Third World Transport

Transport for London have told commuters to stay away from Victoria tube station (one of London's busiest) for at least a year, whilst a £700M refurbishment takes place.

Work starts on the three escalators at Victoria today.

Transport for London claim, if they are to be believed, that the work "should" be completed before the 2012 Olympics.

Well, they have to say it will be finished by then don't they?

Does anyone seriously believe that this will run to schedule?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Stadium Debacle

Despite Lord Coe chastising the Spurs bid for the post Olympics stadium and, seemingly, coming out in favour of West Ham's bid (on the basis that they will leave some form of athletics legacy) it is interesting to note that 18 months after winning the bid to host the games the Olympic Board had in fact rejected both clubs.

The Telegraph reports that both bids were rejected at the time, because the Board wanted no diminution of the athletics "legacy".

Time and financial reality often crush naive dreams, and it seems now that the Board will have to accept a bid from one of these two football clubs.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Stadium Decision Delayed

A decision on the future use of the 2012 Olympic stadium, and which football club (Spurs or West Ham) is entrusted with the stadium, has been postponed from this Friday.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company claims that it needs more time to study rival bids from the two clubs.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The White Elephant

Lord Coe, Chairman of the 2012 London Olympics, has come out against Tottenham's plans to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Olympic Games.

Lord Coe does not like the idea that Tottenham, if successful in their bid, would knock the stadium down and replace it with one more suitable for football. The problem being that when the UK made the bid for the Olympics, the bid team promised that the stadium would be used for athletics after the event (ie that there would be a sporting legacy).

The other bidder, seemingly preferred by Lord Coe et al, is West Ham (who claim that they will allow athletics events to be hosted there).

The question is, aside from the PR headlines that the battle between these two clubs is generating, are the clubs really sure that they want to own a stadium based in East Stratford (ie move their team and fans there)?

Could it be that these two bids may actually fizzle out when people actually realise the consequences of buying this white elephant?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Travel Chaos

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has warned that normal commuter travel patterns in London will be disrupted during the 2012 Olympics.

The ODA told the London Assembly transport committee that there would be changes to rush-hour patterns, as crowds use some busier Tube lines.

No surprises there then!

The key question is will the transport infrastructure actually be able to cope?

Meanwhile, motorists face the unpleasant prospect of being fined £200 if they have the temerity to stray onto any of the reserved Olympic lanes during the games.

Commuters will endure a truly horrendous experience during the games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

LOL!

The project to build the 2012 Olympic stadium is to be handed over to a local builder in East London after the credit crunch caused budgets to be slashed. Vital PFI funding from the corporate sector has all but disappeared due to the reluctance of banks to lend money. The original cost of the stadium soared to over £500m but Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell announced this morning that the project would be completed for a total cost of £90,000 or 'a bit less for cash'.

Source NewsBiscuit

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"