IF what I say is accurate? Why would I bother writing lies to placate you matie? Check this then as the easiest of many options: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16583939 Surely you can deduce that if cabs are as affected as I say (and believe me, I haven't included the half of the implications for our business, not to mention hosts of others), then all manner of transport services from medical carriers through to domestic suppliers, fear being gridlocked on roads that often fail to manage 'normal' flow. As I say above, increased demand is great provided the cabs can move and access the desired destination(s). If not it's a case of 'water water everywhere and not a drop to drink'. As for your point about managing the jubliee events, daily events in contained areas don't represent anything like the threat to businesses that the pan-London six to eight weeks we face in July to August and late August to mid September the Olympics and Paralympics needs. Nothing to do with our national ability to host modern events. Everything to do with wrong place over a protracted period. Should've been a brownfield site with reasonable access - not an already congested inner city zone. You know what they say about congested arteries don't you... ? Leads to heart attacks and that's what it's starting to feel like already.
Yes mate, that is true. £200 is a rip off really - they told us we are lucky as LOCOG heavily subsidsed the price. But I have to agree with Beth and Queenslander on this one. The Olympics is a truly great competition, and brings together so many of the 'outsider' sports and gives those athletes the chance to compete in a World renowned games. To have it in London is brilliant. There will always be a number of people affected due to increased numbers of people etc.. but any big sporting, or even any type of big public event causes this. Imo the benefits to the local community - new sports facilities, further funding for public infrastructure, new sports clubs etc.. heavily outweighs any negatives. Tbh you can never please everyone (as our own Tony Ferndandes is finding out). But even more so, the torch relay really is bringing the Olympics to the local communities. I am going to be visting 2 schools, and maybe 2 others with the torch to try to inspire children to take up sport - how can that be a bad thing? It also gives people who have given up their time in their local communities a little chance of being rewarded (even if many like myself dont really feel the need to be rewarded as such). I cant wait for the Olympics, and have bought tickets to the Judo, Football, and also Handball which I have never seen before. That was really so I could sample the atmosphere in the Olympic Park. Think was the Olympic Park alone has done to a previously run down area of East London!!!!!
Exactly Judo...exactly my sentiments....right down to the tickets for Handball (must find out the rules before I go) It is a once in a lifetime experience. London is going to be disturbed for 6 weeks, but left with a lifetime of memories.
Is it really going on for 6 weeks?! it used to be 2 or 3 I believe! There must be even more qualifying rounds to the bow and arrow competition! Will rivet me to the TV this! Will it be finished before the season starts? I expect getting to London during this time will be very expensive!
That explains your username! Enjoy the games guys, it really is a once in a lifetime as said above. Hey Judo, you into any other Martial Arts?
Lots of us will be affected including all London clubs in both pre-season and in the first week of September... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...n-2012-Olympics-Football-clubs-play-away.html
No that is the extent of the olympics and the paralympics. Starts 29th July (Olympics)......closing ceremony parlympics 9th September but there is a quiet two weeks in the middle during the swap-over
From my pedistal far far away, its quite evident tht this is a subject that split the board.... For some, it is a major cause of concern for thier businesses, gridlock,and financial cost. For others (like Judo) it is a way for the community to say thank you and to inspire kids to get into sport. Personally I can see both points, but as i first posted, PERSONALLY i think its fantastic, but then again it does affect me directly. A for the Sydney Olmpics as SB said. I was actually living and working in Sydney atthe time they got the game (1995). The amount of work generated both before and after the games was phenominal, not justin the manufacturing sector, but food, hospitality transport etc... Also remember, these stadiums now have to be cleaned, maintained, gaurded and kept in a safe state and rest assured this takes a big team of employees. Our Sydney factory is right next to the Olympic Park and there is an event there every weekend from the V8 supercars to various concerts and sporting events. Alll of these require staff to work there. I would imagine, that if properly managed London and the other places hosting, could and should be able to employ staff and generate a decent income. Good luck to those of you affected, and have a good time to those of you going. Beth & Judo, I couldnt get into handball but the TaeKwondo wil be good this games. (and of course the Judo)!
I hope it's absolute chaos, TFL go on strike, it pisses down with rain and whichever idiot decided it would be a good idea to pour billions into hosting this ****e is hung, drawn and quartered during the closing ceremony. Everyone will pretend for a couple of weeks that they love hammer throwing, table tennis and cycling. They don't.
Take your pick from Tony Blair, Ken Livingstone and Tessa Jowell. They said it would cost £2.4 billion, within a year it was £9.6 billion and now , with added security costs, it's upwards from £15 billion, all to massage oversized political egos...
FFS - don't get me started on this!!! Money making racket, more open to terrorism, waste of money, waste of land, etc. Worse than the FA!
Good question Uber. I'd say probably not. I naively just presumed that everything was hunky dory in London but reading the posts here, it appears that's not the case.
I think that most surveys have shown that there is quite a lot of apathy towards the Games from those outside London / SE which I guess isn't entirely surprising ployment I lived in the Leyton, East London area some years ago and much of the area has been transformed over the last few years, not just with the Olympic facilities, but the new Westfield Stratford shopping centre, Eurostar maintenance depot etc etc However, whilst the Games have brought much needed employment to the area during the construction phase, I can't see there being many legacy jobs, which is a great shame given the money spent on the facilities I'm not that enthused about the Olympics personally but that's more do do with the fact that I'm not really into most of the sports that are showcased (I'll ignore football as it isn't really a world-class event at the Games). However, I do appreciate watching the finals of a few events and dreaming that I was half as good as any of those competitors If I had been going at least my local station has a direct train service to Stratford! It is a great shame that the enthusiasm for many of the sports isn't continued after the Games - my partner plays a lot of squash / racketball / badminton (and coaches squash and badminton) and she's constantly complaining about how difficult it is to recruit new players
In my opinion there are too many sports in the Olympics that just shouldn't be there, football and tennis would be a prime examples of this. Only sports where winning at the Olympics is the pinnacle of achievement should be included, the Olympics should not be a second rate competition.
