costed at the time of inception.
Coe is quoted:
"The budgets are set so stories that the Olympics might suffer from cuts in public spending are inaccurate."
Coe is wrong, a budget is just that - a budget.
Until the money is spent, the budget can be adjusted up or down (until now, that adjustment has been upwards). Coe knows from his time as an MP that no budget is set in stone, to suggest otherwise is highly misleading and demonstrates and ostrich "head in the sand" mentality.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Tuesday, 21 April 2009
An Inspector Calls
The IOC return to London today, and will remain here until Thursday, to the review progress of the preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, is quoted by the Associated Press speaking about the recession:
"If you speak to most people anywhere in the world, they are having a hard time, so it's very important that they don't think it's impacting upon us, because actually it's not."
What planet is Lord Coe living on?
Of course the recession is impacting the Games!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, is quoted by the Associated Press speaking about the recession:
"If you speak to most people anywhere in the world, they are having a hard time, so it's very important that they don't think it's impacting upon us, because actually it's not."
What planet is Lord Coe living on?
Of course the recession is impacting the Games!
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, 25 November 2008
The Wartime Olympics
Kevin Gosper, a member of the Sydney Olympic organising committee and chairman of the IOC's media commission, told Locog chairman Lord Coe at the four-day IOC conference:
"I think you will be taking your team through the toughest challenge short of wartime in getting the project to 2012."
A colossal waste of money at a time when we can ill afford it.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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"I think you will be taking your team through the toughest challenge short of wartime in getting the project to 2012."
A colossal waste of money at a time when we can ill afford it.
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, 24 November 2008
British Pluck
Lord Coe displayed true British pluck and guts during a meeting of European Olympic committees in Istanbul, when he told them that the UK organisers of the London 2012 Games would "honour commitments" to the IOC.
He is quoted in the Telegraph as saying:
"We are now in a very different economic and financial environment from when we bid for the Games.
The world is a very different place than even six months ago. We want to reassure you: we are no less determined to honour the commitments we made to you.
Even in the current climate and with the complexities of bringing the private sector to the table, there has been no lack of progress."
That's all very well, but even ignoring the current recession, the £12BN plus cost (including £2BN running costs) of the Games is a colossal waste of taxpayers' money.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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He is quoted in the Telegraph as saying:
"We are now in a very different economic and financial environment from when we bid for the Games.
The world is a very different place than even six months ago. We want to reassure you: we are no less determined to honour the commitments we made to you.
Even in the current climate and with the complexities of bringing the private sector to the table, there has been no lack of progress."
That's all very well, but even ignoring the current recession, the £12BN plus cost (including £2BN running costs) of the Games is a colossal waste of taxpayers' money.
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, 3 November 2008
IOC Warns Against White Elephant Legacy
The head of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, has stirred up a hornets' nest by publicly stating that London 2012's main stadium does not need an athletics legacy.
He told the BBC that the main concern for London 2012's organisers should be to avoid leaving behind "white elephants".
Quote:
"If the best solution is to transform the track into something else then we would be in favour of that.
We had the same situation in Atlanta where the Olympic Stadium was changed into a baseball stadium, which kept an interest for sport.
We don't have problems with that. I don't want to enter into specifics but we don't want to leave white elephants."
This of course means that the stadium can be turned into a football stadium afterwards. All very well, but hardly the "legacy" that the government had promised.
Lord Coe promised that the £525M complex would be a "stadium with track and field as its primary legacy".
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"
He told the BBC that the main concern for London 2012's organisers should be to avoid leaving behind "white elephants".
Quote:
"If the best solution is to transform the track into something else then we would be in favour of that.
We had the same situation in Atlanta where the Olympic Stadium was changed into a baseball stadium, which kept an interest for sport.
We don't have problems with that. I don't want to enter into specifics but we don't want to leave white elephants."
This of course means that the stadium can be turned into a football stadium afterwards. All very well, but hardly the "legacy" that the government had promised.
Lord Coe promised that the £525M complex would be a "stadium with track and field as its primary legacy".
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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