2012 General Olympic Topics « Thread Started on Feb 24, 2008, 12:54pm »
London 2012 Olympics might be cash free
The 2008 Olympics haven't even happened yet and Lloyds TSB, a London-based bank, has already started a multimillion-pound contactless card payment trial to evaluate how feasible it would be to have a totally cash-free environment for the 2012 Olympics. The trial was put on the fast track hoping to succeed.
The plan, as of now seems to be that in 2012, spectators and participants at the London Olympics will be issued one card to handle everything from getting into the stadium to purchasing food, in and out of the stadium.
“The Olympic committee wants to make the events as cashless as possible, and contactless technology will play a big part,” says Kevin Coles, head of business enterprise at Lloyds TSB Cardnet. “We are investing a substantial amount in the new technology."
But Lloyds TSB is not the only bank investing in the technology for general use around London. The 2007 contactless payment card roll-out will have already issued nearly five million cards by the end of 2008, and more than 100,000 merchants are expected to accept contactless payments by the same time as well.
The most important factor for the Olympics scheme will be speed, according to Butler Group analyst Sarah Burnett. Unless the transactions can occur faster than cash, there is little hope that people will actually use the contactless cards.
The technology should also benefit retailers by reducing the need for small change and make it easier to track sales figures and popularity of items at the end of each business day.
« Last Edit: Mar 16, 2008, 2:41pm by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #1 on Feb 24, 2008, 12:56pm »
‘Regeneration Games’
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are already starting to deliver real legacy benefits for east London.
Speaking at a British Urban Regeneration Association dinner tonight ODA Chairman John Armitt will say that the work to deliver the Olympic Park venues and infrastructure is already demonstrating that London 2012 is on track to be the ‘Regeneration Games’.
John Armitt said: 'The legacy ambitions of London 2012 run through everything we do. In 2007 understandably there was a lot of focus on costs. In 2008 this will switch to the benefits this investment will bring, including the transformation of neglected industrial land into a new urban park.
'Since we gained possession of the Olympic Park last year two-thirds of the site has been cleared, demolition on the ‘Big Five’ venue sites is complete and the Park is starting to take shape ready for construction to start later this summer.
'The site remains a challenge with over 800,000 cubic metres of soil contaminated by decades of industrial use to be cleaned and reused to create the Olympic Park and land for future development.
'Later this year we will start removing fifty two electricity pylons, a historic physical barrier to regeneration, so that power for the Games and legacy communities can be switched to two six kilometre tunnels that have been dug beneath the Olympic Park.
'However, regeneration is more than just physical transformation, it is also about social and economic change. In the next few weeks we will launch various schemes aimed at ensuring that London 2012 leaves a real long term employment and skills legacy for local people and UK construction.
'Over 500 businesses, most of them small and medium sized and more than one in ten based around the Olympic Park, have won work supplying the ODA. We have launched the London 2012 Business Network, including an innovative business dating agency for small businesses, to help more small companies access thousands of future London 2012 related business opportunities and business support.
'We want to bring people with us on the path to London 2012 and enable them to judge progress. Our recently published project baseline report sets out in detail what has been achieved to date and the regeneration that will be delivered as we progress to 2012.'
« Last Edit: Mar 16, 2008, 2:43pm by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #2 on Feb 24, 2008, 2:09pm »
Cleaning and clearing work is set to intensify as the Olympic Park is prepared for the start of construction this summer.
Cleaning and clearing work is set to intensify as the Olympic Park is prepared for the start of construction this summer.
Around 1.5 million cubic metres - enough to fill 600 50m swimming pools - of soil will be excavated and cleaned where necessary. Soil washing machines at two remediation plants on the Olympic Park will wash, sieve and shake out pollutants including petrol, oil, tar and heavy metals such as arsenic and lead.
An additional soil washing machine has been ordered to help meet demand. In total approximately 750 tonnes of soil will be treated per day to help create the right ground levels across the Olympic Park.
Soil will be cut from areas that need to be lowered and used to fill others that need to be raised. For instance, some parts of the Olympic Stadium site will have to be lowered by nine metres while others areas need to be raised by five metres.
Nearly the entire 2.5 sq km site has been investigated and two-thirds of demolition has been completed.
« Last Edit: Feb 24, 2008, 2:10pm by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #3 on Mar 4, 2008, 7:21pm »
Sustainable Building
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has today announced that only sustainable timber will be used during the construction of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues and infrastructure.
The groundbreaking plan to help ensure that all timber used on the construction project is from fully traceable legal and sustainable sources is an important part of helping make London 2012 a truly ‘green Games’.
The ODA has today started the search for up to 20 timber suppliers who will make up a dedicated 'Timber Supplier Panel'. The panel will supply up to an estimated 600,000 square metres of hardwood, softwood, plywood and other products and 40,000 metres cubed of softwood timber to the ODA's contractors and their suppliers.
The ODA also published its latest sustainability update showing that it is continuing to beat its target of reusing or recycling over 90 per cent of demolition materials on the Olympic Park site.
Chief Executive from the ODA David Higgins said: 'We want London 2012 to be a truly sustainable Games and this ambition runs through the heart of the construction project.
'A framework for the responsible sourcing of timber is unprecedented for a project of this size and scale. However, working closely with the timber and construction industries it is an opportunity to break new ground in sustainable sourcing.'
Chief Executive of the Timber Trade Federation John White said: 'As well as a showcase for sport, London 2012 can be a showcase for how cooperative business partnerships can deliver real sustainable benefits. The wood industry and the ODA have worked together to find an innovative model to supply sustainable timber for the construction of the London 2012 venues and infrastructure, which will help achieve a truly sustainable Games.'
The timber suppliers will be required to comply with certification schemes approved by the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET).
The Timber Supplier Panel will help the ODA’s contractors meet these obligations in providing legal and sustainable timber by keeping records that can trace products from their source right through the supply chain to the Olympic Park site. The timber suppliers will also have to ensure that they have comprehensive certification and sufficient auditing in place to ensure standards are met.
The ODA’s update on the sustainable clean up and construction of the Olympic Park includes:
Small nature reserve being created near the northern perimeter of the Olympic Park, along the banks of the River Lea at East Marsh, to become 10,000 metre squared home to a variety of wildlife. Additional habitat space created in the Waterworks Nature Reserve near Leyton, east London. Over 90 per cent of demolition materials being recycled or re-used Reclaimed materials stored to be re-used in design of venues and parklands
« Last Edit: Mar 16, 2008, 2:43pm by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #4 on Mar 5, 2008, 12:29pm »
BT becomes a 2012 Partner
London 2012 today reinforced its vision to stage a Games for the digital age by announcing that BT has become the latest Tier One partner.
As official communications services partner, BT will be responsible for providing all communications services required to stage the Games.
At Games-time, they will also be responsible for providing all communications services to the operational workforce and at venues.
In addition, BT will receive exclusive marketing rights and usage rights to the London 2012 logo within their sector.
BT also becomes London 2012’s second Sustainability Partner and will work with LOCOG to help stage a sustainable Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. BT will use the Games as a platform to discuss and drive the sustainability agenda.
London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the announcement. 'We have a wonderful opportunity to stage a digital Games in 2012 and BT will be integral in helping us do that. Technology and communication is going to be a vast operation, starting now and taking us all the way through to Games-time.
'We needed a partner we could absolutely trust to work with us on this journey, one who could provide the technical know-how and creatively explore solutions and opportunities to ensure our Games are the very best they can be. BT gives us this and I’m thrilled a company of such heritage is joining us.'
London 2012 now has five Tier One Partners and one Tier Two Supporter as it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012
« Last Edit: Mar 16, 2008, 2:39pm by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #5 on Mar 12, 2008, 3:06pm »
Olympic ship plan abandoned
Organisers of the 2012 London Olympics have jettisoned plans for an around-the-world sail to advertise the UK's cultural riches.
Plans had been for a clipper - to be named the Olympic Friend-ship - to spend four years at sea with a crew of artists, philosophers and students under the command of professional officers.
But the scheme - which was to promote Britain ahead of the games - has been pulled, with the London Organising Committee stating they were now looking at other ways to deliver the message.
« Last Edit: Mar 16, 2008, 2:42pm by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #6 on Mar 14, 2008, 1:15pm »
Heathrow’s new Terminal
The Queen open today Heathrow’s new Terminal 5, Britain’s biggest freestandingbuilding and one of the main arrival hubs of the 2012 Olympics.
The building described by to Architects as being 'Asian in style' possibly a building you would see in the far east, and fitted out in a more luxurious Style than any other UK airport buildings with 6 luxury lounges. The building has already has won environmental accolades.
The worlds most environmental new Terminal building setting new standards across the world.
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #7 on Mar 28, 2008, 1:58pm »
Latest on March 28th 2008
Sir Robert McAlpine will build the £460m Olympic stadium Carillion is preferred bidder for the £400m media centre. After buying Alfred McAlpine it is likely to build the £40m velodrome, too Balfour Beatty is likely to win the £200m aquatics centre within weeks. It has also won contracts for rail and stadium bridges French contractor Bouygues bid for the Olympic village and the media centre, but came second in both US engineer Bechtel’s experience as delivery partner at five Games was ignored in favour of consortium CLM, which includes two UK firms Spanish contractor FCC was shortlisted for the velodrome. Hochtief of Germany and Eiffel of France bid for the aquatics centre.
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #8 on Apr 16, 2008, 5:39pm »
Sustainability
London 2012 to be the first ‘sustainable’ Games, setting new standards for major events.
About sustainability
Being ‘sustainable’ means providing for peoples’ current and long-term needs, improving quality of life while ensuring a healthy and thriving natural environment. As the most high-profile event in the world, the Games give us the chance to show how changes to the way we build, live, work, do business and travel could help us to live happy and healthy lives, within our planet’s resources.
London put sustainability at the heart of its bid for the 2012 Games, framed by the concept of ‘Towards a One Planet Olympics’. This was derived from the WWF/BioRegional concept of ‘One Planet Living®’ , which shows the challenges facing us in stark terms: if everybody in the world lived the same lifestyle as we do in the UK, we would need three planets’ worth of resources to support us.
This idea forms the basis of our plans for sustainable development in the UK and, more broadly, the way in which we can use the Games to highlight global issues such as climate change.
London 2012 and the London 2012 stakeholders share a commitment to maximise sustainability through the phases of the Games – building the venues and infrastructure, staging the Games themselves and then long into the future – focusing on five key areas: combating climate change; reducing waste; enhancing biodiversity; promoting inclusion; and improving healthy living. This programme-wide approach forms our vision for a One Planet 2012.
Sustainability assurance It is important to us that people know how we are performing against our sustainability aims from a trusted source. To ensure we stick to our promises, an independent scrutiny body - Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 - has been set up to monitor us.
In January 2008, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) confirmed it is beating its target to ensure sustainable principles are at the heart of cleaning and clearing the Olympic Park.
The ODA is:
beating the target to reclaim 90 per cent of demolition material for recycling or reuse reclaiming materials to reuse in designs of venues and parklands recycling complete buildings to be re-assembled off site translocating wildlife and creating new habitats including a wildlife corridor to the north of the Park To date, the following has been reclaimed: 80 lamposts 160 manhole covers and 187 gulleys 18 square metres of clay and slate roof tiles Two tonnes of red bricks 117 tonnes of Yorkstone 100 tonnes of cobble/granite 41 tonnes of paving bricks and 35 tonnes of paving slabs 1,200m of granite kerbs and 4,200m of concrete kerbs These will be stored and then used to create aesthetic and practical features for the Park including paths, paving and paving inlays, benches, planters and lighting and water features.
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #10 on Sept 2, 2008, 8:31am »
The Olympic torch will be carried round Britain before the start of the 2012
The Olympic torch will be carried round Britain before the start of the 2012 Games — but there will be no repeat of China’s protest-scarred worldwide relay.
Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, said she had “a lot of enthusiasm” for the idea of the torch being taken round the “villages, towns and cities in the UK” which could apply to be part of the route.
Jowell, unveiling plans for four years of lead-up events, starting next month, said in an interview with The Sunday Times: “There would be no more powerful way of making them feel part of the Olympics, would there?”
Although welcoming the world will be one of the themes of the Cultural Olympiad that begins on the weekend of September 26, the torch relay is set to be restricted to Britain.
China’s decision to take the torch around the world turned into a global protest against its policies in Tibet, in which protesters scuffled with tracksuit-wearing security minders.
The plans for Britain’s Olympics, to be announced this week, show an attempt to create a more welcoming atmosphere than the impressive but gargantuan events at the bird’s nest stadium in Beijing.
A week ahead of the opening ceremony on July 27, 2012, two days of free performances will take place on five stages along the Thames representing the continents and Olympic rings.
The World River weekend will mark the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad which begins with the Open Weekend next month. Events include the illumination of Windsor Castle and other landmarks in the colours of London 2012.
Highlights over the coming four years will include festivals, free performances and the commissioning of a series of public works of art in each of the nine English regions, and one each in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These will become national focal points for the Olympic celebrations and new works could include sculptures on the scale of the 65ft-high Angel of the North.
Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst could be among those approached to help the Arts Council choose winners from ideas submitted.
Jowell also disclosed that organisers have shaved £1.5 billion off the cost of the Games by simplifying the design of the main stadium and aquatic centre, and reducing the size of the Olympic Park. She admitted more money than originally predicted would be needed, but insisted the total cost to taxpayers would not rise above the £9.3 billion budget.
“There’s no more money. None from the taxpayer, none from the lottery, none from the government,” she said.
Jowell, who has returned from three weeks in Beijing, said there were lessons to be learnt from China’s experience.
Although the 2008 Games were acclaimed as the most spectacular ever, there were empty seats at events, security was often overzealous, and the opening and closing shows were considered too long. Jowell believes there is a “good case” for staging shorter ceremonies and has staked her reputation on ensuring venues are packed.
“My ambition is to see seats filled, every Londoner having the opportunity to see some event, and people being able to come from around the country. It’s not simple, but we are determined to crack this,” she said.
Jowell promised investment in school sports, labelling the attitude of many teachers and councils that competition is bad for children as “complete idiocy”. The minister blamed the Conservatives and “ill- informed, politically correct Labour authorities” for eroding sport in state schools.
“It was a great injustice that was done in removing competition from schools and school sports. Kids learn an enormous amount from the brutality of competition,” said Jowell, adding that children benefited from learning how to be good losers as well as winners.
Boris Johnson, the London mayor, has indicated he will find a role for Jowell in planning for the Olympics if Labour loses the next election. She admitted the Conservatives’ huge poll lead meant the government was in a “very serious situation”, but insisted the situation was “utterly recoverable”, if Labour could demonstrate it was “still in the game”.
Cultural Olympiad
On the weekend of September 26-28, a four-year Cultural Olympiad will begin the countdown to London 2012. Highlights include:
— A total of 300 events, including the illumination of buildings such as Windsor Castle in Olympic colours.
— Each of Britain’s 12 regions will host a work of public art, such as a performance or sculpture, marking the Olympiad.
— A national singing day for Britain is intended to become a global event.
— July 2011: Construction finishes on main stadium.
— July 21-22, 2012: World River Festival welcomes the world to the Games. The event will feature five stages held along the Thames, inspired by the Olympic rings.
— July 27, 2012: Opening ceremony of the Games. __________________
« Last Edit: Sept 2, 2008, 8:32am by Forum Manager »
Re: 2012 General Olympic Topics « Reply #11 on Nov 13, 2008, 12:51pm »
Olympic site pylons pulled down November 13th 2008
All 52 pylons are due to be removed by the end of 2008.
Work is beginning to remove the first of 52 pylons that dominate the Olympic Park in time for the 2012 Games.
The electricity pylons will be replaced by two four-mile long tunnels, which will carry the power lines underground at the site in Stratford, east London.
Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman David Higgins said the removal symbolised the "huge change" the Games will bring to east London.
All 52 pylons are due to be removed by the end of the year.
The ODA said the £250m move was vital for the permanent regeneration of the area.
Digging the tunnels for the power lines has created 200,000 cubic metres of material, most of which is being reused in construction of the Olympic Park. The site will include an 80,000-seat stadium, a 17,500-seat aquatics centre and 3,000-home Olympic Village.
A symbolic removal of the first pylon is due to take place in front of Mr Higgins, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and Olympics minister Tessa Jowell.
Lord Coe said it was significant that the ODA had reached this point on schedule.
"This is an exciting moment. Already the landscape of the Olympic Park is changing as sports stadia take shape," he said.
"The skyline will soon be transformed for good, leading to a new urban sporting park ready to welcome the world in 2012 and beyond."
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