Light years away from the misery and shabbiness of Heathrow, Beijing has opened the world's largest airport in time for the 2008 Olympics.
Beijing's new airport has a floor space of 986,000 square metres, double the total area of the first two terminals.
The building is formed in the shape of a dragon, and was designed by British architect Lord Foster. It will handle 76 million passengers a year.
Maybe Heathrow will be given a similar upgrade, and makeover, in time for the 2012 Games?
Fat chance!
Friday, 29 February 2008
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Busman's Holiday
Echoing that Cliff Richard classic "Summer Holiday", a number of London bus drivers are going to drive from Trafalgar Square to Beijing in honour of the Beijing Olympics.
The trip is to celebrate the cultural links between Beijing and London (which will host the Games in 2012).
The icon of London, a red double-decker bus will be used on the three month journey which starts in June.
Eight drivers will make the trip which will cross Europe, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan before reaching China.
The trip is to celebrate the cultural links between Beijing and London (which will host the Games in 2012).
The icon of London, a red double-decker bus will be used on the three month journey which starts in June.
Eight drivers will make the trip which will cross Europe, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan before reaching China.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Builder Shortage
The London Olympics organisers have put out a call for 182,000 construction workers, as they scramble to complete the construction of the Olympics venues.
Seemingly there is also a requirement for 15,000 more plumbers by 2012.
The Construction Skills Network, which says the demand will peak in 2011, is predicting that there will be a need for 2.8 million people to be working in the construction industry across the UK in the run up to the Olympics.
Given the shortage of suitably qualified, honest, plumbers and builders in the UK at the best of times I wonder how they will find so many in such a short space of time.
Seemingly there is also a requirement for 15,000 more plumbers by 2012.
The Construction Skills Network, which says the demand will peak in 2011, is predicting that there will be a need for 2.8 million people to be working in the construction industry across the UK in the run up to the Olympics.
Given the shortage of suitably qualified, honest, plumbers and builders in the UK at the best of times I wonder how they will find so many in such a short space of time.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
The £440M Drain on Culture
The 2012 London Olympic Games will drain £440M from London's sport and arts groups. That is the finding of a report issued by the London Assembly culture and sport committee.
Chairman of the group, Dee Doocey, said that it was "ludicrous" that the grassroots groups that encourage children into sport and the arts will miss out.
It estimated that of the £2.2BN being taken from lottery causes to contribute to the £9.3BN needed to host the Games, London will lose about £440m.
Chairman of the group, Dee Doocey, said that it was "ludicrous" that the grassroots groups that encourage children into sport and the arts will miss out.
It estimated that of the £2.2BN being taken from lottery causes to contribute to the £9.3BN needed to host the Games, London will lose about £440m.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Ken Cocks It Up
It seems that the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has made a rare admission of a mistake.
Well, rather, he has blamed an underling for a mistake.
The cock up relates to an invitation issued to Linford Christie (banned for steroid use) to be one of the Olympic torchbearers at the London 2012 Olympics. The invitation was in writing, and signed by Ken.
However, once it became public knowledge that Christie had been invited, there was an almighty storm of protest about how having a cheat acting as a protagonist in the Games would send the wrong message.
Initially the Greater London Authority (GLA) tried the old trick of denying the story, saying that the reports were "inaccurate".
However, the truth finally overcame the spin and Ken was keen to extricate himself from the mess. He revoked the invitation blaming an underling for the error.
Well, rather, he has blamed an underling for a mistake.
The cock up relates to an invitation issued to Linford Christie (banned for steroid use) to be one of the Olympic torchbearers at the London 2012 Olympics. The invitation was in writing, and signed by Ken.
However, once it became public knowledge that Christie had been invited, there was an almighty storm of protest about how having a cheat acting as a protagonist in the Games would send the wrong message.
Initially the Greater London Authority (GLA) tried the old trick of denying the story, saying that the reports were "inaccurate".
However, the truth finally overcame the spin and Ken was keen to extricate himself from the mess. He revoked the invitation blaming an underling for the error.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Get Real
All of those siren voices, and celebs, who are calling for a boycott of the Olympics in China need to understand the following.
When you stop buying Chinese products and clothes, then you may have a moral leg to stand on in your call for a boycott. However, even if you manage to source all of your products from outside of China, the majority of people in the West will still continue to buy Chinese products.
Why boycott the Games, when we continue to buy the products?
When you stop buying Chinese products and clothes, then you may have a moral leg to stand on in your call for a boycott. However, even if you manage to source all of your products from outside of China, the majority of people in the West will still continue to buy Chinese products.
Why boycott the Games, when we continue to buy the products?
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
A Catalyst For Change?
Gordon Brown and the Olympics organisers are displaying an unhealthy amount of hubris, and congratulating themselves about the job enhancing prospects of the 2012 London Olympics.
Brown claims that the London 2012 Olympics are a "catalyst for change".
Seemingly 10% of the current workforce of 2,275, who are preparing the East London site for the construction of the venues, was previously unemployed. There is a long-term target of 7% of jobs being filled by those who had been unemployed.
That's all very well, but what happens when the Games are over?
What will be the tangible legacy of the 2012 Games?
Brown claims that the London 2012 Olympics are a "catalyst for change".
Seemingly 10% of the current workforce of 2,275, who are preparing the East London site for the construction of the venues, was previously unemployed. There is a long-term target of 7% of jobs being filled by those who had been unemployed.
That's all very well, but what happens when the Games are over?
What will be the tangible legacy of the 2012 Games?
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