Archaeologists working at the construction site for London's 2012 Olympic Park have uncovered prehistoric skeletons on the site of the Aquatics Centre.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said that four skeletons were found, together with Iron Age cooking pots, a Roman coin, Roman river walls, World War II gun emplacements and a complete 19th-century boat used for hunting wild fowl on the River Lea.
Unsurprisingly the ODA is confident that no artefacts will be found that are important enough to require preservation on site, and thus hold up construction work!
I wonder what "legacy"/remains, if any, of the 2012 Games will be discovered 1000 years into the future?
Monday, 31 March 2008
Friday, 28 March 2008
An Ill Omen
The ongoing fiasco at Heathrow Terminal 5 is an ill omen for Britain's Olympics in 2012.
An effective and efficient transport (airports, tube, buses, rail etc) infrastructure is essential for the smooth operation and success of the Games.
The chaos at Terminal 5 is symbolic of our ineffective and inefficient transport infrastructure.
An effective and efficient transport (airports, tube, buses, rail etc) infrastructure is essential for the smooth operation and success of the Games.
The chaos at Terminal 5 is symbolic of our ineffective and inefficient transport infrastructure.
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Hypocrisy
Those people, such as Sarkozy, who call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics might have greater credibility if it were not for the fact that a large amount of Western imported consumer goods and clothes are manufactured in China.
Those who call for a boycott, whilst still enjoying the tangible products of China, are hypocrites.
Those who call for a boycott, whilst still enjoying the tangible products of China, are hypocrites.
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Torch Trouble
It looks as though there will be trouble as the Olympic torch is carried around the world, in the run up to the Beijing Olympics this August.
Anti China protesters evaded tight security and managed to disrupt yesterday's Olympic torch ceremony, this guarantees that the flame's procession through London in a fortnight's time will be disrupted.
Tenzin Dorjee, a Tibetan activist who was briefly detained during the protest, said:
"Later we will do protests in London and Paris."
Scotland Yard will allocate 2,000 officers and staff, including river, airborne and mounted police, to protect the Olympic flame's journey from Wembley Stadium to Greenwich on April 6.
Human rights activists, supporters of an independent Tibet and critics of China's support for Darfur and Burma are preparing demonstrations along the 31 mile route.
Are the Olympics really worth all this trouble?
Anti China protesters evaded tight security and managed to disrupt yesterday's Olympic torch ceremony, this guarantees that the flame's procession through London in a fortnight's time will be disrupted.
Tenzin Dorjee, a Tibetan activist who was briefly detained during the protest, said:
"Later we will do protests in London and Paris."
Scotland Yard will allocate 2,000 officers and staff, including river, airborne and mounted police, to protect the Olympic flame's journey from Wembley Stadium to Greenwich on April 6.
Human rights activists, supporters of an independent Tibet and critics of China's support for Darfur and Burma are preparing demonstrations along the 31 mile route.
Are the Olympics really worth all this trouble?
Friday, 21 March 2008
It's The Money Stupid
Dana Perino, presidential spokeswoman, asked whether President Bush would rethink his plans to go to this summer's Olympics after the recent riot in Tibet said that Bush's position is "that this should be about the athletes and not necessarily about politics.
Wrong!
The Olympics is about money, as the sponsors and athletes know full well.
Wrong!
The Olympics is about money, as the sponsors and athletes know full well.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Toilets
One aspect of the forthcoming Olympics to be held in Beijing later this year that has received scant attention, up until now, is that of toilets.
China is now rushing to install Western sit-down toilets for the expected 500,000 foreign Olympics visitors, having been prodded into action by complaints about Asian-style squat toilets.
Yao Hui, deputy head of venue management, said:
"A lot of parties have raised the question of toilets... We have told the venues to improve on this.
Most of the Chinese people are used to the squat toilet, but nowadays more and more people demand sit-down toilets.
However, it will take some time for this transition."
China is now rushing to install Western sit-down toilets for the expected 500,000 foreign Olympics visitors, having been prodded into action by complaints about Asian-style squat toilets.
Yao Hui, deputy head of venue management, said:
"A lot of parties have raised the question of toilets... We have told the venues to improve on this.
Most of the Chinese people are used to the squat toilet, but nowadays more and more people demand sit-down toilets.
However, it will take some time for this transition."
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Olympic Database
The British police are developing the first national database of mugshots, in order to use face recognition technology to match CCTV images with details of offenders.
The system is being developed as a pilot scheme involving the Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Merseyside police. It has already generated a database of more than 750,000 facial images over the past 18 months.
Are there really that many criminals in that part of the UK?
Peter Neyroud, the chief executive of the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA), wants the system up and running in time for the 2012 London Olympics.
The system will enable officers on the beat to be equipped with advanced "second-generation" hand-held computers which can take and transmit fingerprints, download mugshots and details from the police national computer, and access images from local CCTV cameras.
Funny how the Olympics are being used as an excuse/deadline for increased surveillance!
The system is being developed as a pilot scheme involving the Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Merseyside police. It has already generated a database of more than 750,000 facial images over the past 18 months.
Are there really that many criminals in that part of the UK?
Peter Neyroud, the chief executive of the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA), wants the system up and running in time for the 2012 London Olympics.
The system will enable officers on the beat to be equipped with advanced "second-generation" hand-held computers which can take and transmit fingerprints, download mugshots and details from the police national computer, and access images from local CCTV cameras.
Funny how the Olympics are being used as an excuse/deadline for increased surveillance!
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