London Olympics 2012

Red Arrows to top off London’s Olympic Handover celebrations

admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:16:00 GMT

The skies over Buckingham Palace will be turned red, white and blue this Sunday as the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows perform a spectacular fly by as part of the UK-wide celebrations to mark the special handover moment when London becomes the official Summer Olympic Games Host City.

A crowd of 40,000 who are expected to gather in the Mall for the Visa London 2012 Party as well as millions more watching at home live on BBC1 or via the network of giant screens across the country will witness the unmistakable formation of the nine Red Arrow Hawk jets as they entertain crowds 1500ft above the ground racing as fast as 800 mph across the capital.

The Visa London 2012 Party hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Matt Baker will include performances by multi-million album selling artists including The Feeling, Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, McFly, Will Young, James Morrison, Scouting for Girls, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Heather Small, and the cast of We Will Rock You. Olympians including Dame Mary Peters, Roger Black, Sally Gunnell, Jason Gardener, and Sharron Davies will also be in attendance.

This is not the first time the Red Arrows have been involved in celebrations around the Olympic Games; they also staged a fly past over Trafalgar Square when London won the Olympic bid in 2005. The acrobatic display team, the public face of the Royal Air Force, is renowned across the world for its spectacular displays. Since forming they have visited 53 countries and taken part in 4,000 shows.

Olympics Minister, Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP commented: 'I am absolutely delighted that the Red Arrows will be part of the UK-wide celebrations to mark the moment when London becomes the official Summer Olympic Host City. It will be a truly historic moment and a fly past by the Red Arrows will round off what we hope will be a fantastic day on the Mall and an exciting weekend of celebrations across the whole country. We have always hoped that the Red Arrows will play a part in the London 2012 celebrations and what better way to start our four year journey to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games than with one of their unique air displays.'

London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe commented: 'In the same way the Red Arrows captured the mood of the nation when London won the Olympic bid on 6th July 2005, when they flew over Travalgar Square, I have no doubt they will do so once again on August 24th, a remarkable day in the UK’s history. It is about marking a moment in time, a moment when the eyes of the world will turn towards London when the Beijing Olympic Games close and the focus turns to the next Olympic Games Summer Host City. I hope the atmosphere on the Mall and across the entire UK will be electric – it is a very proud moment for us. We want people to be inspired and enthused by this unique occasion, and to share in the magic of the Games coming to London 2012.'
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Red 1, Wing Commander Jas Hawker, commented: 'As the Commanding Officer of the Red Arrows I am extremely proud that the Team has been given the opportunity to fly over London as part of the Olympic Games Handover Ceremony.

'The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will truly be a memorable event for everybody in this country, showcasing the UK to millions of people all over the world. The Red Arrows represent both the excellence of the Royal Air Force and the best of British. It's a great honour to be involved and something that both myself and my fellow team members feel absolutely privileged to play a part in.'

Featuring unique collaborations and specially-arranged performances, some with a sporting theme, the show from the Mall will link up with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Closing Ceremony at which London Mayor Boris Johnson will be symbolically handed the Olympic Games flag, officially marking the start of London’s tenure as Summer Olympic Host City in front of a worldwide audience estimated to be around 1.5 billion.

The show is for ticket holders only and all the tickets have already been allocated. People all across the country will be able to watch the spectacular show via the UK’s largest-ever network of public giant screens, known as ‘Live Sreens’*. These sites will become the hub of activity for communities centred around the Handover moment – be it sport, music or dance and will include a mass sing-a-long as part of the 'Sing The Nation' programme.
The Beijing Games will be the first ever 24/7 Games. BBC Television will broadcast more than 2,750 hours of coverage, giving viewers access to live coverage, the latest news updates regardless of the time of day and where they are, through the BBC's extensive TV, radio, online, mobile and BBC iPlayer services.

Red Arrows

The Red Arrows promote the professional excellence of the Royal Air Force, assist in recruiting into the Royal Air Force, contribute to Defence Diplomacy, and support wider British interests through the promotion of British industry overseas.
Commanded by Wing Commander Jas Hawker, the Red Arrows consists of over 100 officers and airmen drawn from throughout the Royal Air Force. Officially formed on 1 March 1965, the Red Arrows are based at Royal Air Force Scampton in Lincolnshire.

All nine Red Arrows display pilots are fast jet pilots from front-line Royal Air Force squadrons. In 2008, the Team has pilots from all four front-line fast jet types; Jaguar GR3, Tornado GR4, Tornado F3 and Harrier GR9. To apply for selection to the Red Arrows, pilots must have amassed a minimum of 1,500 flying hours, one front-line tour and be assessed as above average in role.

Reds 1 to 5 form the front section known as ‘Enid’, and Reds 6 to 9 are known as ‘Gypo’. The Synchro Pair, Reds 6 and 7, perform the highly popular, dynamic manoeuvres during the second half of the display sequence. There is one other qualified Hawk pilot: Red 10, who flies a tenth Hawk aircraft to display venues ready for use in case one of the other nine becomes unserviceable. Red 10’s two primary roles on the ground at every display are acting as the Team’s Safety Officer, maintaining two-way radio contact with the Team Leader throughout the display and as Team Commentator.

Typically, more than 300 requests for Red Arrows’ displays are received annually but only about 75 can ever be fitted into the programme. The Team also complete many flypasts each year as they transit from display to display

London 2012 has always been keen to use the Red Arrows in their celebrations going forward, as they did when they won the bid on 6th July 2005.

New artists and hosts confirmed for Olympic Handover Celebrations, Visa Party

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:18:00 GMT

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Heather Small and the cast of 'We Will Rock You' have been announced by London 2012 as the final line-up joining the performers at the Visa London 2012 Party on The Mall on Sunday 24 August, as part of the UK-wide Olympic Handover Celebrations.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Matt Baker, Olympians including Dame Mary Peters, Roger Black, Sally Gunnell, Jason Gardener, and Sharron Davies will also attend to help mark the moment when London becomes the official Summer Olympic City.

On 24 August 40,000 people will gather in The Mall to watch performances from multi-million-selling artists including The Feeling, Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, McFly, Will Young, James Morrison, Scouting for Girls, and now by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Heather Small, and the cast of We Will Rock You.

Featuring unique collaborations and specially arranged performances, some with a sporting theme, the show from the Mall will link up with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Closing Ceremony at which London Mayor Boris Johnson will be symbolically handed the Olympic flag, officially marking the start of London’s tenure as Summer Host City in front of a worldwide audience estimated to be around 1.5 billion.

Tickets have already been allocated via a ballot, which was oversubscribed, but the public will be able to watch the performances via the UK’s largest-ever network of public giant screens, known as ‘Live Sites’. The event will also be broadcast live to the rest of the nation on BBC One and BBC Radio 2.

London 2012 Organising Committee Chairman Sebastian Coe said: 'At approximately 2.30pm UK time, on the afternoon of 24 August the Olympic Flag will pass from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London in the Olympic Stadium in Beijing and the eyes of the world will turn to us. This will be a thrilling moment.'

Colin Grannell, Executive Vice-President, Partnership Marketing at Visa Europe, said: 'As a global supporter of the Olympic Games for more than two decades we at Visa are proud to sponsor an historic and memorable event for people to celebrate the return of the Games to London after sixty years.'

Sophie Ellis-Bextor said: 'It is such an honour to be performing at this event. This is such a big occasion and I am very excited about the Paralympic Olympic Games and Summer Olympic Games coming to London.'

Heather Small said: 'Helping to mark the moment when London becomes the official host city for the next Summer Olympic Games is very exciting, and I'm delighted to be a part of it.'

Sally Gunnell said: 'To see the Olympic Games come to London is a childhood dream, and I am very excited about the Olympic Handover Celebrations happening in The Mall.'

Jason Gardener said: 'I think the celebrations on Sunday 24 August will be fantastic, and a great way to announce to the world that London is hosting the next Summer Olympic Games.'

The Beijing Games will be the first ever 24/7 Olympic Games. BBC Television will broadcast more than 2,750 hours of coverage, giving viewers access to live coverage, the latest news updates regardless of the time of day and where they are, through the BBC's extensive TV, radio, online, mobile and BBC iPlayer services.

Screen breakdown

Live site permanent screens are located in Manchester, Rotherham, Bradford, Derby, Swindon, Liverpool, Birmingham, Hull, Leeds, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Cumbria and Waltham Forest. This project is a unique collaboration between LOCOG, its partners in the project the Olympic Lottery Distributor, Lloyds TSB, BT, the cities and the BBC. Live site screens will be used during the Games and for Handover.

Additional screens will be erected for the 2008 Games in Canary Wharf (London) and Leicester.

Further screens will also be operating for the handover day in Belfast, Glasgow, Notting Hill, Weymouth, Hackney, Greenwich, Coventry, Kettering, Southend-on-Sea, Herne Bay, Tower Hamlets and Great Yarmouth and other areas funded by local authorities and organisations.

Sing the Nation

A festival to unite the UK in song this August: all kinds of people singing all kinds of music in all kinds of places. There will be singing in museums, libraries, parks abbeys and city centres. All events are participatory. Museum events range from Songs of London at the Museum of London to Sing Yorkshire in Rotherham.

Sing the Nation culminates on August 24th’Olympic Handover ceremonies when regions across the UK will hold mass city sings led by community choirs. From Glasgow to Cardiff, people across the UK will lift their voices. The result is expected to be the UK’s biggest singalong.

Each city will sing one regional song which connects to that location: Danny Boy in Ulster…I do like to be beside the seaside in Blackpool; Derby Ram in Derby…. Delila in Swansea… Maybe it’s Because I’m a Londoner in Walthamstow and Greenwich.

Cities taking part in the City sings include: Middlesbrough; Glasgow; Portsmouth; Manchester; Norwich; Hull; Bradford; Coventry; Derby; Birmingham; Swansea; London; Leicester; Blackpool.

Sing the Nation is delivered by Sing London, a not for profit company who delivered Sing London in 2007. Sing the Nation is supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, LOCOG and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Olympic Handover Flag

414 Local Authorities throughout the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands will be flying the Olympic Handover Flags to celebrate the moment when London becomes the next Summer Olympic Host City, on Sunday 24th August.

Olympic Handover Flags will be flown at MOD/Service locations in: Royal Artillery Barracks Woolwich, Mitcham Road Barracks in Croydon, School of Physical Training in Aldershot and Colchester Garrison.

Olympic Handover Flags will be flown at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Overseas Missions in : Abuja, Addis Abba, Ankara, Astana Bangkok , Banjul ,Berlin , Beijing, Boston ,Brasilia, Brussels , Bridgetown Canberra, Cape Town, Chicago , Colombo, Dakar, Dar Es Salaam, Doha, Dushanbe, Gabarone, Havana, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kabul, Kingston, Kolkata, Latvia, Lisbon, Lima, Lilongwe, Luxembourg, Luanda, Lusaka, Madrid, Montserrat, Mexico City, Montevideo, Munich, Muscat Nairobi, New Delhi, New York, Panama City, Port Moresby Quito, Reykjavik, Rio, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Stockholm, St Petersburg, Suva, Tokyo, Valleta, Vancouver, Victoria, Wellington, Yaounde, and Yerevan.

Olympic Handover Flags will be flown at the British Councils offices in: Bahrain, England, Ghana, India, Jordan, Japan, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan and Venezuela.

Heroes parade for Beijing 2008 athletes

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:05:00 GMT

Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes will be welcomed home with a heroes parade on Thursday 16 October.

The parade was announced today by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, alongside the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association.

Further details will be announced in due course.

The Mayor said: 'Just over half way through the Beijing Games and Team GB has put in one of its best ever performances.

'In September our Paralympians will I hope return from Beijing having achieved similar success.

'So to reflect the excitment and pride of the country in our athletes’ superb victories we’ve set a date in the diary now when we can cheer all our heroes and honour their extraordinary feats at this summer's Games.'

London showcases Britain’s sporting credentials

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:28:00 GMT

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) hosted a reception at the British Ambassador’s residence in Beijing yesterday to launch the London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.

The event was hosted by Sebastian Coe, Chair of London 2012, British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan, VisitBritain chief executive Tom Wright and Olympics Minister Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP and was attended by representatives from over 100 National Olympic Committees from all over the world, as well as representatives from more than half of the International Sports Federations.

The Pre-Games Training Camp Guide contains over 600 sporting venues and facilities throughout the UK which met the standards required to host teams and athletes in the run up to the Games in 2012. Published online, the Guide outlines different venues from all over the country which are suitable training bases for each of the 26 Olympic sports in 2012 as teams prepare for the Games. Developed by LOCOG and VisitBritain, the website showcases the quality and variety of sport facilities in the UK capable of hosting elite athletes. National Olympic Committees choosing to base their athletes at one of these training camps will receive a financial award of up to £25,000 from LOCOG to assist with expenses.

London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe said: 'We said that we wanted the London Games to be for athletes, and the facilities listed in this Guide will really help overseas athletes prepare well. It also provides a great opportunity for towns throughout the UK to get involved in our plans.

'The process we have been through shows a great spread of high quality facilities throughout the UK that can be used by elite level athletes. The new website will continue to be an asset to keep an up-to-date log of the elite facilities we have across the UK.'

Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said: 'This was the UK united in its determination to make the most of the opportunities offered by hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is about non-stop action to make 2012 Games for all the UK - taking the initiative in selling the high-class sports facilities available right across the country to foreign teams and international sports federations.'

Simon Clegg, Chef de Mission of Team GB, said: 'The BOA is delighted to have worked in cooperation with VisitBritain and LOCOG to host our fellow NOCs at tonight's event - to mark the launch of the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide. Pre-Games preparation camps are a critical factor in the success of Team GB and the facilities available throughout the UK will greatly assist our fellow NOCs a they prepare for the London Games.'

VisitBritain chief executive, Tom Wright says: 'Britain is a sporting nation: potential visitors rank us 5th out of 38 countries for excelling at sport. Our reputation has been earned in part by the popularity of our world-renowned events and venues at destinations in every nation and region.

'The Beijing Olympic Games is a wonderful opportunity for us to assist the nations and regions of Britain in gaining an insight into what they can expect in 2012. It is a chance for them to showcase their locations to decision makers from the world’s Olympic and sporting organisations, presenting first-hand a flavour of the character and assets of their destinations and the excellence of their sporting facilities so that we can win more tourism business for Britain.'

The event was also attended by representatives from Northern Ireland, Wales and the nine of the English regions of the UK - East of England, East Midlands, North East, North West, South East, South West, Yorkshire and London, many of whom are part of a delegation led by VisitBritain to promote Britain to a global audience as host nation of the 2012 Games.

VisitBritain showed the assembled guests a new film that promotes Britain’s sporting heritage and will be used to inspire consumers worldwide online at www.visitbritain.com and by the travel trade and media at events, conferences and exhibitions, and in presentations and seminars. It aims to tap into the 41 per cent of potential visitors to Britain who would be very likely to watch a football match if they were to visit and the one in three who watch another sport like tennis, rugby or horseracing. It showcases an exciting and inspiring, modern, 21st century destination with a strong sporting heritage and culture and aims to inspire people to want to visit Britain and ‘be a part of it’.

Flying the flag for London 2012

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:47:00 GMT

On 24 August, more than 400 flags will be raised the length and breadth of the United Kingdom to mark the moment we become the next host of the Summer Games.

Flags will be raised at places including Local Government Buildings, Army Barracks, Whitehall Departments.

They will also fly at the points furthest north, south, east and west in the UK.

Outside the UK, the flag will be flown at overseas missions from Vancouver to Tokyo.

This activity will follow the moment when London Mayor Boris Johnson is symbolically handed the Olympic Flag, officially marking the start of London’s tenure as Summer Olympic Host City.

London 2012 Organising Committee Chair Sebastian Coe said: 'When the Mayor of London accepts the Olympic Flag on 24 August, the eyes of the world will turn to London and the UK as the next Summer Host City.

'It is a very important and exciting moment for us, and we want as many people as possible to join in the Handover celebrations. We are delighted that so many local authorities share our excitement and are proudly displaying the Handover Flag to mark this very special moment on our journey to 2012.'

Benefits from London 2012 transport improvements will be felt two years ahead of the Games

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:10:00 GMT

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has published a document which shows that residents and commuters will benefit from major London 2012 transport projects as early as 2010.

The plans are outlined in 'pace', the second in a series of progress reports on 2012 transport planning, which explains how the ODA is investing £500m in infrastructure to develop and deliver transport facilities that are needed before, during and beyond the 2012 Games.

The ODA’s investment will leave the UK and London with a range of new transport assets, including new trains, platforms, lifts and bigger stations for commuters. There will also be wider benefits, such new transport hubs for deprived areas of London, an increase in the number of people using a wider range of public transport and encouraging more active lifestyles by promoting walking and cycling.

Work that will be finished well before the Games includes includes:

trebling capacity and improving accessibility at Stratford Regional station, with work finished by the end of 2010;
a three-car instead of two-car train service on the DLR to boost on-board capacity by 50 per cent on the majority of the network by 2010;
completion of the new DLR extension to Woolwich Arsenal in February next year; and
projects from the £10m to deliver new and improved walking and cycling routes.

The ODA’s investment will complement the extensive transport projects across London and the UK that are being taken forward by the ODA’s delivery partners. From the first phase of the Thameslink project and work to boost capacity on the Jubilee Line by 25 per cent, to improvements to the East London Line and a new western concourse at Kings Cross Station, this work will provide significant long-term benefits to commuters.

ODA Director of Transport Hugh Sumner said: 'The Games will be the catalyst for improved transport links, which are needed to support revitalised communities and future generations in London long after 2012. Stratford Regional Station, for example, currently has 37,000 daily commuters during the morning peak, and we predict that this will rise to 83,000 by 2016. Commuters will benefit from our capacity and accessibility enhancements to the station two years before the Games.

'Ranging from a new DLR station in Stratford to improved transport coordination across the UK, there is no doubt that the Games will deliver unprecedented transport improvements for London long after 2012.'

Peter Hendy, Commissioner for Transport for London said: 'We are getting on with delivering better public transport, cycling and walking facilities well before 2012.

'In the year ahead there are milestones in the upgrade of the Tube, the East London line and the DLR extensions to Woolwich Arsenal and Stratford International as well as for cycling and walking. Together this will increase the capacity, reliability and security of the network so that we are ready to host the 2012 Games and meet the future needs of London.'

Team GB celebrate first medals

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:21:00 GMT

Team GB has made a great start ot the Beijing Games winning two gold medals, one silver and a bronze.

Cyclist Nicole Cooke brought home the team's first medal of 2008 and Team GB’s 200th gold medal from the modern Olympic Games. Welsh competitor Cooke powered her way to victory in the Women's Road Race.

Nineteen-year-old Rebecca Adlington won gold in the 400 meteres freestyle event, seizing the lead in the final seconds to win it at the wall. Adlington shared the podium with team-mate Joanne Jackson who swam a perfectly-paced race to win bronze.

Rebecca said: 'We are both so happy to have two British girls on the podium. I don't think either of us expected it and especially a gold and a bronze, it's absolutely amazing.'

This morning canoeist David Florence claimed a silver for Team GB in the C1 single Slalom. He said: 'It’s been a long, long time coming and means everything to me.'

New Mountain Biking venue in Essex confirmed for the London 2012 Games

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:19:00 GMT

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today confirmed that subject to final contract negotiations, the venue for the Mountain Biking events will be at Hadleigh Farm, Essex.

The alternative site was chosen following the decision in January 2008 to move the competition away from The Weald Country Park in Essex after a change in requirements for the sport that resulted in the need to identify a more technical and challenging course.

This venue change for the Games has been approved by the International Cycling Union (UCI), British Cycling (BC), the International Olympic Committee, and the British Olympic Association.

The new venue covers a 550 acre site situated close to the village of Hadleigh, near Benfleet in Essex. The site encompasses the outstandingly beautiful grassland and woodland of Hadleigh Farm, land owned by the Salvation Army, and the surrounding countryside of Hadleigh Castle Country Park.

There are two major hill areas, separated by a valley which will create the technical climbs for the course to challenge the competitors from around the world in less than four years time. The course will be set against the stunning backdrop of the 700-year-old ruins of Hadleigh Castle.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG today said: 'It is testament to the hard work of everyone in involved that we have been able to confirm an alternative venue for the Mountain Biking competition only seven months after the venue change was announced.

'In Hadleigh Farm we have a world class venue for Games time with the potential for an excellent facility for elite and community use post Games.'

Pat McQuaid, President of UCI said: 'The UCI is delighted with Hadleigh Farm and believe it will be a spectacular Mountain Biking venue for London 2012. It has a wonderful terrain and offers a unique opportunity for spectators to view the majority of the course.

'Our technical experts believe it meets all the requirements of an Olympic Mountain Biking course with a range of elevations that will provide a challenging course for competitors.'

Peter King, CEO of British Cycling said: 'We are delighted that such a stunning alternative venue has been found to host Mountain Biking for the London 2012 Games. With an approximate journey time of 45 minutes to Hadleigh Farm from the Olympic Park, the proximity to the Olympic Village will be of immense value to the Mountain Biking competitors.

'The potential for retaining a Mountain Biking course at Hadleigh Farm is very exciting as the sport is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and we want to build participation through the undoubted surge in interest in the run up to and after the London 2012 Games.'

Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and the 2012 Games said: 'I am absolutely delighted Hadleigh Farm is the chosen venue for the Mountain Biking event of the London 2012 Games. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase Hadleigh and South Essex to the world, to provide a real legacy both for local people and the international mountain bike community and show everyone all Essex can offer for sport, business, tourism and sustainable regeneration.'

Major David Hinton, Secretary for Business Administration of The Salvation Army UK and the Republic of Ireland said: 'The Salvation Army is delighted to be working with Essex County Council to create the 2012 Games Mountain Biking venue at Hadleigh Farm.

'Beyond meeting the technical requirements for the event, we are committed to working in partnership with Essex County Council, the London 2012 Organising Committee and the local community to ensure not only a great event in 2012 but also long lasting benefits for the community and the county as a whole after the Games. We look forward to being part of this exciting initiative.'

Next steps for the London 2012 Organising Committee and Essex County Council include a four month period of detailed planning on the course layout and the temporary facilities required to host the event; securing contractual agreements between all parties; working with the local community on an engagement programme and the announcement in the autumn of the Cycling Competition Manager.

Beijing Games kick off in spectacular style

admin — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:01:00 GMT

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games got off to a spectacular start with a stunning Opening Ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium.

The ceremony included a unique mixture of new technology and performance on a massive scale.

London 2012 Organising Committee Chief Executive Paul Deighton attended the event and commented:

'Everyone expected an Opening Ceremony of epic proportion and China did not disappoint, including a most spectacular finale.

'We now look forward to 16 days of sport, and, for us, 16 days of learning as we prepare for the the next Summer Games in London.

He also wished the best of luck to Team GB.

London 2012 tribute to Steve Parry

admin — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:58:00 GMT

London 2012 has issued a tribute to the highly respected former Reuters Sports Editor and IOC and London 2012 press operations adviser.

It takes an event or occasion of some magnitude to prompt a pause of any kind in the press rooms of the world's leading media organisations on the eve of the Olympic Games, the world's biggest media operation. But that is what happened today in Beijing as word spread through the Main Press Centre of the untimely death of Steve Parry, the highly respected former Reuters Sports Editor and IOC and London 2012 press operations adviser.

Even as the world's largest media operation moved into top gear for Friday's blockbuster Olympic Opening Ceremony, news of Parry's death sent shock waves of disbelief and sadness across news desks and through senior management offices.

The sense of loss surrounding the death of the highly regarded sports news expert and editor was more poignant and sharply felt amongst his Olympic and press colleagues, coming just hours before the start of the Beijing Games, which were to mark Parry’s 40 year association with the Games.

The Games attract the best of the best – the best athletes as well as the best media who report on their performances. Parry was gold medal material, universally acclaimed here in Beijing by his peers for quality reporting of the Games, and more recently for his work with the IOC in helping to maximise Games-time operations for media.

As Reuters Sports Editor, Parry planned and coordinated coverage of many sporting events around the globe but nothing matched the challenge and excitement of the Olympic Games.

'For Steve, the Olympic Games was what it was all about. Sport and the Olympic Games were synonymous,' said Paul Radford, who succeeded Parry as Reuters Global Sports Editor.

A highly regarded member of the IOC’s Press Commission, Parry’s advice and counsel was widely sought after in Olympic circles, especially his understanding of the NASA–like complexities of Games-time press operations.

Parry helped London to win the bid for the 2012 Games, and it came as no surprise that the bid’s important technical file on Press Operations scored top marks from the IOC’s Evaluation Commission.

Parry was a highly valued consultant to the team of Communications Director, Jackie Brock-Doyle, providing expert advice on London’s press operations plan as well as the Games time experience for press and broadcast media.

Like Olympians he has reported on, Steve Parry set new standards for others to follow.

‘Steve is one of the Olympic greats. It is hard to imagine an Olympic Games without him,’ Brock-Doyle said.

‘He was involved with London 2012 from the early stages of the bid and played a major role in helping us bring the Games to London. His candid advice, expert knowledge and exceptional humour will be sorely missed by everyone connected to London 2012, and the wider Olympic family. We send our deepest sympathy to his family at this very sad time.’

Progress surges ahead on construction of Olympic Stadium

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:54:00 GMT

The construction of the Olympic Stadium is surging ahead with the start of the work on the concrete supports for the lower tiers of seating and the abutments for one of the main pedestrian access bridges, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has today announced.

A pre-cast concrete batching plant has been set up on the south part of the Olympic Stadium site to cast almost 200 rakers, the concrete structures that will support the seating units for the lower 25,000 permanent seats. The concrete will be supplied from the batching plant on the Olympic Park site which will reduce vehicle movements in the local area.

The work is also now underway on the abutments that support the first of the five pedestrian footbridges over the waterways that surround the Stadium site. During the Games the bridge will be one of the main connections for spectators to and from the Stadium to the east of the Olympic Park.

Eight tower cranes, each between 48 and 60 metres high, have also now all been erected in the Stadium ‘bowl’, ready for the ramping up of the concrete and steel work. These are now the tallest visible landmark across the Olympic Park construction site at the present time.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'The Olympic Stadium site is now a hive of activity and over the coming months we will see the Stadium structure start to rise from the ground.

'This is a challenging project and we are not complacent about the challenges that lie ahead but we have made a strong start. Real progress is being made every day on the site.'

In May this year, construction started on the Stadium site three months earlier than originally planned and was witnessed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown who had an opportunity to meet workers on site.

The piling work to create the permanent foundation for the Olympic Stadium is expected to complete in September.

Exciting new acts join Line-up for London Olympic Handover Celebrations

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:34:00 GMT

London 2012 announced today that Scouting for Girls, and Brit Award winners Will Young and James Morrison will be joining the line-up of performers who will be playing at The Visa London 2012 Party in The Mall on Sunday 24 August as part of the UK-wide celebrations to mark the moment when London becomes the official Olympic City.

On August 24, 40,000 people will gather in The Mall to watch performances from multi-million-selling artists including The Feeling, Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, McFly and now joined by Will Young, James Morrison, and Scouting for Girls.

Featuring unique collaborations and specially-arranged performances, some with a sporting theme, the show from the Mall will synchronise with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Closing Ceremony at which London Mayor Boris Johnson will be symbolically handed the Olympic flag, officially marking the start of London’s tenure as Summer Host city in front of a worldwide audience estimated to be around 1.5 billion

Tickets have already been allocated via a ballot, which was oversubscribed, but the public will be able to watch the performances via the UK’s largest-ever network of public giant screens, known as ‘Live Sites’. The event will also be broadcast live to the rest of the nation on BBC One and BBC Radio 2.

London 2012 Organising Committee Chairman Sebastian Coe said: “At approximately 2.30pm UK time, on the afternoon of August 24 the Olympic Flag will pass from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London in the Olympic Stadium in Beijing and the eyes of the world will turn to us. This will be a thrilling moment."

Colin Grannell, Executive Vice-President, Partnership Marketing at Visa Europe, said: “As a global supporter of the Olympic Games for more than two decades we at Visa are proud to sponsor an historic and memorable event for people to celebrate the return of the Games to London after sixty years.”

Scouting for Girls “This will truly be one of the most memorable events that we have ever performed at, and we are so happy to be involved. Our nation should feel very proud to be the next host city for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

James Morrison said “‘Being involved with the Olympic Handover celebrations, and playing in front of Buckingham Palace to thousands of people is going to be amazing. It’s one of those once in a life time opportunities and I am very excited!”

Further announcements of acts will be made in due course. These Beijing Games will be the first ever 24/7 Olympic Games. BBC Television will broadcast more than 2,750 hours of coverage, giving viewers access to live coverage, the latest news updates regardless of the time of day and where they are, through the BBC's extensive TV, radio, online, mobile and BBC iPlayer services.

Olympic Park construction waste will not be wasted

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:00:00 GMT

The Olympic Delivery Authority has today announced that sustainability will remain at the heart of the construction of the London 2012 Olympic Park, venues and infrastructure with a commitment to recover and reuse or recycle 90 per cent of the waste created through the ‘big build’ phase of the project.

The ODA has also developed a new integrated Environment and Sustainability Management System which has been externally audited and certified to the international standard for environmental management systems - ISO 14001 - a first for a major project of this size.

Dan Epstein, ODA Head of Sustainable Development and Regeneration said:'We have exceeded our target for reclaiming materials from the demolition and clearing of the site, much of which has been used to create the correct land levels and roads within the Olympic Park.

'As we move into the construction phase, we have set ourselves another incredibly ambitious target to recover and reuse or recycle 90 per cent of the construction waste. This is unprecedented for a development of this size, scale and complexity.

'This demonstrates how we are integrating sustainability into every element of the construction of the Olympic Park and we hope it leaves a legacy for future projects to follow.

'We are the first ever major project to be awarded an ISO14001 certificate for an integrated environment and sustainability management system. This will give the assurance that our ambitions for sustainability and environmental management are monitored, audited and delivered.'

A Waste Management contract has been awarded to Veolia Environmental Services who will establish a centralised waste management service and a waste consolidation centre on the site. Any waste created by the construction activities will be recovered and reused or recycled and diverted away from landfill. Movements of waste by water are a key aspect of the management contract and any waste not able to be reused on site will be taken to external licensed facilities for further processing.

The Environment and Sustainability Management System ensures that sustainability and environmental management is embedded throughout the design and construction of the Olympic Park and sets out how the requirements from the Sustainable Development Strategy, the Code of Construction Practice and the Health, Safety & Environment Standard are managed across the project.

ODA sets out new community commitments

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:26:00 GMT

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) today set out ten new community commitments to help reduce the impact of construction activity on the surrounding community as work on the Olympic Park moves forward into the ‘big build’ phase.

The commitments include ensuring there are effective communication channels available for residents living and working around the Park. A free hotline service is available 24 hours a day for anyone that has any concerns regarding activity on and around the site.

All workers and visitors to the Park will also be strongly encouraged to travel by public transport, reducing congestion on local roads and the ODA is committed to actively recycling and reusing construction materials, reducing the amount of waste taken away from site.

The commitments were made at the first Olympic Park Engagement Network (OPEN) meeting – a new group which will bring together representatives from different parts of the community to meet with senior members of the ODA team. David Higgins, ODA Chief Executive, also hosted a tour for the local community groups from the local boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'The Games will deliver many positive benefits to the local community, some are already being realised with jobs and business opportunities. A fifth of workers on site live locally to the Olympic Park.

'We also want to ensure we are a good neighbour and that the Park is a safe and secure environment for both workers on site and the local community living close by. Establishing the OPEN group is a great way for us to meet with local people and discuss any concerns they may have about the project.'

The ten full community commitments are:

We will encourage our workforce to use alternative transport modes to travel to the Olympic Park to reduce private car use.
We will operate a free construction hotline 24 hours a day, providing a direct line to our community relations team.
We will manage deliveries to site, by providing dedicated times and routes to the Olympic Park.
We will continue to communicate to local residents about progress on the Olympic Park and the community engagement programme.
We will be a responsible neighbour, encouraging our staff to be respectful and accountable for their actions at all times.
We will actively manage and minimise the impacts of our construction project by implementing an environmental management programme.
We will promote local employment and training opportunities on the Olympic Park.
We will provide and promote mechanisms to communicate opportunities for local businesses.
We will recycle, reduce and reuse materials on the site to minimise waste.
We will provide a safe and secure environment across the Olympic Park.

Nortel announced as Official Network Infrastructure Partner and seventh Tier One sponsor for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:45:00 GMT

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) today announced that Nortel [NYSE/TSX: NT] is the Official Network Infrastructure Partner and the latest London 2012 Tier One sponsor.

LOCOG is now well over half the way to reaching its domestic sponsorship target.

London 2012 will make the most of exciting new technology and communications to get people closer to the action they want to see, when, where and how they want to experience it.

'London 2012 will be the Games for a connected world – connecting people in revolutionary ways and enriching the Olympic and Paralympic experience by bringing people closer to the Games than ever before. It will be an evolution of the Games and provide an online immersive environment where athletes and spectators can share their Olympic and Paralympic memories instantaneously,' said Mike Zafirovski, President and CEO of Nortel.

'The network infrastructure is fundamental to the Games and critical to the delivery of its communications services. Fresh from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, our team will be experienced in providing the level of passion, support and expertise required to help deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012.'

As Official Network Infrastructure Partner, Nortel will be responsible for providing BT with the equipment to enable secure and robust Wide Area Networks, wireless Local Area Networks, call centre and fixed telephony infrastructure which LOCOG requires to stage the Games. London 2012’s communications will support over 205 international sporting organisations, 20,000 worldwide media, nine million spectators, and over four billion television viewers of the London Games.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of London 2012 commented: 'As we head to Beijing, I’m thrilled to have another world class partner on board. Nortel will be a great partner, and, as well as bringing ‘best in class’ products to the table, will be supporting our sustainability commitments and our education programme too. We are counting on Nortel with their Olympic Games experience and breadth of expertise for mission-critical projects to ensure successful delivery of our Games requirements. Commercially, we are in great shape, with four years to go we are in the unprecedented position of having raised over half of our domestic sponsorship targets already.'

Nortel will provide this equipment to BT, London 2012’s Communications Services Partner. BT is the Communications Services Partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and has a longstanding relationship with Nortel. Patrick O’Connell, President, Delivery & Service Operations, BT Global Services said: 'Nortel has supplied network equipment to BT for many years enabling us to deliver communications services to some of our major corporate and government customers in the UK. We welcome them to the London 2012 programme, supporting BT's delivery of the critical communications infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.'

LOCOG is proud to have these two world-class organisations working together to ensure delivery of these critical requirements for the successful staging of the Games. Nortel will also receive exclusive marketing rights and usage rights to the London 2012 brand within its sector.

Technology and communication at Games-time will require significant and complex logistical operations. Nortel will form part of LOCOG’s technology team, which also includes Atos Origin, BT and Samsung, and these organisations will play a fundamental role in delivering the communications for the Games.

In addition to EDF Energy, BT and BP, Nortel becomes London 2012’s fourth Sustainability Partner and will work with London 2012 and partners to reduce the environmental impacts of hosting the Games. Nortel will add value to the 2012 Sustainability agenda by reducing the carbon footprint of the products they supply for the Games and driving energy efficiency in the workplace.

Nortel has also committed to contributing to London 2012’s Education Programme by providing resources and training to students across the UK.

Nortel is also a sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

London 2012 now has seven Tier One Partners and one Tier Two Supporter as it raises the £2bn of private finance needed for staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 in addition to the eight worldwide TOP Sponsors

As it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG now has seven Tier One Partners - adidas (Sportswear Partner), BP (Oil and Gas Partner), British Airways (Airline Partner), BT (Communications Services Partner), EDF Energy (Energy Utilities Services Partner), Lloyds TSB (Banking and Insurance Partner) and Nortel (Network Infrastructure Partner) and one Tier Two Supporter – Deloitte.

- The Worldwide Olympic Partners already signed up for 2012 are Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.