LOCOG A Study In Perversity

The Telegraph reports that over 1,500 formal objections have been lodged with Greenwich Borough Council against LOCOG's planning application to use Greenwich Park for 2012 equestrian events.

Amongst the objections is one from ICOMOS-UK whose parent body, the International Council of Monuments and Sites, is advisor to UNESCO who designated Greenwich a World Heritage Site in 1997.

ICOMOS-UK believe that the equestrian Olympics will deter tourists, and that significant damage could be caused by equine and spectator infrastructure.

LOCOG insist that Greenwich is the only option as there is no "fall back" venue. Yet, perversely, LOCOG's own environmental statement shows that Windsor scores higher than Greenwich Park on facilities and the ability to host the contest.

Do LOCOG actually know what it is doing?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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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

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NOGOE

NOGOE (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events) is a community action group whose members believe Greenwich Park is not a suitable venue for the 2012 Olympic equestrian events.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Horsing Around

The hapless and hopeless Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell, and LOCOG have something of a fight on their hands wrt their plans to use Greenwich Park for the 2012 equestrian events.

A campaign, No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE), has been set up to fight the plans. Thhe campaign group has a number of high profile supporters such as Dr David Starkey, Sir David Nicholas, former head of ITN, Sir Frank Berman QC, a former legal adviser to the Foreign Office, and Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield, a former chief executive of the Property Services Agency.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympic Report Whitewash

Those in charge of London 2012 are under pressure to release a confidential report by KPMG on Olympics venues, after allegations that it was a "whitewash".

The report considered moving three temporary venues (the equestrian in Greenwich, the shooting in Woolwich and basketball in the Olympic Park) to save costs, but is thought to have recommended they should not be relocated.

Temporary venues provide no legacy, yet the organisers have always promised a legacy for London.

The promises made about the London Olympics simply don't add up.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Face of Hoof

Katie Price (aka Jordan) is to become the face of Hoof, a campaign run by the British Equestrian Federation in the run up to the London Olympics 2012 to encourage the young to become horse riders for the London Olympics.

Ms Price has begun to compete in dressage events, learnt to play polo, and has written equestrian books aimed at children called Katie Price's Perfect Ponies.

Mary King, who won silver in Athens in 2004 and bronze in Beijing for Team eventing, said:

"She is dedicated to her riding. I understand that she even had her breasts reduced to help her with her riding. That shows real dedication. And she's good with children."

Ms Price has also launched her new equestrian clothing range, wearing a luminous pink polo shirt and pink velour hot pants, while her white horse was wearing a matching pink blanket.

As I have said earlier, the only way the Britain can "top" the Beijing games is to do them in a thoroughly British way.

The appointment of Ms Price to the promotion team, coupled with Boris Johnson leading the pack, adds a very British touch to the games.

Olympic Medals Won

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