The Traversty

Councillor Helal Abbas, Leader of Tower Hamlets Council, has told BBC London that the new route for the London Olympics marathon was a travesty.

He said Tower Hamlets had originally been promised three events would take place there, and now none will happen in the borough.

Mr Abbas added that Tower Hamlets was getting all of the disruption but none of the benefits of the games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Marathon Row Continues

Locog is refusing to apologise for the decision taken by them to move the marathon route for the London 2012 Olympics from the East End.

The Evening Standard have a copy of leaked letter sent by Locog to Tower Hamlets council explaining the reasons for the decision to move the route. Seemingly a major issue being the VIP Olympic traffic lanes.

Maybe so, but wouldn't Locog have considered the VIP traffic lanes at the time they were planning the original marathon route?

This row will continue.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog Snubs East End

The London 2012 Olympics organisers (Locog) have managed to ruffle some feathers again, this time they have upset Newham council over plans to change the marathon route.

Locog want to move the finish of the marathon from the stadium in Stratford, East London, to the Mall.

Seemingly Locog want to create the "best experience for spectators and athletics and to profile London".

All very well, but the games were sold to world, and to the people of the East End, on the basis of regeneration and leaving a legacy in the area in which they are being staged (ie Stratford).

By snubbing the area which is having to put up with the disruption of the preparation for the games, and indeed the disruption that the games themselves will cause, Locog are at the very least being insensitive to the residents of Stratford and the East End.

Paul Brickell, Newham Council's executive member for Olympics, is quoted by the BBC:

"The route comes out from Aldgate, through Whitechapel and Stepney and Bow to Stratford and that is a fantastic street with 1,000 years of history.

The stories about that street are incredible and I reckon any marathon commentator could make it really interesting for a world audience.

This is a golden opportunity for those residents to be part of the greatest show on earth for free, on their doorsteps.

If these plans go ahead there will be a lot of disappointed residents in east London."

Tourists, Olympic visitors etc should be given a different perspective of London, other than the standard image portrayed on postcards etc of the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace etc.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Boris Urges Commonsense

It is refreshing to see at least one politician displaying some commonsense, wrt the London 2012 Olympics.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has called for the marathon and triathlon events to be held at the weekend, in order to minimise the disruption to the transport network.

At last, a politician has the guts to admit (albeit indirectly) that London's transport network is shite and that the slightest extra pressure on it will cause meltdown.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are not happy with Boris's proposals, and want the events held during the week.

Evidently the IOC is used to travelling first class away from the "hoi polloi" and has never had to endure the tube, train or bus system in London during rush hour.

Can someone tell me why we want these games in London?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Haze Returns

Despite a recent bout of clear skies and breathable air, with the Olympic games due to start this Friday, Beijing has woken up today to a return of the dreaded haze. This despite that fact that organisers have closed factories and removed over 1.5 million cars from the roads.

There are now plans being considered to seed the clouds to induce rainfall to clear the skies.

Failing that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that it may reschedule endurance events, such as the marathon, to prevent health risks if the pollution continues.

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