It seems that the organisers of the London Olympics, with their enthusiasm for McDonald's and Coke, have neglected to mention London's largest fresh produce wholesale market (New Spitalfields Market) in food provision proposals.
This is somewhat ironic as the catering for the Olympics is, so we are told, meant to showcase British produce (does that include the 20% of food provided by McDonald's etc?).
The Fresh Produce Journal quotes Spitalfields' business development manager, Tim Williams:
"Despite our many attempts to connect with the relevant authorities, they have completely ignored the existence of the largest wholesale market in the UK, which is sited half a mile from the main Olympic Park, Olympic Village and press and broadcast centres."
Regrettably money and sponsorship is the driving force behind these games, vegetables simply are not as "exciting" as fizzy sugared water and processed meat products.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sea Change?
The organisers of the London Olympics, LOCOG, have achieved something of a coup in creating an apparent sea change in attitude amongst the residents of Greenwich wrt plans for using Greenwich Park to stage the equestrian events for the London 2012 Olympics.
In October a survey, organised by the London Assembly, put opposition to the event at 68%. However, LOCOG's own survey released yesterday shows that 85% of residents now support the scheme; if the park is only closed for 6 weeks.
Great!
Except for one small problem.
LOCOG's planning application states that closure of parts of the park will begin in "spring 2010," but the grassland will not be fully restored and reopened until "November 2015."
Lorries will be driven onto the park 6,420 times - an average of 43 to 58 per day - during the set-up and removal of the main showjumping arena. This phase will close large parts of the park for a total of eight months in 2012.
In other words, LOCOG's survey is misleading, as it didn't provide the respondents with accurate information.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
In October a survey, organised by the London Assembly, put opposition to the event at 68%. However, LOCOG's own survey released yesterday shows that 85% of residents now support the scheme; if the park is only closed for 6 weeks.
Great!
Except for one small problem.
LOCOG's planning application states that closure of parts of the park will begin in "spring 2010," but the grassland will not be fully restored and reopened until "November 2015."
Lorries will be driven onto the park 6,420 times - an average of 43 to 58 per day - during the set-up and removal of the main showjumping arena. This phase will close large parts of the park for a total of eight months in 2012.
In other words, LOCOG's survey is misleading, as it didn't provide the respondents with accurate information.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Food Glorious Food!
London Olympics organisers have promised that food and drink at London's Olympics will be British, "wherever possible".
However, 20% of that "Britishness" apparently includes products supplied by McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Cadbury.
As Chief executive Paul Deighton told the BBC, the Games would create a "great legacy for the catering industry in this country".
LOL!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
However, 20% of that "Britishness" apparently includes products supplied by McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Cadbury.
As Chief executive Paul Deighton told the BBC, the Games would create a "great legacy for the catering industry in this country".
LOL!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Commuting Legacy
Sir Alan Haselhurst MP is a tad "cynical" about the Olympics legacy for the hapless, and fed up, commuters of East Anglia.
Despite much "hoopla" over plans to install new trains on the Stansted Express line, in time for the 2012 London Olympics, Sir Alan is quite rightly fighting for the commuters (of East Anglia who will be using the trains long after the Olympic "elite" have gone).
He is quoted in The Dunmow Broadcast:
"It is all very well looking to the Olympics, but what about the Audley End commuter who pays around £3600 for a standard season ticket? They deserve to be treated better than athletes who will be using the Stansted service just a few times.
After the Olympics it will be just the same users travelling on the Stansted route as before and I doubt that people who fly on Ryanair and Easyjet care too much about having modern and spacious trains."
Since when did anyone give a fig for commuters?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Despite much "hoopla" over plans to install new trains on the Stansted Express line, in time for the 2012 London Olympics, Sir Alan is quite rightly fighting for the commuters (of East Anglia who will be using the trains long after the Olympic "elite" have gone).
He is quoted in The Dunmow Broadcast:
"It is all very well looking to the Olympics, but what about the Audley End commuter who pays around £3600 for a standard season ticket? They deserve to be treated better than athletes who will be using the Stansted service just a few times.
After the Olympics it will be just the same users travelling on the Stansted route as before and I doubt that people who fly on Ryanair and Easyjet care too much about having modern and spacious trains."
Since when did anyone give a fig for commuters?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
£40M Not Saved?
Further to my earlier article about £40M being saved from the London Olympics "budget", by transferring badminton from a purpose built arena to Wembley, it seems that not everyone agrees with this idea.
Badminton's governing body, the Badminton World Federation, is opposed to the move (and by definition the saving). It says that it does not want the sport to be in a "stand alone" west London venue.
Back to square one!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Badminton's governing body, the Badminton World Federation, is opposed to the move (and by definition the saving). It says that it does not want the sport to be in a "stand alone" west London venue.
Back to square one!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Sponsorship Thumbs Down
Delegates attending ESA's (a market research organisation) Future Sponsorship conference gave a 66% thumbs down to the International Olympic Committee's TOP sponsorship programme, stating that it failed to deliver value for money.
Chris Townsend, commercial director at Locog, refutes this and has expressed "surprise" at the findings.
Well, he would say that wouldn't he?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Chris Townsend, commercial director at Locog, refutes this and has expressed "surprise" at the findings.
Well, he would say that wouldn't he?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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