Various 2012 Olympic news

[LiamRiley]

Nah. Doesn't look any good to me. Maybe the visual effect is better seen in person?

The interplay of monochrome/light and dark is similar to her previous works. However, these works (15 Steps, Stairway to Hell, Scale of Things etc) all had the notion of agency and utility at their heart. They are works which we imagine ourselves going inside of. Not so here.

Instead we are treated to raw, empty sloganeering. If her point is that the London Olympics is a hollow and dictatorial affair, then it's plain hypocritical to use Olympic money to make this point. The Committee's head of arts, Sarah Weir, may be a bit surprised if the execution seemingly bears little relation to the translucent images from the Olympic Art Book. Public installations that work on the basis of bright, broad daylight may work well in Bonvicini's native Italy, but less so in overcast London.

[d pickup]

'East London gets ready for Olympics'

A bit of a tour round, a bit of history.

see
www.newsobserver.com/2012/01/15/1776045 ... rylink=rss

§§§

'Coe stresses ‘balance’ in securing London 2012'

'security plans will cover 100 competition and non-competition venues ... over 30 control rooms for security officials. Over 2,000 X-ray machines and metal detectors ... 40 miles of security fencing expected to be erected.'

see
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2012 ... orts6.html

[d pickup]

'Will Lord Coe Take the Bhopal Water Challenge?'

'Bhopal gas leak of 1984 in Central India that killed an estimated 25,000 people, the death toll continues to rise. ... over 120,000 people are living with chronic health problems'

This is a "Global Toxic Hotspot." Horrific.

'he (Coe) should first travel to Bhopal and drink the groundwater, which has for many years been the sole drinking water supply for thousands of local people.'

But he's a politican! We know how they sometimes walk tightropes.

see
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lorraine-close ... 08832.html

[d pickup]

' "No extravaganza" and "no white elephant" at London 2012 claims Rogge'

'The tone of the London 2012 Olympics will be in keeping with the difficult economic circumstances of the times, with "no extravaganza", International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has pledged. ... he will use public transport at the Games "when I can".'

"It is going to benefit London a lot.

"There are some inconveniences, but I think the public will accept that."

"We ask the organiser not to go into extravaganza.

"I'm very clear there is no extravaganza in London.

"I insist on that."

I have a lot of time for Rogge, including especially how he has stuck with trying to deal with the drug problem in sport. Here is he perhaps showing a little too much naive supportive of the Ldn OLY Organisers ways?

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... aims-rogge

§§§

'LOCOG to pay full price for unwanted London tickets'

buy a ticket, sell it back, buy it again ... ? ? ? ...... it'll all work out fine in the end ......

see
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/1 ... L520120117

§§§

'Police Shame After Counter Terror Security Plans Left On Train'

Taking on the OLY is a very, very big commitment, a brave thing to do (a rash thing to do did I hear) and we learnt of the 'big' problems for instance of Delhi, but Were there all these 'interesting' little bungles in Dehli, Beijing, Athens ...

'Things are on-schedule and will be fine on the day' is the message, the spin, emerging from LDN OLY 12 organisers, but, are say, organisers of previous Olympics, listening out there, convinced one wonders?

see
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/17/lon ... 09777.html

[d pickup]

'London ’12 Olympic Resale Site Opens Partially After 11 Days of Suspension'

Want to sell your tickets? Make sure you are on the starting line at 3pm sharp today

You just simply want to buy a ticket to watch it, nothing else? Go and get some more winter training done and come back, hopefully in April.

see
www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-17/londo ... osure.html

§§§

'London 2012 Olympics could create 'perfect traffic storm''

'biggest traffic problems occurring in the first 72 hours of the Games just outside of London'

V

'Transport for London (TfL) dismissed Inrix's findings as "without foundation" '

Best course of action?: stay at home or walk/ cycle!!!

see
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9022 ... um=twitter

[d pickup]

'London 2012 unveils anti-doping laboratory'

6250 samples will be analysed, 24h/d, 7d/wk for the Games.

see
www.london2012.com/news/2012/01/london- ... ratory.php

§§§

'The Thames: Potential security threat to Olympics'

see
www.mercurynews.com/sports-headlines/ci_19773458

[d pickup]

'London 2012: 675 social rented homes for new village'

Some legacy info.

see
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16655455

§§§

'Sir Paul McCartney confirms he is in talks to perform at London 2012 Olympics'

I would prefer Handel .. but everyone to their taste; perhaps Handel will feature in the armada trip down the Thames, or are they going up the Thames ..

see
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9027 ... um=twitter

§§§

'Professor sounds new warning to doping cheats as London 2012 unveils Olympic test lab'

A long read. Hopefully the testers really are getting ahead of the cheats.

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... c-test-lab

BUT, and a sad but ..

'Do more tests lead to cleaner Games?'

see
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/davidbond/2012/01/m ... _enou.html

§§§

'Heathrow plans new temporary terminal for Olympics'

Not just conjestion possibilities on the roads ..

see
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/19/trave ... hpt=isp_c2

§§§

'TfL Reject ‘Perfect Traffic Storm’ Report'

Watch the experts battle

see
http://londonist.com/2012/01/tfl-reject ... report.php

§§§

'2012 Olympic mascots in China 'sweat shop' row'

Sorry re the sweat shop situation, and sorry to say, or not sorry: do you really, really want a OLY mascot ..

see
www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view ... t-shop-row

§§§

'Sneak peek at London venues for the Summer Olympics'

What a cliched wade, the odd gem.

14 pics - the photographer enjoyed themselves, even drawn to images having little to do with the OLY.

see
www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2012 ... es_fo.html

[rembradt]

The Cleveland Post article by the woman jounalist is second rate, with a number of omissions and errors, if one reads through carefully.Not worth saying too much more.

[d pickup]

'It's all very surreal and futuristic in the London 2012 anti-doping lab'

'testing the tidal wave of urine ... 400 doping samples a day'

There's a pic of 2 young female testers in white coats - no one of them is Kelly 'everywhere' Sotherton.

see
www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/15581

[d pickup]

'overseas athletes face robust border controls on arrival at Games'

'supply biometric, facial and fingerprint data ... prohibit tents at Games venues'

see
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9039 ... Games.html

§§§

'‘Naïve’ and ‘misleading’ to say Olympics will be clean - Rogge'

'recent poll of British athletes suggested that around 90% wanted those who had been caught to remain banned for life.'

see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/16733408.stm

§§§

'Olympic watchdog member quits over Dow links'

'Dow has paid £7m for the 900m stadium wrap'

Total deaths to date: over 15,000
Number affected: Nearly 600,000

see
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16721838

§§§

'Culture Secretary defends increased budget for London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony'

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... g-ceremony

[d pickup]

'London 2012 Olympics a 'Godsend' for Britain, says Sebastian Coe'

'austerity in Europe will not rob the games of its lustre ... denied it would burden British taxpayers. ... Olympics had been an "absolute Godsend" to the British economy in providing jobs and contracts to mainly domestic firms.'

Who are we to disagree ..

see
www.vancouversun.com/news/London+2012+O ... story.html

§§§

'Coe says costs are on track to meet budget'

"We've done it (ticket sales) in bigger numbers than anything on the planet," Coe said.

This man should be called Mr Whitewash

see
www.orlandosentinel.com/business/nation ... 5483.story

§§§

'With six months to go, concerns remain'

'concerns over security, transportation logistics and cost overruns remain. ... budget, the bulk of which is underwritten by the state, has ballooned from $3.7 billion to $14.5 billion. ... “real risk” of costs exceeding their budget.' BUT Seb Coe says not (see entry above).

see
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/ ... story.html

§§§

'Olympic sponsors score low recognition'

'Three out of five people are unable to name one Olympic sponsor, while 1% or less are unable to identify Panasonic, Samsung and Proctor & Gamble as London 2012 sponsors'

Coca Cola: hate the stuff

see
www.brandrepublic.com/news/1114261/olym ... cognition/

§§§

'Olympics-Five thousand toilet brushes on Village shopping list'

for 2800 apartments ..

see
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/27012012/ ... -list.html

§§§

'Dow Chemical sponsorship of London 2012 faces fresh scrutiny after sustainability commissioner resigns'

' "I want to see Dow publicly admit responsibility for the Bhopal tragedy, to clean up the contaminated site, and to compensate victims." '

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... er-resigns

[d pickup]

'Danny Boyle Reveals Shakespeare-Inspired Plan for 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony'

'The Oscar-winning director says he's based the program on "The Tempest" '

see
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/danny-bo ... Stories%29

§§§

'An Olympic Preview in London’s East End'

'The tourist crush was seemingly what the Olympic bid committee had in mind when it proposed London’s East End'

Some history, the emerging architecture, the 'real' local area.

'Olympic Park reveals little about local life in East London'

see
http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/tr ... gewanted=2

§§§

'Londoners torn between scepticism and excitement'

see
www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1622017/Lon ... excitement

[d pickup]

'Locog official attempts to reassure public over ticketing and website issues'

'global confidence ..' too!

see
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/lond ... ssues.html

[PJS]

A very positive piece of journalism about London 2012...

I have cycled along the River Lea from Tottenham to the White Water Centre and thoroughly recommend it for a spring Sunday afternoon...


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard- ... lightly.do

[d pickup]

'London 2012 decision to return 20 per cent of hotel rooms set to boost Olympic tourism'

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... ic-tourism

[d pickup]

'London Olympic travel advice: Drink beer'

'Olympic organizers have some travel advice for the millions of people who work and live in London: Be patient. Have a beer. Work from home'

see
www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57368403/l ... rink-beer/


§§§

'London Mayor tells VIPs to take train at Olympics'

Are they more worried about the tpt than the security? I think so.

see
www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/international ... pics-.html

[d pickup]

'Olympic Drought A Real Risk'

And we thought transport might be the No.1 headache. 17 of last 22 months have had below-average rainfall ..

see
www.lbc.co.uk/olympic-drought-a-real-ri ... sive-50489

§§§

'London 2012 Olympics: VIP road lanes could open to public'

Doubtless they will make up their mind on the day.

see
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9052 ... ublic.html

[d pickup]

'London Olympic Flame to be lit on May 10 at Olympia'

see
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_ ... 012_425540

§§§

'London 2012 Opening Ceremony plan borrows from the Nazis'

'London 2012 Opening Ceremony, a huge bell from the very foundry which cast Big Ben to ring in the Games.'

1936 OLY Berlin had a bell cast from 16.5 tonnes of molten steel.

Also an interesting account of the '48 opening ceremony, all over in under 2'hours

see
www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/15708

§§§

'UK regions fight each other, France to host athletes'

see
www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/olym ... 8H20120201

§§§

'High interest in Olympic Stadium'

'West Ham are believed to be one of 16 parties interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after this summer's London Games'

see
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01022012/ ... adium.html

[d pickup]

'Shortage of black cabs during Olympics feared after fare snub'

see
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/0 ... E820120202

[d pickup]

'Olympics oranising panel chief's effigy burnt'

see
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 761042.cms

§§§

'Training 70,000 Games Makers is the biggest challenge so far, admits London 2012 chief Deighton'

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... f-deighton

[d pickup]

'Signs are looking good for London 2012’s army of Games Makers'

'10,000 London 2012 Games Maker volunteers that descended on Wembley Arena this morning for their first orientation training event.'

'70,000 Games Makers in total, and they range from 15 to 80-years-old (with an average age of 35) and an equal 50-50 split of male and female volunteers.'

'nearly a quarter of a million people applicants'

Sounds very, very positive.

see
www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/15771

§§§

Sexy Olympics set to break records

150,000 condoms

see
www.sundaytribune.co.za/sexy-olympics-s ... -1.1227517

[d pickup]

Maps of Ldn OLY marathons and 20k/50k walks

see
www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/dis ... arId=68278

§§§

'London 2012 Olympics: tickets will be flown over from Arkansas as printing contract goes to American firm'

So much for helping local business.

see
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9066 ... -firm.html

[d pickup]

'People are not convinced the Olympics are benefiting Londoners, claims Assembly'

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... s-assembly

[d pickup]

'London Olympics triggers record rent for British home'

£433.000 per month

'London homeowners are increasing rents by up to six times'

Visiting London for the OLympics? Bring your own tent.

see
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/15022012/ ... -home.html

[d pickup]

'"Unnecessary secrecy" over tickets damaging London 2012 claims new report'

A little bit of a mess .. and some.

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... new-report

[fangio]

Not sure it is a mess, there are plenty of whingers out there saying they have a right to know, why? Public money being spent apparently means that should be privy to whatever details are asked for, but that simply doesn't work. My wife is a teacher, therefore paid with public money, does that mean you can request the details of my family budget? In the fullness of time the detals will be revealed, but if I were LOCOG I would not put the figures out, becuase whatever they are some people will attack them for any tickets that go to sponsors (the ones paying millions to the Olympics so they can take place without the govt footing the entire bill). Before anyone ask, no I don't have any tickets.

If the govt wanted to know these details they should have built it into the money being given.

[d pickup]

'Olympic architect unmasked as man who scuppered West Ham United Stadium deal'

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... nited-deal

[rembradt]

The details are supposed to be sacred about the ticketing fiasco but LOCOG seem to know that 75% of all tickets have gone to the UK public.
One of ther great lies/half truths of all time, as the Sponsors hoover up enormous profits with their obscene profiteering and foreign companies like Co sport and their offspring like Jetset sport are given stupid preference above UK people who largely paid for these Games e.g the facilities, the park,the security, jeez you have to laugh at the naivety of some worshippers at the altar of Sponsors. 4000 tickets they tell me of the returns from foreign companies and bless LOCOG their spinners say 50% will go to Brits; why not the whole lot?

The prices charged by Thomas Cook, and the companies mentioned above are absurd( I looked some while ago at them and taklked to Co sport and Jetset) and the 75 % figure of all tickets less than 20 quid trotted by LOCOG is meaningless; the percentage of decent finals tickets to poular sports like Cycling, Track and Field, Rowing, Swimming etc are far less especially in the main Stadium; LOCOG have already said a long time ago that something like between 30%- 40% of the seats for Athletics go the public here in a public lottery.

I could write for another twenty minutes about the inconsistencies , cynical half truths of the ticketing coc k -up but I wont.

Suffice to say that, in this hysterical atmosphere of anti- banker and excess profit makers, how absurd for IOC/Locog to be uber- paranoid about spivs flogging tickets at a profit, which they threaten on their Ticket termsconditions with punishmeent of a high order, but can quite happily allow so many lower order sponsors to make as much profit as their rich customers permit.

The comments earlier about whingers is utter nonsense.

[d pickup]

... I could write for another twenty minutes about the inconsistencies , cynical half truths of the ticketing coc k -up but I wont.
... The comments earlier about whingers is utter nonsense.

rembradt
You have said enough so no need for 'another 20 mins'

Following the matter, here on this topic, and not withstanding that the media like a story, there is so much ... so I concur with you rembradt.

[rembradt]

Read the Sunday Times today, front page.
Whilst the press like a good story, the facts are generally the facts and I feel for the real fans.

Def my last comments on this farce. Promise.