The timetable for the preparations for the London 2012 Olympics is "extremely tight", according to submissions made to the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders for land in Stratfod (the London site of the Games).
David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), said that no building work could begin on the East London Olympic Park until all the land needed is in public control.
Many firms and residents are fighting eviction from the Lower Lea Valley. They fear that they are being ripped off, in the push to acquire the land.
Higgins said:
"There is a considerable amount of work to carry out, let alone work commencing on the major facilities.
The timetable is extremely tight, and for the facilities to be completed for commissioning and test events from mid-2011, the land must be in the control of the LDA (London Development Agency) and the ODA by the summer of 2007 at the latest."
Gareth Blacker, the director of development for the London Development Agency which must get hold of the land, told the inquiry:
"We are still negotiating with the other landowners in the Olympic zone and continuing to try and make agreements with them."
The inquiry will make a recommendation to the trade and industry secretary, who will make a decision on the compulsory purchase orders.
If they are confirmed, the LDA will serve notice on all owners, leaseholders, tenants and occupiers.
I think it fair to say that the political pressure, behind the scenes, will ensure that the Olympic juggernaut rides roughshod over the rights of the individuals who are currently objecting to the purchase orders.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Sewage Olympics
New York has managed to host the Olympics, not the Olympic Games but the Sewage Treatment Olympics.
Four teams competed to win the 19th Annual Sewage Olympics. They performed simulated drills that included; retrieving someone from a manhole, testing air quality in a makeshift sewer, fixing a broken sewer pipe and repairing a waste treatment pump.
The event was sponsored by the New York Water Environment Association and the Department of Environmental Protection.
The winners this year were the Bowery Bay Boys.
It is good to see an Olympic event that actually adds value.
Four teams competed to win the 19th Annual Sewage Olympics. They performed simulated drills that included; retrieving someone from a manhole, testing air quality in a makeshift sewer, fixing a broken sewer pipe and repairing a waste treatment pump.
The event was sponsored by the New York Water Environment Association and the Department of Environmental Protection.
The winners this year were the Bowery Bay Boys.
It is good to see an Olympic event that actually adds value.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The Green Olympics
The authorities in Beijing are working hard to ensure that the 2008 Olympics will be seen to be green.
In July and August Beijing suffers from very high temperatures, and is short of flowers. That is not deterring the Beijing Municipal Gardening and Forestation Bureau, who are aiming to transform Beijing into a city "shrouded in green and wreathed with flowers".
The Bureau claim that they have developed ways to enable thousands of flowers, such as chrysanthemums, Chinese roses and other homegrown flowers, to prolong their fluorescence throughout summer.
They are also studying ways of transplanting green trees from forests in the suburbs to the downtown venues for the Olympic Games, including spraying powder to protect their roots and planting them in special containers.
The bureau is also taking to concept of green quite literally, by carrying out a "green roof" project; which involves planting green plants on the top of buildings, less than 12 storeys high, along the main roads of Beijing and beside the Olympic venues.
It is expected that 80,000 to 100,000 square metres of roofs will have plants by the end of this year; by 2008, it will be 300,000 square metres
In July and August Beijing suffers from very high temperatures, and is short of flowers. That is not deterring the Beijing Municipal Gardening and Forestation Bureau, who are aiming to transform Beijing into a city "shrouded in green and wreathed with flowers".
The Bureau claim that they have developed ways to enable thousands of flowers, such as chrysanthemums, Chinese roses and other homegrown flowers, to prolong their fluorescence throughout summer.
They are also studying ways of transplanting green trees from forests in the suburbs to the downtown venues for the Olympic Games, including spraying powder to protect their roots and planting them in special containers.
The bureau is also taking to concept of green quite literally, by carrying out a "green roof" project; which involves planting green plants on the top of buildings, less than 12 storeys high, along the main roads of Beijing and beside the Olympic venues.
It is expected that 80,000 to 100,000 square metres of roofs will have plants by the end of this year; by 2008, it will be 300,000 square metres
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Future of Britain's Oldest Salmon Smokery Secured
The Olympics juggernaut, never one to respect the rights of individuals, has been prevented from claiming one more victim.
The future of Forman & Son, Britain's oldest salmon smokery, has been secured after its owner agreed to move to make way for the London Olympics.
Forman & Son supplies smoked fish and other seafood to some of the world's best restaurants and hotels, from its East End factory. It has agreed to move to a site, just outside the proposed Olympic Park, on Fish Island.
The deal comes at the last minute, as a public inquiry opens today into the clearance of 500 acres in the Lower Lea Valley near Stratford; the site of the London 2012 Olympics.
The deal was brokered at the last minute as a means of saving the embarrassment of Lord Coe (head of the London Olympics) from being publicly cross examined by Lance Forman (head of Formans) in the public enquiry which opens today.
Forman and Son is located on Marshgate Lane industrial estate, which is earmarked for the Olympic stadium.
The future of Forman & Son, Britain's oldest salmon smokery, has been secured after its owner agreed to move to make way for the London Olympics.
Forman & Son supplies smoked fish and other seafood to some of the world's best restaurants and hotels, from its East End factory. It has agreed to move to a site, just outside the proposed Olympic Park, on Fish Island.
The deal comes at the last minute, as a public inquiry opens today into the clearance of 500 acres in the Lower Lea Valley near Stratford; the site of the London 2012 Olympics.
The deal was brokered at the last minute as a means of saving the embarrassment of Lord Coe (head of the London Olympics) from being publicly cross examined by Lance Forman (head of Formans) in the public enquiry which opens today.
Forman and Son is located on Marshgate Lane industrial estate, which is earmarked for the Olympic stadium.
Monday, May 8, 2006
Imperial Tombs
Work on the construction of the shooting ranges for the Beijing 2008 Olympics has been suspended, following the discovery of some imperial tombs.
The tombs were found in mid April, are believed to date back five to six centuries to the Ming dynasty. It is speculated that they were for eunuchs serving at the imperial court.
Usually, during construction projects in Beijing, artifacts discovered are removed or destroyed before experts can examine them.
A spokeswoman for the Beijing Olympic organizers, Zhu Jing, said that she had no information on how the discovery would affect construction.
I wonder if the Olympic facilities now being constructed will last as long?
The tombs were found in mid April, are believed to date back five to six centuries to the Ming dynasty. It is speculated that they were for eunuchs serving at the imperial court.
Usually, during construction projects in Beijing, artifacts discovered are removed or destroyed before experts can examine them.
A spokeswoman for the Beijing Olympic organizers, Zhu Jing, said that she had no information on how the discovery would affect construction.
I wonder if the Olympic facilities now being constructed will last as long?
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Chicago To Bid for 2016 Olympic Games
It is reported that Peter Ueberroth and other top officials of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) are planning to meet with Chicago's Mayor, Richard Daley, next week about a possible bid for the 2016 Summer Games.
USOC said yesterday that Chicago will be one of five cities that they will visit over the next two weeks. The other cities are; Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Ueberroth is quoted as saying:
"The process of bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games is more competitive today than ever before.
These meetings are an important step in a new process we are following to determine when to bid, how to more effectively bid and with whom to bid."
Daley has said that he believes that hosting the Olympics could be a landmark event for Chicago.
USOC said yesterday that Chicago will be one of five cities that they will visit over the next two weeks. The other cities are; Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Ueberroth is quoted as saying:
"The process of bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games is more competitive today than ever before.
These meetings are an important step in a new process we are following to determine when to bid, how to more effectively bid and with whom to bid."
Daley has said that he believes that hosting the Olympics could be a landmark event for Chicago.
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Tokyo Bids For Olympics
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government last week submitted to the Japan Olympic Committee its bid to host the 2016 Olympics Games.
Tokyo will compete with Fukuoka, to become Japan's candidate to host the Summer Olympics, final plans and budgets will have to be submitted by June 30.
The winner will be decided by the end of August.
Tokyo will compete with Fukuoka, to become Japan's candidate to host the Summer Olympics, final plans and budgets will have to be submitted by June 30.
The winner will be decided by the end of August.
Monday, May 1, 2006
Manners Maketh Man
In addition to rebuilding Beijing in time for the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese are working flat out to improve the city's manners lest visitors to the Olympics form a poor impression of China.
Liao Fei, is a researcher who has been tasked with determining how to improve manners in Beijing before the 2008 Olympics. He says that public belching, pushing in crowds and talking loudly in movie theaters are too common.
Authorities are concerned that loud cell phone talkers, dog shit strewn pavements and incomprehensible public signs will leave a lasting bad impression.
Zhou Shiji, the Beijing author of Doing Instead of Knowing, said:
"If we don't change our habits before 2008 the world will look down on China."
His book "teaches people how to establish good habits" he said.
Adding:
"Many Chinese know that their habits are bad, but they don't change because everyone else is doing the same things."
It will be quite a challenge I think.
Liao Fei, is a researcher who has been tasked with determining how to improve manners in Beijing before the 2008 Olympics. He says that public belching, pushing in crowds and talking loudly in movie theaters are too common.
Authorities are concerned that loud cell phone talkers, dog shit strewn pavements and incomprehensible public signs will leave a lasting bad impression.
Zhou Shiji, the Beijing author of Doing Instead of Knowing, said:
"If we don't change our habits before 2008 the world will look down on China."
His book "teaches people how to establish good habits" he said.
Adding:
"Many Chinese know that their habits are bad, but they don't change because everyone else is doing the same things."
It will be quite a challenge I think.
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