The Isles of Wonder

It has been announced that the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, on 27th July, will be called "Isles of Wonder".

The ceremony's artistic director, Danny Boyle, said it would be about a land that has been poisoned by industrial legacy and the recovery of that land.

I find the theme to be somewhat limited:

- Did these islands not have a history before industrialisation?

- Not all of the British Isles were "poisoned" by industrialisation.

Apparently the largest ringing bell in Europe, which will hang at one end of the stadium, will sound at the opening of the Games.

It will be inscribed with a quote by Caliban from Shakespeare's The Tempest:

"Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises".

Caliban is forced into servitude on an island ruled by Prospero, because Caliban attempted to rape Propsero's daughter.

The pre opening ceremony will start at 20:12 BST, and last until 21:00 when the bell tolls.

Approximately 20,000 performers will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of both the Olympic and Paralympic 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"

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

Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com

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

Mascot Problems

Locog are investigating allegations that soft toy versions of the London 2012 mascots (Wenlock and Mandeville) are being made by poorly paid workers in a Chinese factory.

Golden Bear, based in Telford, has a licence to produce them. However, an inquiry has been launched after media reports about the pay and conditions of the workers making the toys at a factory in China.

AFP reports that Golden Bear and the London organisers, LOCOG, said they were taking "seriously" the allegations that workers making the mascots were working for more than 11 hours a day for as little as 26 pence an hour.

Locog are quoted:

"We have asked our independent monitor to carry out a comprehensive investigation and review of these allegations.

The outcome of this investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

We have contacted all of our licensees to reiterate to them the importance we place on the sustainable sourcing code they have each signed up to."

Golden Bear said it was also conducting an immediate investigation, but confirmed that the factory in question had passed inspections by the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI).

Golden Bear are quoted:

"Golden Bear is extremely concerned about recent reports that a factory involved in a small amount of the production of the company's Olympic product could be in breach of workers' rights.

We are a family-run business that takes these issues very seriously indeed and has in place certificates of compliance at all factories used to produce our products.

We are therefore in the process of conducting an immediate investigation and will be able to comment on these findings as soon as they are known to us."

In March 2010 I wrote the following:

"Olympic chiefs are keen to emphasise the legacy of the London Olympics 2012.

What they haven't specified until now is exactly which country's legacy they mean.

This question has now been answered, it is China's economic legacy that is being underpinned by the London Olympics.

That at least is the conclusion to be drawn from the announcement that a Chinese company has been picked to make special lapel pins for the 2012 games, British companies claim that they were denied the chance to even bid."

It is a pity that Locog did not heed this warning, had it done so it might have saved itself some embarrassment.

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 Home Guard

Burger van workers and other licensed mobile traders are being offered free counter-terrorism training to help them spot suspects who might be reconnoitring potential targets in the months leading up the London 2012 Olympics.

The courses are being offered by the Metropolitan police and Westminster council.


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"

Jubilee To Outshine The Olympics

I am amused to see that the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year is set to outshine the London 2012 Olympics, in terms of popularity and spectacle.

On Sunday, June 3, the Jubilee weekend will climax with a seven-mile flotilla of 1,000 boats making up the biggest gathering on the Thames in 350 years.

People are far more supportive and enthusiastic about the Jubilee, than they are about the Olympics.

This is hardly surprising given that the Jubilee will cost a lot less than the £12BN being wasted on the Olympics, and will cause far less disruption.


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"

Olympics Ticket Site Live Again

Locog have restrated the Olympics ticket site again, after is crashed last week.

However, it will not work as a live ticket exchange. Locog have offered to pay for any unwanted Olympic tickets until 3 Feb, but will not offer them for immediate resale.

Prospective purchasers will have to wait until April before they can attempt to secure the tickets.

Not at all impressive!


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"

Olympics Ticketing Shambles Continues

 Last Friday I wrote the following about the Olympics online ticket system crashing:

"Locog has been forced to suspend part of the Olympics ticket resale process this morning, after the website crashed because of the high volumes of users seeking to sell or buy Games tickets.


Sellers of tickets, that they do not want, have been unable to upload their tickets to the site.


Locog do not know why this problem has arisen.


The system is meant to be back on line, and working properly, this afternoon.


Is it?"

One week on, and in answer to my own question, the site is still not working!

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been forced to apologise for the shambles.

He is quoted by the BBC:

"We're working night and day to sort it out" and "apologise for the frustration that people feel.

We're going to get it right and make sure we get as many people as possible to the Games."

Not very impressive!

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"