London Olympics Job Vacancies

The London Olympics takes place next year and recruitment is well underway for the promised 'tens of thousands of jobs' which it is expected to create. Therefore, if you are hoping to use the opportunity to find work - possibly for the first time - now is the moment to act.

The declared objective regarding employment is to use local labour wherever possible. Local here means one of the six London Boroughs which are playing host to the games, these being Barking & Dagenham, Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Don't let being disabled or long-term unemployed put you off applying - the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced that they will actively endeavour to recruit a highly-diverse workforce and provide jobs for the young unemployed.

In a public declaration, LOCOG has stated that it sees the 2012 Olympic Games as being a 'lasting legacy' in its attempt to both create an unmatched level of diversity in its workers (in terms of both ethnicity and disability) and they are looking to achieve this through a process of positive discrimination. According to their figures, so far literally thousands of disabled workers have applied.

Their philosophy is not being restricted to just the voluntary jobs - it is also being extended to the temporary and permanent positions that make up the 200,000-strong workforce required to support the games.

If you are disabled, you are guaranteed at least an interview, making it well worth the effort to use the online CV creation software or to upload a pre-prepared one. The system is that as soon as an appropriate vacancy occurs, suitable candidates are invited to come along to discuss what they can offer and how they might fit in.

The job vacancies originated by the 2012 Olympic Games encompass everything from the construction of the buildings and arenas through to selling tickets and merchandise, distributing refreshments, cleaning up afterwards, security, providing hotel-style services to athletes and so on.

The hope is that the London Olympics' ground-breaking approach will remain alongside the new buildings long after the Olympic Games have moved on from London and that these attitudes will become the norm for UK recruitment procedures.

Assessments and interviews are taking place at the moment.

Will any jobs be available after the games have taken place? Well under normal circumstances you may think that this wasn't possible, however West Ham United have been granted the rights to the stadium after the games have finished and for some this may result in continuity on the jobs front.

For more information about Olympic Games job vacancies and other employment issues, visit http://www.jobvacancies.org

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Get Ready For London Olympics 2012

The Olympic Games in London may be over a year away, but now is the time to start thinking about getting your hands on some of the most valuable tickets of the year. With tickets available from the 15th March 2011, you will need to be quick to ensure your seat at one of the many games' venues.

With construction well under way, and many venues nearing completion, there is a growing buzz in the atmosphere surrounding the upcoming event. Amongst the new structures erected for the purpose of the games is the Olympic Stadium, the Velodrome, and the Lee Valley White Water Centre. The latter is the first entirely new London 2012 arena to be completed.

The games will kick-off on the 25th July at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where two of the Women's preliminary football matches will take place. Four further matches will take place on the same day around the country, with two at Coventry Stadium and two at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Football will dominate the first two days, before the official opening ceremony on the 27th July within the impressive Olympic Stadium. The event continues for 2 weeks, coming to a climactic close on the 12th August.

A total of 10.8 million tickets will be available for the duration of the games. Those looking to secure their ticket to one of the world's greatest sporting events should register their interest as soon as possible. In addition to the tickets themselves, it is also worthwhile giving some serious thought to other aspects such as accommodation and transport.

With thousands of spectators expected to attend the games every day, hotels and transport will be pushed to the limit, so get your Olympic Games arrangements sorted sooner rather than later.

The earlier such arrangements are organised the better, as the demand for hotels in London will be phenomenal for the duration of the London Olympics. Furthermore, getting to and from the capital - and surrounding regions involved in the games - should also be near the top of visitors' to do lists. Although inner city travel will be optimised for the events, getting to the heart of the games is something which should be arranged well before July 2012.

Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.

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A Helping Hand For the Olympics

Britain's capital city is gearing up for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games which will be held in London and the surrounding areas during the summer season. London hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948 so the 2012 event will be the third time the games have been held in Britain.

The opening ceremony on 27 July heralds the beginning of a sixty day festival of sport and culture which organisers are hoping will be a memorable event for athletes and spectators alike.

An internationally recognised event such as the Olympic Games takes a great deal of careful planning and organisation and the funds available play a major role in making the games achievable to begin with.

The National Lottery have played a key role in making the 2012 Olympic Games possible, with an estimated £2.2bn of lottery money being donated towards the event, half of which is coming from Olympic themed lotteries. The remainder of the funding is being raised from existing sports funding and this is by far the largest single project ever funded by the National Lottery.

The British lottery is one of the few lotteries in the world with an increasing income and Camelot, operator of the National Lottery in Britain, have a commendable record for raising money, particularly for worthwhile and charitable causes.

A new lottery Scratchcard, Olympic Champions, was launched to help raise funds for London 2012. The Olympic Champions Scratchcard costs £2 and offers players the chance to win a variety of instant cash prizes, ranging in value from £2 to £60,000.

The new scratch card is one of a series of games expected to raise the required funds by 2012 and is just one way in which British residents can take part in supporting the Olympic Games.

The money raised by the National Lottery will partly fund the venues and infrastructure required to host the Olympic Games as well as facilitating work that will lead to increased participation in sport from members of the London community whilst also improving community services and facilities for local residents.

One of the reasons why London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games relates to issues of environmental and social sustainability so making improvements to the city of London, and beyond, is an important part of the overall process and something that National Lottery funding is playing a key role in.

With a helping hand from lottery funding, the Olympic project is the largest urban renewal project in east London since the development of the Canary Wharf business district in the 1980s. Additions such as an 80,000-seat main stadium, aquatic centre and facilities for athletes will all help to rejuvenate East London and improvements to public transport will benefit anyone living in, or simply visiting, the city.

Thousands of jobs will be created as a result of these urban improvements with as many as 50,000 jobs being created from the east London development alone.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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Android Travel Apps for the London Olympics

For those of you planning to visit London for the Olympics, may be daunted by the number of travel facilities on offer. However, there are a number travel applications for your Android phone that will help you get around London easier.

London offer trains, buses and even bikes to the commuter, and London Transport has embraced IT fully, so up to the minute information can be viewed through the web browser. They also make this information accessible to 3rd party applications, which many Android developers have taken advantage of.

The Best Application for each method of transport is listed below

London Underground: Journey Pro

London has two types of train services National Rail (aka mainline, overground), covering all of UK, and the Underground, which covers just London. A large part of the infrastructure runs under ground, hence the name. It is also sometimes referred to as the Tube. For the Underground we recommend Journey Pro.

Journey Pro starts by displaying a scrollable tube/rail map in its main screen, covering all of London. By clicking on stations, you can then set the start or end points of your journey. You can then decide if you want to start your journey straight away, or at some point in the future. It then lists various journey options you can take, such as train and/or buses, together with the estimated times for each one. The routes that it offers can be a combination of trains, buses, trams, etc., so you can decide which one is best for you. What makes this application excel though, is that it shows you what platform and specific carriage to get on to for each train. Useful if you need to change lines during your journey.

National Rail: Rail Planner Live

Network Rail runs the overground lines, and created their own application called Rail Planner Live. It is a useful application if you want to travel outside of London as it covers all of the UK. Using this application you can find out your train routes and times, all times are live.

The developers designed this application for people who commute daily between two locations, e.g. between your hotel and Stratford station, the station is right next to the Olympic village. Once it knows this information, it is only a button click to find out the live departures times.

But the best feature we found about this application the widget. The widget allows you to view the status of the trains between two stations, typically the trains that would take to and from work. It shows what times the trains are departing, and what platform, if it is delayed, or on time. So finding out when the next train is departing is quick and easily accessible. What's more, the widget can automatically use your geo-location to swap the departing and destination stations.

Buses: Bus Checker

Bus Checker taps into London Transports databases that holds information on where bus stops are, what bus routes are covered by the bus stop, and live information on when the bus will be arriving. The Olympics will be a busy time for the transport services, so having more than one way to get to the Village will be prudent.

Starting up Bus Checker will display a map of your current location, with the nearest bus stops around as icons. Clicking on a bus stop icon will display the live timetable for that stop. In addition, on the same screen, you can highlight a Bus number, and Bus Checker will display the route on a list or map, so you will know if you bus stops where you want.

Bicycles: Cycle Hire Widget

If you prefer a bit of exercise, and do not like the idea of getting on a crowded train or bus, then for short journeys a bike may be a pleasant option, through Barclays Cycle hire.

The cycle hire system works a bit different from normal hiring systems. Scattered across London are depots with a number of bikes locked into a stand. You a pay a fee, starting at 1 pound a day, to gain access to the bikes for 24 hours. You can then take a bike from one depot to another for your journey. If your journey is less than 30 minutes, then it is free, otherwise you credit card is charged..

Although this is very cost effective, there is a problem. Sometimes the depots are full, that is, there are no available stands for you to lock your bike into. So would be great, would be an application that told you if the depot had cycles available to use, and any slots free to return your bike.

This is the functionality that Cycle Hire widget offers. You can easily find the nearest depot to you by using the on screen map, or the handy widget.

Pete Baker is a writer for http://android-zone.com. A blog about the Android platform, covering news, analysis, development and reviews.

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The London Olympics in 2012 - A Quick Guide to the Main Venues

New Venues

The Olympic Park is the main area of development in London. Located in the north-east of London in an area that was previously underused: The Lea Valley, it will be host to the new-build venues. It contains the following 'Big Five ' structures:

The Olympic Stadium - where the main athletic events will be held.

The Aquatics Centre - where the swimming events will take place

The Olympic Village - where competitors will be staying during the event

The Velodrome - where the cycling events are scheduled

The IBC/MPC - a media centre to house the international TV crews, journalists and photographers.

All 'Big Five' venues are currently 'on track', though there is wide acknowledgement amongst development engineers that 2010 will be the 'toughest' year for development contractors, as the build cycle is now at its busiest phase.

Existing Venues

The following is a list of existing sites which will be modified to host a variety of sporting events:

Earls Court in West London - usually stages exhibitions and A-list Pop/Rock star gigs, it will be hosting the Olympic Volleyball events.
ExCeL - is another large exhibition space, located east of the Docklands and will home to a range of sports including: Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Powerlifting and other less well-known events (such as Taekwondo) for both able-bodied athletes and Paralympians.
Greenwich Park - south of the Docklands is hosting the Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events, with the cross country course running across the parkland.
Horseguards Parade - it sounds unlikely, but true: the Beach Volleyball will be held on the space normally reserved for 'Trooping the Colour'. The ball could bounce across into the Prime Minister's garden from there.
The Dome - in North Greenwich, will host the Basketball and artistic gymnastics. The ill-fated Millennium Dome has been successfully hosting gigs and basketball events for years now and has turned its 'White Elephant' status around completely, usually selling out in minutes.
The Royal Artillery Barracks - a spectacular setting for the shooting events in Woolwich, South-east London. Built in 1776, the buildings are steeped in military history. Arsenal football club began nearby, using their original name: 'The Woolwich Arsenal'.
Wembley Stadium - will host the football. Recently rebuilt at eye-watering expense, this venue is the traditional home of English football.
Wimbledon - unsurprisingly, will host the tennis competition.

In addition Hyde Park and Regent's Park will host the Triathlon and Cycling events, respectively.

The main stadium roof was successfully raised on the 15th December 2009, prompting Lord Coe (London 2012 Committee Chair) and Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell to confirm their confidence in building contractors hitting their key targets. It appears that the 2012 Olympic preparations are on schedule and confidence is high, despite the global recession, that the Games will achieve the high standards promised, when London won the bid in July 2005.

Patrick Seery, Lead Editor - The Inside Guide to London The Inside Guide to London

Ideas and inside tips for places to see when visiting London. Lots of reviews, photos, maps and advice. Sights are clustered together so you don't have to zig-zag across town. Ever wondered where those traditional pubs are, where the tastiest food is found, and the best afternoon tea in town is served? Visit the Inside Guide to London for inside advice. It doesn't list every place in town - just the ones that you'll be glad you heard about. Money won't get you listed - you just have to be good, then you appear for free. London Attractions

You have permission to publish this article on any website, under the condition that the author bylines are included, without alteration.

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10 Places to Escape to During the London Olympics

I know this doesn't sound very patriotic, but I one of the "millions of Britons" who will be escaping to warmer climes when the London 2012 Olympics start in July. Not that we didn't try to support the event, my better half tried for months to get hold of some elusive Olympic tickets, but this was to no avail, and so I am afraid we will be joining the flock heading off our tiny island in search of sun, sand, peace and quiet!

The good news is there are some fantastic flight offers on right now for fellow Brits, so if you are thinking of booking your summer holiday, now is the time to go online and put that credit card to work! To give you some inspiration, here is the list I'm currently working on...

1. Columbia. There are some fantastic flight deals to Columbia right now, and if you fancy a red-hot destination with Hispanic flair, you will struggle to find anywhere better.

2. Sardinia, Italy. One of the UK's most popular budget airlines is offering fantastic flight deals to Sardinia, and while the hotels are a little on the pricey side, you get what you pay for and it is your summer holiday after all!

3. Vienna, Austria. If you are looking for culture, great dining and fabulous Austrian wines there is no better place for your summer holiday than Vienna. The weather is fantastic during July and August, and while its peak holiday season, it will still be less crowded than London.

4. Caribbean Cruise. Cruises have been getting a hard time lately, what with the disaster of the Costa Cruise Ship. On a positive note, the cruise prices have dropped and there are bargains to be found - even on the luxury cruise liners!

5. Napa Valley, California. Wine lovers around the world will understand me on this one! Beautiful scenery, great hotels and barrels full of Chardonnay... What more could anyone want?

6. Philippine Islands. Island hoping around Boracay, Cebu and Kalibo sounds very appealing right now, and a wonderful way to spend a couple of weeks during the summer.

7. Garden Route, South Africa. It may be winter below the equator in July and August, but the winters are exceptionally mild and you get to enjoy the beautiful Garden Route without the throngs of summer tourists.

8. Dublin, Ireland. If you don't want to go far, hop over to Dublin for a week and enjoy great food, great company and buckets full of Guinness!

9. Seville, Spain. The magnificent city of Seville is a wonderful place to spend a summer holiday. Great architecture, stunning parks, delicious tapas and Spanish Vino - I am very tempted to book this right now!

10. Mauritius. If you really want to get away from it all, head on down to the breathtakingly beautiful island of Mauritius where warm sunshine and golden beaches come as standard.

If, like me, you are escaping the London Olympics, let us know where you are going - we may just see you there!

Wendy Kaufmann is the owner of Equatours Limited. A family owned and family run business specialising in unique travel experiences to countries below the equator.

Fully bonded tour operator, our packages are inclusive of all travel arrangements, accommodation, insurance and a personal travel guide is with you every step of the way to make sure your trip with us is a holiday of a lifetime.

For more information please feel free to visit our Blog http://www.equatourslimited.me or our website http://www.equatourslimited.com

We would love to hear from you.

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London Olympic Collectibles

If you're a collector of memorabilia then the 2012 London Olympics will provide you with lots of items to consider collecting.

Examples of Olympic Collectibles are:


Coins
Official posters
Mugs
Die cast vehicles
Caps
Pin badges
Mascots
Signed photographs.

Different people will have different reasons for collecting Olympic items. For example some people will get an item simply because they like it. Such items may not have any future investment value and may soon become worthless other than for sentimental reasons.

Other people might buy items that they think may have the potential to return a profit on their investment.

Here are a few more ideas of things to consider collecting.


Figurines
Class
Ingots
Jewellery
Signed prints
Teddy bears
Books

Places to look for collectibles are the official Olympics website, eBay, Amazon etc.

Remember that nothing can be guaranteed to be a good investment, so never buy items hoping that they will increase in value.

Items that are limited edition are always good to collect and generally hold their value.

You might like to try and get hold of participation medals. These are given to people who are involved with the Olympics in some way, such as the officials and the International Olympics Committee members.

How about trying to get a ticket that is autographed by a winner? Now that would definitely be something worth collecting.

You could also search at car boot sales from previous Olympics; you may find them at a very low cost.

At the time of writing this article, Amazon has got over 160 items of Olympic collectibles. eBay has over 3000 items listed.

You should only buy official merchandise from authorised sellers. You can imagine that the Olympics collectibles market is huge. And this means that it will attract unscrupulous people selling fakes. You have been warned so check that authenticity of everything you buy.

Postage stamps are often issued to celebrate the Olympics and the London Olympics are no different. The Royal Mail has produced a range of stamps including daily use stamps, mint condition stamps, presentation packs and commemorative sheets. So if you are into collecting stamps go and check what the royal Mail has to offer in celebration of the London Olympics.

If you are interested in collecting coins then the Royal Mint has a wide range of item from £40 up to £5,500 for a two £5 Gold Proof set.

You must educate yourself before buying an item. Do lots of searches at various websites. Check that any websites have real addresses, try contacting them by telephone. If you are not careful you could end up by a fake collectible and you would only have yourself to blame.

Auction websites are another place to look for Olympic Collectibles. Some websites specialise in things such as Gold medals.

Good luck with your collectibles hobby and I hope you find something that brings you years of happiness just by the fact that you own a piece of history.

Don't forget to keep up to date on the latest Olympic Collectibles news.

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History of the London Olympics

The Games of the IV Olympiad were the third to be hosted outside of Athens and were scheduled to take place in Rome, but the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 7 April 1906 required the Italian Government to redirect funds away from the Olympics.

The events took place between 27 April 1908 and 31 October 1908, with 22 nations participating in 110 events. The British team easily topped the unofficial medal count, finishing with three times as many medals as the second-place United States.

1944 Summer Olympics Cancelled

The Summer Olympics of 1944 were to be held in London having been awarded in 1939. However, they were canceled due to World War Two. In lieu of the Olympics, a small celebratory sporting competition was held in Lausanne, at International Olympics Committee HQ.

The 1948 Summer Olympics

The 1948 games were the first to be held after World War Two, with the 1944 Summer Olympics having been canceled due to the war. 59 nations (Germany and Japan had not been invited) competed in 136 events between 29 July 1948 and 14 August 1948. British athletes finished 12th in the unofficial medal count with only 23 medals.

The UK Bids for the Olympics

In December 2000 a report from the British Olympic association was shown to government ministers. They had been working on the bid since 1997. The winning bid for the London 2012 Olympics was announced in 2005 to much jubilation around the United Kingdom and London in particular. On the day the winning bid was announced time seem to go backwards until the word 'London' was announced, at which point for most people in London 24 hours of partying started!

2012 Summer Olympics

The Games will take place between 27 July 2012 and 12 August 2012.    

Dickie Boy's Unofficial London 2012 Olympics Forum http://www.2012olympicsforum.com

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Four Steps to Making the Most (Money) From the 2012 London Olympics

Whatever your feeling is towards the 2012 London Olympics, it is probable that during the games we will see an influx of non-English speaking visitors descend on the UK. Although the bulk of the activities will be focused around London and the South East, the rest of the UK should also see a growth in its tourist numbers - some maybe trying to avoid the busy tourist spots of the London games. Commonsense states we should see a correlation between increased tourist numbers and revenue. If we take the numbers from last Olympic games as an estimate, Beijing had around 600,000 foreign visitors during the games (coupled with over 2.5 million Chinese domestic tourists), and it contributed an additional £8.5 billion to Beijing's GDP. Research by Lloyds bank for the 2012 games has indicated that the Olympics could increase the UK economy by an additional £21 billion. Their report shows that the UK as a whole stands to benefit from increased tourism brought about by the Olympics. It estimates that the economy in the Midlands will benefit by an additional £3.2 billion and the North West by £3.2 billion.

So, 2012 should see an increase in domestic and foreign tourism, as well as an increase in spending. However, from a marketers point of view, legislation may restrict directly using the Olympics as a springboard for their marketing efforts. Legal stipulations brought about by the emergence of ambush marketing over the past few years means that unless a company is an official sponsor of the games they will be unable to make reference to the Olympics in their marketing. Designed to protect the interests of those who have invested heavily in the 2012 games, even the slightest reference to the games may fall foul of the legislation. This, however, doesn't prevent companies from making the most of the increased marketing opportunity presented by the games. Entrepreneurial marketers should see the games as a real opportunity to maximise on a captive market, brought together by a common interest (and perhaps more importantly) common requirements.

So what are the steps companies can take to make the most of the increased market brought about by the 2012 games? We've put our heads together to come up with a list of 4 keys areas companies can focus on, which we feel will help them make the most of the London 2012 games.

First off, as with all marketing, you need to undertake market research to understand it. With over 9 million tickets expected to be sold, this will be a very large market who, drawn by the common interest in the games, will be in need of a variety of products and services. The key will be in anticipating where this market will be (not just London but at other venues across the UK) and where they will be coming from. Here is where market research can play a crucial role. There are already a number of bodies offering research related to the Olympics and at we feel your business will benefit greatly from finding out more about this market.

Secondly, you will need to be able to communicate with this potential market. It is likely that the games will draw visitors from across the globe, all speaking and communicating in different languages. To capitalise on this market you will need to be able to get your message across (be it a marketing message or information message). Marketing literature, such as brochures, leaflets and websites can all be used to communicate your message and if these messages can be presented in multiple languages, then the more the better. Ultimately, a group of tourists are more likely to take up an offer from a provider if they can understand what is being presented to them.

It will also pay to get your business out there. After you have concluded your market research you should be able to anticipate where your market will be. You will now need to make sure you are present in their minds when they come to make a decision. This could mean paying to get listed on a web directory for a specific category in a specific geographical region or distributing targeting literature near an Olympic event. Whatever you feel something is appropriate for your business, making sure your message is understood by your market will be important.

Although legislation prevents marketers from making direct reference in their marketing to the games, it does not prevent companies from partaking in spectating at the games which, if used as an account management activity, could help boost sales. Why not impress your overseas clients by taking them to one of the events, showcasing the best that Britain has to offer and providing them with excellent hospitality. The use of a business interpreter can help aid the communication process here, where a common language may not be spoken.

If, like most companies making up the UK economy, your business would struggle with the extravagance of an all out targeted marketing campaign on this scale, there are still a number of things you can do. Although the bulk of the events will be taking place in the South East and London there will still be plenty of opportunities outside the capital. Many sports and recreational centres outside London will host events as well as training. Companies in these regions would be well placed to focus some of their efforts on this market. Cost effective marketing communication that incorporates multilingual versions of their message can be undertaken by smaller companies. Your Message may need to be simplified but again, by having a message that communicates in a language the target market can understand will go a long way to help them reach decision.

We are excited by the prospect of the games, not just from a business point of view but also as sports fans. We feel that the games do present a real opportunity for business and also Britain as a whole.

For more information on our range of translation services, please visit our website.

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Tempting and Exciting London Olympic Games 2012

If you love to watch great and interesting sports? Then news of London's Olympic Games for 2012 would have already tempted you. London becomes the only city in the world to host three great Olympic Games by 2012, it is one of the most exciting news for people of United Kingdom. Would you like to be a part of this excitement?

London would host 26 types of sports for a total of 17 days. Another exciting feature of London 2012 is that it would be played at 34 astonishing venues. Women's Boxing, Handball, Wrestling, Tennis, Cycling, Swimming, Canoe Spirit, Modern Pentathlon etc. are just a few attractions of 2012 Games. One of the most exciting attractions of London Olympic Games is that many new events have also been included to enhance the experience of sport lovers. Some special events have also been organized to increase participation of more and more women from all over the world. The booking for tickets would start from year 2011 but London Olympic Games fans have already started keeping track for more information on the game and ticketing schedule.

Do you want to visit the London Olympic Games and watch action live? Yes, all of would love to! Remember not to trust upon the fraudulent websites or agents that guarantee your booking in England Games. If you stay in EU or UK then you can book your tickets directly from the official website of London Olympic Games but if you are a foreign national for these countries, then you need to apply for your tickets through your local National Olympic Committee.

To ensure security and safety of people who book their tickets online, Olympic Games have opened booking only for cards with VISA logo along with other payment options as checks and cash. However, it is suggested that you book your tickets using VISA debit, credit or prepaid card for much faster processing.

What are you waiting for? You would not like to miss such interesting action. Check daily the news for London 2012 at the official website.

For more information about the London Olympic Games and specifically London 2012 Basketball view the latest news.

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The 2012 London Olympic Games - Storms are Brewing - No Guarantees on the Weather!

Do you remember when the Chinese Government guaranteed no smog and clear skies for the Beijing Olympic Games, as all this was to be achieved with sophisticated weather control technology? Well, they almost pulled it off didn't they, and close enough, as the Beijing Games were spectacular in every regard. Well, weather isn't the only challenge that plagues the hosting cities of the Olympic Games, and maybe we should address some of the economic issues as well?

You see, it appears that cost overruns are challenging the 2012 London Games, and there seems to be a lot of finger pointing going on, still this is no time for the "blame game" because summer of 2012 is rapidly flying towards us with its fire-breathing Predator Drone type weapons system. Yes, but the Year of the Dragon this time belongs to London, that is if they can pull it off. What's the problem?

Well, Josh Aggars, the irreverent and controversial London blogger who is continually making headlines writes; "What it all boils down to is the fact that the IOC demands brand new state of the art facilities be built in order to host their Olympic games."

Yes, I hear all that, but isn't that what the London Olympic Bidding Team promised, are they going to renege on their promise, like the London CDO insurance office of AIG? It's time to walk the talk, I mean blame game aside right? Josh also notes another historical economic fact in hindsight of the Montreal games;

"They [the IOC - International Olympic Committee] have little regard for the post-Olympic financial problems that all host cities have to deal with in their wake. Montreal, hosts of the 1976 summer Olympic Games, took 30 years to pay off their construction debt and for what?"

Well, that's a decent point, but let me take a crack at that question "for what?" - how about for their own egos, and the prestige of hosting the Olympic Games. Ah, but Josh retorts; "[what] to be name checked on Wikipedia as having been one of the 'lucky' few to host the party? Is this what the Olympics has come down to? A mountain of debt and a reference in the record books for posterity?"

Ha ha ha, I told you Josh Aggars was controversial, and he is giving it to us straight in real terms isn't he? Well, no one can deny his critique, but some things are more important - there is a global component, World Peace component, and a component of humanity at stake as well.

Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net and if you want to read the most controversial blog in London, you are in luck as this article was sponsored by http://www.flipflopscity.com/blog/

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Are We Safe During the London Olympics?

From July 27 to August 12, the 2012 Summer Olympics will take place in London, England, making London the first city ever to host the Games three times.

It's certainly an honour for the city - but what does it mean for the Londoners? With so many people coming to the city, we have to ask, "Will we be safe during the London Olympics?"

The venues

While it's certain that the Olympic visitors will in no way restrict themselves to just watching the games, with all the other wonderful sights that London has to offer, it's also taken for granted that the greatest concentration of crowds will occur at the Olympic event venues.

Naturally, these areas will pose the greatest security risks:

· The Olympic Zone.The opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the Olympic Stadium. Other sports to be held in this area are athletics, fencing, handball, and modern pentathlon (fencing), cycling (BMX and track), field hockey, pool sports, basketball, and handball.

· The River Zone.This includes four venues in the Thames Gateway area. The sports to be played here are boxing, wrestling, fencing, martial arts, table tennis, weightlifting, equestrian, modern pentathlon (riding, running, shooting), basketball, and gymnastics.

· The Central Zone,the venues ofwhich are spread across west and central London - including Hyde Park, Wembley Stadium, and Regent's Park - will feature tennis, volleyball, triathlon (swimming), archery, marathon running, road cycling, badminton, gymnastics, archery, and football.

· Outside Greater London. These venues include Dorney Lake for rowing and canoeing, Hadleigh Farm for mountain biking, Lee Valley White Water Centre for slalom canoeing, Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for sailing, and Brands Hatch for the Paralympics road cycling.

Transportation

As far as crowds go, it's not just the venues themselves we need to be concerned about. People will need a way to get from here to there.

When we made the bid for holding this Olympics event in London, the city's public transport system received a poor score in the International Olympic Committee's evaluation.

It was assumed, but not guaranteed, that the transportation condition would be improved in time for the Games. The East and North London lines, as well as the Docklands Light Railway, are to be upgraded and expanded. There is also the much-touted Olympic Javelin service.

But how sufficient all these upgrades will be when the Olympic crowds arrive remains to be seen.

Precautions

Having said that, here are some safety precautions to take if you plan to watch the London Olympics:

· Keep your bags zipped. Avoid taking out valuables such as your MP3 player, mobile phone, or wallet.

· If you find an unattended bag or package, let the police know about it immediately. Do the same if you see any other suspicious activities.

· Do not use earphones while in transport. These restrict your hearing and can delay your reaction to sudden danger signals.

· If you take your bike, park it properly and keep it locked.

· Do not be tempted you to take an unbooked minicab, despite any difficulties in transportation. These services are unsafe and uninsured. There are plenty of reputable London minicabs that offer their services, which you can book in advance through licensed operators.

Use a London minicab to travel to and from the London Olympics.

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What to Do in London During the 2012 London Olympics?

The 2012 Olympics will be hosted in London, England. The Olympics is the largest sporting event in the world and attracts millions of fans worldwide and many more millions will be watching events live on TV. The Official countdown clock for the upcoming 2012 London Olympics has been unveiled this week.

Just 24 hours after its initial launch just countdown clock experienced technical difficulties and stopped working. These problems have been fixed now and the clock is counting down to the event.

London 2012 Olympics tickets

The 2012 London countdown clock marks the 6 weeks when the tickets go on sale. To purchase tickets for the London 2012 Olympics you will need a Visa card. London winning the Olympic bid will hopefully be big for London and the UK, with a lot of money being spent by tourists when they come to the country and also by advertisers who are sponsoring the event.

Although the main stadiums for the events will be in London there are also events in the south coast of England as well as in Glasgow, Scotland.

Football events These are just some of the football stadiums that will be used in the 2012 Olympics:

Old Trafford, Manchester
Wembley Stadium, London
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
St James' Park, Newcastle

Tourists who are planning on visiting London during this time might be wondering what else that can do while in London?

Apart from the main Olympics events there are also many Galleries and Museums which can be visited. A lot of these museums such as the Science Museum in South Kensington or the Natural History Museum (which conveniently is just around the corner) are both free to the public. Famous landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London and the London Eye (which gives you a fantastic view of the Thames and London) are always tourist favourites.

So what else is there to do in London during the 2012 Olympics?

As well as museums and art galleries such as the Tate Modern and the Tate Britain in London there are always a lot of popular Plays showing at the London Theatre. Sightseeing bus tours can also been booked for large groups of people. These tours will take you around central London passing major landmarks.

The events schedule for the 2012 Olympics

The events schedule is now available to download as a PDF document from the official London 2012 Olympics website. This will guide you through the events.

Getting around London

To get around London, you will most likely be travelling by Bus or Tube, for this it's definitely worth buying an Oyster travel card. This means travel should be cheaper than a standard ticket. The Oyster card can then be topped up at newsagents and at Tube stations. To use it you simply need to touch in and touch out at the barrier.

Read more about the London 2012 Olympics at London 2012 Olympics Tickets.

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Get Ready For The Olympic Games 2012 - Tickets Now On Sale

With only 500 days till the opening ceremony, tickets for the Olympic Games in London have gone on sale today (15th March 2011). Those hoping to attend one of the many events can apply to get their hands on one of the 6.6 million tickets available from the London 2012 website over a 6 week period.

With prices varying from £20 to over £2,000, attendance is not restricted to an elite select, with affordable tickets up for grabs for a variety of events.

The ballot system in operation has been designed to offer a fair chance to as many people as possible, whilst coping with the massive demands expected for such a prestigious event. It is hoped that the system will avoid any sever technical problems, namely a website crash as a result of the pressure of high traffic volumes.

The purchase window of 6 weeks allows for a calmer approach to ticket buying, and hopes to eradicate ticket touting. It is also hailed as a means to avoid a potentially unfair system of first-come-first-served.

The activity of ticket touting is being taken particularly serious, with the government threatening touts with a £20,000 maximum fine, raised from the initial £5,000 penalty.

While the more popular events and finals will obviously set punters back a fair amount, there are some 2.5 million tickets costing £20 and under, while various free events such as the marathon are also being promoted.

Concessionary prices are also in place, namely for children under 17 who will "pay their age" to view the early event heats, and for those over 60 for whom the same events will cost them £16.

Though there are a number of affordable tickets available, for some the cost of travel and accommodation is simply an unrealistic expense. Games will fail to attract significant numbers outwith the London area, for precisely these reasons. A flight, hotel and living expenses whilst in London can all add up to a considerable amount.

However, many see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and are willing to part with the costs to take part in such an historic and prestigious occasion. With the plentiful amount of hotels, B&B's and guesthouses throughout London, there will hopefully be no shortage of accommodation for travelling spectators.

Furthermore, with some events taking place in northern England and Scotland - mainly football - there are several opportunities for those further north to experience the games without travelling to London.

However, whether you need a Westminster hotel in the heart of the city of London, or a hotel in Glasgow to see some Olympic football, it would be wise to book up early to avoid disappointment come July 2012.

Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.

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London Olympics Accommodation

A Win-Win Solution

For those of you visiting the London Olympics and Paralympics, in 2012, and looking for somewhere convenient to stay, the county of Essex certainly ticks all the right boxes.

The Savvy Alternative

Let's face it, all types of accommodation are likely to be in very short supply (and expensive!) in the whole of the London area during the Olympics and Paralympics.

So, the county of Essex is the obvious alternative area to stay. For a start, being so close to East London, Essex makes an ideal base for visiting the Games. What's more, it offers a wide variety of value-for-money, quality accommodation in locations that are surprisingly convenient for visiting all the various Olympic and Paralympic events.

Benefits of Being Essex Based

Visitors to the London Olympics would do well to consider the many benefits of basing themselves in Essex for the duration of the Games. Plus points include: reasonable proximity to event venues (the mounting biking events are actually being held in Essex - so how much more convenient does it get!); excellent transport links (see information below); not to mention the wide selection of different types of accommodation, with something to suit all tastes and budgets; great places to eat and drink, etc., etc.

Bed & Breakfast

B&B accommodation is widely available in a variety of locations throughout the county of Essex. Everything can be found from traditional seaside B&Bs in Southend and Clacton to farmhouse B&Bs in the Essex countryside, not forgetting B&Bs conveniently located for access to the M25 and the Essex stations of the London Underground network.

Essex Guest Houses

Modern guest houses offer excellent facilities at moderate prices and the county of Essex boasts some of the best. A good example is The Terrace Guest House in Southend on Sea which is convenient for the Olympic mountain biking events at Hadleigh Farm as well as offering access to a fast rail connection to all the Olympic venues in London.

Hotels and Inns

Essex has a wide choice of hotels and inns which are ideal for visitors to the Olympics and Paralympics. Everything from exclusive country house hotels and traditional inns which combine character with comfort to modern hotels with all the necessary facilities can be found in the county of Essex.

Holiday Parks

Why not combine your trip to the London Olympics with a seaside holiday? Holiday caravan parks like Cosway Holiday Home Park in East Mersea near Colchester and Homestead Lake Park near Clacton offer the best of both worlds, combining value for money accommodation with easy access to transport links to the Olympic venues in London.

Camp Sites

Camp sites are located throughout Essex. Places to camp that are convenient for Olympic and Paralympic spectators include Billericay, Braintree, Loughton, Maldon and Romford. Even more camping options are available for people willing to look slightly further afield.

Olympic and Paralympic Venues

The Olympic Stadium and several other venues including the Aquatics Centre (for swimming, diving and water polo) and the Velopark (indoor velodrome and outdoor BMX track) are located in East London at the new 500 acre (2 sq km) Olympic Park in Stratford and the lower Lea Valley. More Olympic and Paralympic venues are to be found in other parts of the capital and beyond. In fact, Essex will be hosting the Olympic mountain biking at Hadleigh Farm, between Basildon and Southend on Sea.

Rail Links to Olympic Park

During the Games, more than 80 percent of visitors to the Olympic Park are expected to travel by train, either to Stratford Regional station or to Stratford International station, both of which are located within the Olympic Park.

Train services from all parts of Essex to Stratford Regional station are available for travellers to the Olympic Park. Trains from Stansted Airport, Braintree, Clacton, Southend, Ilford, Romford, Brentwood, Shenfield, Chelmsford and Colchester will transport passengers to the heart of the Olympic action. In addition, London Underground services from the Essex towns of Epping, Hainault and Woodford also go to Stratford Regional station.

Air Links to Olympic Park

Essex offers a choice of two airports for visitors to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Stansted Airport is Britain's third busiest airport, with flights to and from more than 160 destinations worldwide. Southend Airport offers a range of charter air services and air taxis. It also offers helicopter services to and from London Heliport and Canary Wharf and is likely to be running services directly to the Olympic Park during the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

Road Links to Olympic Park

Essex has excellent road links to the Olympic Park. The A12, A13, A118 and A124 trunk roads all connect Essex to Stratford. Stansted Airport also has good road communication with the Olympic Park via the M11 motorway and the A12.

Transport Links to Hadleigh Farm

The Olympic mountain biking events have been allocated to Hadleigh Farm in Essex, after the mountain biking venue in Kent that had been chosen originally was deemed to be 'insufficiently challenging' for Olympic competition. The Hadleigh Farm mountain biking site offers steep grassy slopes close to the ruins of Hadleigh Castle, which should provide an excellent spectacle for both cyclists and spectators alike.

Hadleigh Farm is easily accessible as the rail line between London Fenchurch Street and Southend passes close to this venue; Leigh on Sea and Benfleet stations are the nearest stations to Hadleigh Farm.

Alternatively, road access to the site is via the M25 and A13. Ample car parking is available at the Hadleigh Farm venue. In addition, a number of bus companies including Arriva Southend and First Essex run buses to the site.

Welcome to Essex - the county with a fine reputation for its hospitality and for welcoming visitors from far and wide! But, don't just take our word for it - check out your accommodation options, right here at the Essex Tourist Guide website. Whatever type of accommodation you have in mind, chances are we can match your requirements. http://www.essextouristguide.com/London_Olympics_Accommodation.asp

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Thinking of Renting Out a Room or Your House for the London Olympic Games 2012?

As the London 2012 Olympic Games comes to the United Kingdom next year, there is much talk of London homeowners cashing in on renting out rooms or properties for visitors from all of the world to stay at whilst attending the Olympic Games. There is also an opportunity for those living outside London within a 2-hour drive of the various Olympic Venues to cash as well as those who live in the following places that are also hosting Olympic events outside the capital; Hadleigh Farm- Essex, Lee Valley White Water Centre- Hertfordshire, Eton Dorney- Buckinghamshire, Weymouth and Portland- Dorset and the football stadiums at Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle.

The Olympic Games will attract thousands of sports men and women, trainers and team members and the million visitors and spectators of the Olympic Games, who will all be looking for accommodation as hotels and guest houses get booked up in advance. Private homeowners can earn themselves some well needed extra cash during these tight times by renting out their houses, flats, apartments and rooms during the London 2012 Olympic Games. There are numerous websites that are offering to list your room or property for a small fee that allows people who are looking for accommodation during the 2012 Olympic Games to search and view your property before making further contact and arrangements. These websites are usually a listing directory only and are not involved in the actual renting process.

Before you jump head first into letting a room in your home or a privately owned property, you should make the following checks and it is advisable that you do your own sums to make sure that it is viable way to make money. If you are looking to rent out your property to make some extra money from the 2012 Olympic Games in London, you need to 100% sure that you are happy with the person who is renting your property or staying in your home with your family. You are letting a complete stranger into your space. If you are not happy with any aspect of the discussions or something in your gut tells you that something isn't right, then cease accommodation arrangements. Make as many checks as possible, Google and Facebook checks as well as asking for a small deposit up front so that you have a guaranteed financial commitment and confirmation of booking.

The 2012 Olympic Games in London are from 27 July to 12 August 2012 It is advisable to keep a diary or print out a calendar of dates that you are letting your room or property to avoid double-booking. If you are thinking about letting furnished rooms in your home, you can receive up to £4,250 a year tax-free (£2,125 if letting jointly). This is known as the Rent a Room scheme. The Rent a Room scheme is an optional scheme that lets you receive a certain amount of tax-free 'gross' income (receipts before expenses) from renting furnished accommodation in your only or main home. It is advisable to check with your local Tax Office to see if earning from renting out your room or property will affect your Tax status.

Profit earned from Renting Property is a Taxable Income. Check with your local HMRC tax office for more details. Keep all your receipts and up-to-date accounts of expenses that you can claim back expenses against the rental profit for example: Rental listings fees, rental licence & any extra insurance cost along with a percentage water, gas, insurance and maintenance of property/ accommodation rented.

For home owners insurance, check with your Insurance Company who may ask for an additional fee for the extra protection and insurance cover needed if you are letting out part of your private home. For your own protection, get it confirmed in writing that you, your personal possessions and your property are fully covered.

It is also advisable to check with your local council housing department as some will require you to have a Short-term Rental License (£50-£90) - and also check for their governing by-laws in relation to Private Lettings and local Rental Regulations that you will have to adhere to before allowing people to stay in your home.

When listing your property you should state clearly the standard of accommodation offered and the facilities that are available for them to use whilst staying there, such as use of washing machine or Wi-Fi

You should lock anything of valuable or personal away including any electrical equipment that you don't want broken or damaged by accident.

This is just a basic guide covering some of things you should be considering and making should that you have covered before renting out a room or your apartment, flat or house. It is advisable that you make a check list of housing and legal requirements before you start renting and seek professional advise and services if need be.

By Caragh King

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What Will Happen To The London Olympic Stadium

Although the London Olympic Stadium is still under construction, the competition for ownership and development the stadium after the 2012 Olympics has already begun. The stadium will be the showpiece for the games, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletic events, for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games

The stadium is based in Stratford, London, and will have a capacity of 80,000, making it the third largest stadium in the United Kingdom. The lower tier of the stadium has 25,000 seats with the addition of a lighter weight upper tier which can accommodate a further 55,000 spectators, the upper tier can be dismantled after the games, thus reducing its capacity.

Much speculation has surrounded the stadiums future following the Olympics, with two Premier League football teams emerging as the favourites for the future ownership. West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur have both made proposals to the Olympic Park Legacy Company, who will decide the future of the stadium.

The British Olympic Association has consistently urged that the athletics track remains at the stadium as a future legacy for athletics in the United Kingdom. with a view to inspiring youngsters to take up the sport and holding future world athletic events at the stadium.

West Ham propose to leave their current stadium, about three miles away, and spend £100,000 in redeveloping the stadium. The plans would include a multi-functional sports facility, reducing the spectator capacity to 60,000 and adding a roof. While the stadium would primarily be used for hosting their football matches, the plans most importantly keep the athletics track, which meets the approval of the local Newham Council and the chairman of the 2012 Olympics, Lord Coe.

Tottenham have more radical plans, aiming to completely demolish the £500 million stadium and re-build a purpose built 60,000 seat football stadium by the start of the 2015 season. To fulfil the legacy of the Olympics, they also plan to re-develop the existing Crystal Palace athletics stadium, increasing the capacity to 25,000 and improving the facilities.

Despite Tottenham being granted permission to build a new stadium adjacent to their existing ground, it is believed the move to the Olympic Stadium would be more cost effective, While there maybe some reservations about moving from North to East London, Spurs are under pressure to increase their 36,000 seat spectator capacity and reportedly have a 24,000 fans on a waiting list for season tickets, this adds up to a substantial loss of potential revenue.

Many fans believe West Hams proposal of retaining the athletics track would be a problem as the fans would be too far away from the pitch, resulting in a poor atmosphere at the matches. Some also claim that the Hammers, who currently have a 35,000 capacity, would struggle to fill a 60,000 capacity stadium, even if they avoid relegation and remain in the Premier League.

Spurs are believed to have a more financially sustainable plan, but the legacy the plans leave for athletics in the United Kingdom, may leave the plan fundamentally flawed. A final decision on the future of the stadium is expected at the end of January 2011.

Steve Goodwin is an expert author, football fan and retailer of football souvenirs from the English Premier League, available from the football shop and all items are available to ship worldwide.

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London Olympics 2012 and Chelmsford Essex

With the London Olympics spread right across the South of England later this year, Essex makes the ideal base for your stay for a number of reasons, and these include:

Avoid the overpriced London Squeeze!

London is a fantastic capital city with literally hundreds of must see attractions and facilities - any visit to Britain would not be complete without it!

The down side to London will be the cost of hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, it will be high! Demand during the Olympics is going to be high and so looking for cheaper alternatives makes great economic sense and will allow you to spend your hard earned holiday/vacation money on all those attractions!

Essex, just a few miles away from the City is a great option. The area is well connected by public transport and highway infrastructure and it is only 20 minutes from the heart of the Olympic Park in London's eastend. Essex boasts some of the regions best and most unspoilt countryside with olde tales of highwaymen and smugglers if you choose to locate nearer the coast.

What Essex has to Offer

The County of Essex is home to wealth of historic and interesting towns and villages. With Stansted Airport located to the north of the County, it has never been easier for you to experience some of the country's history and culture by staying in Essex and then travelling into London to view some of the Olympic events. Famous Essex towns include Saffron Walden, Stansted, Thaxted [with it fabulous period Church], the market town of Chelmsford, and the Roman town of Colchester, to name but a few! There is even the village of Clavering, the home village of Jamie Oliver to experience too! Castles, forts, museums, shops, seaside resorts, airports, fantastic transport system, Essex has it all and is certainly a location that would benefit many Olympic visitors in 2012.

Accommodation in Essex

Essex is a diverse County with accommodation to cater for all tastes and budgets. If you need to be really close to the Olympuic action then a hotel or B&B is places like Epping or South Essex areas near to Southend will enable you to still be on the London tube lines - a quick and easy way to get around London during the Games. For those who will have access to a car, then the rest of the County really will offer you more choice and you will get more accommodation for your money - areas around Chelmsford and Saffron Walden will be of particular interets for those seeking a more historical stay in thie region. You don't have to always drive either, stays in towns like Chelmsford means that you can always relay on Chelmsford taxis to get you in and around the area during your stay.

Camping and Caravan Sites

With its rural heritage, it is easy to find quality camp sites right across the County, once again catering for a range of tastes and budgets. Check out the various camping websites or the UK's Caravan Club for really useful information on how to find the best sites.

Olympic Facilities and Events in Essex

In addition to the many "headline" events to be hosted in the amazing Olympic [park located in Strateford in east London, Essex will also be home to a range of exciting Olympic events including the Olympic mountain biking at Hadleigh Farm, located between Basildon and Southend on Sea. In neighbouring Hertfordshire, there will also be the canoe slalom events which are to be hosted at the Lea Valley White water Centre near Cheshunt, a short drive or taxi ride fro your base in Essex.

Rail Travel

During the Games, more than 80 percent of visitors to the Olympic Park are expected to travel to the Games by rail, either to Stratford Regional station or to Stratford International station, very close to the Olympic Park.

Access to the Park from any number of Essex towns by rail will be very easy and the airport links by rail are made easy should be travelling to Stansted Airport [with direct access to Liverpool Street and Startford International] in under 40mins or Southend Airport.

Air Travel

Essex offers a choice of two airports for visitors to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Stansted Airport is Britain's fourth busiest airport, with flights to and from more than 160 destinations worldwide.The airport benefits from superb transport links from rail, bus and also an excellent Stansted taxi service.

Southend Airport offers a range of charter air services and air taxis. It also offers helicopter services to and from London Heliport and Canary Wharf and is also host to easy Jet who will be servicing flights into ther airport this year from various destinations across Europe.

Gatwick Airport is London's 2nd airport and is once again well servied by public transport that means easy access to the Olympics and Essex. For ease of use and speed why not opt for the added convenience of a Gatwick taxi?

James Watson is a regular contributor to Essex travel guides which provides great deals on Chelmsford taxis information and detailed information on general airport facilities and services including Gatwick taxi transfers.

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Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for the 2012 London Olympic Games Fiasco

As you well know the Olympic Park Legacy Company is putting things together for the 2012 Olympic Games in historic London England in what could very well be one of the greatest Olympic Games of the last 75-years. And that is really significant considering that some of the world's greatest cities have hosted the games during those times.

So, I asked the famous Josh Aggars of London, a blogger with a reputation for some serious no-holds-bar sound and fury, what it all meant, and what was really happening there, figuring he definitely ought to know. He said in an exclusive interview with me;

"The 28th of January 2011 was supposed to be the date on which the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for the 2012 London Olympic Games would name the winning tenant to take over the still to be finished Olympic Stadium once the games were over. Instead the decision has been postponed indefinitely as the OPLC seek further clarification from the main bidders on the minutiae of their tender documents. At stake the reputation and economic viability of a true legacy for the London Olympics."

Interesting indeed, and yes, I thought Aggars would be the man to address the concerns. After all, I don't get a sense from the Financial Times just what is really going on behind the scenes. Still, I guess I am not too surprised as often government/private partnerships fail as too many bureaucrats force unreasonable restrictions and non-economically viable mandates on businesses, contractors, and the private sector.

He also noted that when London won the rights to host the 2012 Olympic games they promised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that they would make the Committee and the World for that matter proud, which Josh now equates to nothing more than "lofty rhetoric" and that such promises appear to have been too presumptuous.

Yes, I am not surprised and would even call it typical. Unfortunately, Josh explains now the estimated costs have almost tripled from $4.9 Billion to $13.5 Billion and who knows where it will stop. All at a time when the nation is calling for austerity measures from pensioners and government spending, even cutting back on their military. In fact, the there was an announcement to share an aircraft carrier with France!

From a realist standpoint, all I can say from observation and hindsight in my own business dealings is that ALL business plans must double or triple their costs, and at least double their time frame to be even remotely legitimate. Anyone with any experience knows this. Now then, do I share Aggars ire? Well, I share the hard choices that Londoners are making and all of England for that matter.

But I am glad to say that Josh Aggars is on the scene holding everyone's feet to the fire. Yes, the infamous, controversial blogger that he is, and I wouldn't expect anything else, so please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net and if you want to read the most controversial blog in London, you are in luck as this article was sponsored by http://www.flipflopscity.com/blog/

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What Will Become of the 2012 London Olympic Stadium After the Olympics

It is widely known that often the massive Olympic stadiums start to fall to ruin after the host city wraps up the final events. Just take a look at Athens' stadium or so many others. We also have Winter Olympic ski jumps sitting idle, old bobsled tracks, and hotels that never see that level of volume again. Some in hindsight call it a waste of money all in the name of ego, as nations and cities chase and bid for the prestige and national pride of hosting the Olympic Games.

Well, now we see the 2012 London Olympic Stadium is way over budget and financially unstable, right as the country is in the middle of severe austerity measures to cut spending and pensioner's benefits. Can that stadium be used for soccer events? Is it viable for future use, can it pay back the cost, or EVER provide a decent ROI for the expense to build it? Some say yes, others doubt it very much.

Now then, I was fortunate enough to discuss this with one of the most controversial bloggers of London the other day, you've no doubt heard of Josh Aggars. Well, Josh tells me that; "There are many who believe that crowds will dwindle especially if the debt troubled club are relegated from the Premier League."

Well, he may be correct in his assessment and there is cause for alarm considering the current economic climate. However, perhaps, or the economy over all could return in the future and all the argument is lost to a past economic recessionary dip. Who can say in 2015 that same argument will be valid in hindsight? And soccer is not going to disappear. But Josh is a realist and states;

"Should the neigh-sayers be right the Government may have to step in at a later date to rescue the facility."

Ah, well, sometimes risk is necessary to reap the rewards. If nothing is risked, no real gain can be achieved. Maybe it's time for a Winston Churchill speech? Next, Josh, never to be one to be miss a serious talking point, puts for another contention;

"On the other hand English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in conjunction with concert promoters AEG propose to demolish the tax payer funded £547 million stadium after just two weeks of use and replace it with a purpose built soccer only stadium."

Okay, I told him, but if this is so, then the Olympic Stadium and facility should be made with a conversion theme, an "Elevated Track" and thus, it could still have a soccer field center. This makes it only a design issue, that is no problem really. And just because the accountants call it a financial Titanic, doesn't make it so. You see, beware of bean-counters without any creativity or imagination, anything is possible, unless you defeat your mind in advance.

You see, this is why I enjoy talking with Josh, he is never dull, always on the ball, and controversy may as well be his middle name. The man is irreverent and won't let anyone off the hook. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net and if you want to read the most controversial blog in London, you are in luck as this article was sponsored by http://www.flipflopscity.com/blog/

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UK Olympics - How To Stake Your Claim As A Volunteer In The 2012 London Olympics

UK Olympic fever moved up a notch recently when the largest recruitment drive in London began. Needing a volunteer force of 70,000, a massive panel of 2,500 interviewers began the job of sifting and shaking recruits for the biggest event to hit the capital for years. If you are interested in becoming a history maker, how easy is it to stake your claim as a volunteer in the 2012 London Olympics?

Many people consider volunteering in sporting events the best way to see world class athletes for free, but how do you get in on the action? What are your chances of success in the UK Olympics? How tough is the selection process? Nearly 250,000 people have already applied to be part of the 70,000 strong 'Games Maker' volunteer team, so you need to get your skates on for a place in the 2012 UK Olympics force.

1) When can I apply? To stake your claim as a volunteer in the UK Olympics, apply in London now or keep your eyes peeled for the other eight selection centres to open up across the UK between March and August 2011. Some interviewers began training in January and the rest are expected to come on board during the year, so applications are being staggered.

2) Who can apply? Anybody who has 10 days spare and is in good physical shape. Volunteers are seen as "central to the success of all modern Games", so a high tolerance level and good sense of humour will be needed for this demanding role. If you are applying from outside the London area, don't forget to factor in travel time and the extra energy needed to run the commute! Also bear in mind the funds required for daily travel to Canary Wharf, plus board and lodgings for the duration of the event.

3) What types of volunteer are needed? 50,000 volunteers are required for the Olympics and a further 20,000 for the Paralympics. Efforts are being made to make the UK Olympics accessible to as many disabled and deaf volunteers as possible, but common sense is needed. There isn't the funding for personal assistants or sign language interpreters. Everyone is expected to work for at least 10 days and enjoy participating in community events as part of a team.

The 2012 Olympics will also draw its own peculiar street artists, dancers, performers and unique market stalls, so be prepared to be dazzled or annoyed by the amazing mix of talent and business. The UK Olympics will be the perfect place for the newly redundant or current unemployed to volunteer and spend time networking for work, so make the most of it and stake your claim now!

Next, if you don't happen to be selected for the UK Olympics, find out how else you can put your spare time to good use. Make yourself a coffee and draw up a chair and let us show you how you can make money online in a home business that provides residual income for thousands around the world. I hope you have enjoyed how to stake your claim as a volunteer in the 2012 London Olympics.

Olive Bush is an online marketer teaching people from around the world to make money online and how to build their home based business. To learn more about Olive and her business please visit http://www.earnyourwealth.co.uk

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A Fortnight or 50 Years? The Legacy of the London Olympics

The question of sustainability is one that has a habit of cropping up when critics discuss the mega-project that is the 2012 Olympics.

Some 24 construction projects have already been completed, including a £537 million Olympic Stadium and £269 million Aquatics Centre. The much-touted Olympic Village that will house 17,000 athletes and officials from over 200 countries, meanwhile, has just been sold to the property company owned by Qatar's royal family at a loss of nearly £275 million.

So, as great swathes of East London are 'regenerated', large sums of money are changing hands. There has been an air of staunch earnestness to the Olympic Park Legacy Company's (OPLC) intentions to engender viable long-term urban improvement, but many feel the vision will extinguish under financial pressures post-Games.

One thing that cannot be denied is that Stratford - and the greater East London area - has been commercially reinvigorated. After the closing ceremony of the Games, the Olympic Village itself will be repackaged, with sporting dormitories turned into 2,818 flats and houses, while 8,000 new homes will be built in five new neighbourhoods around the Olympic Park over the next ten years.

While some are worried about generic apartment buildings springing up en masse, the OPLC has outlined plans for low-rise terrace and mews houses with gardens, eschewing previously-mooted high-density complexes. But with only half of these properties being described as 'affordable' by Triathlon Homes, some are wondering just what these 'Olympic communities' will resemble in years to come.

The construction centrepiece, meanwhile, should leave a lasting impression. The Olympic Stadium will have a capacity of 80,000 seats, making it the third-largest stadium in Britain behind Twickenham and Wembley. An axonometric view of the building reveals its layered composition, with a demountable steel and concrete upper tier holding 55,000. It is the lightest Olympic Stadium on record, utilising surplus gas pipes for the roof truss and a moderate 10,000 tonnes of steel. A polythene wrap will encircle the stadium and will provide a 'clear and memorable identity to the stadium' according to Rod Sheard of architects Populous. Chemical company Dow are working on repurposing the panels for after the Games.

Ultimately, time will tell whether the Games' legacy proves to be a lasting one. With the final bill for the Olympics dubbed 'inherently uncertain' by the National Audit Office, it is hoped that the monuments of London 2012 remain in use for a long time to come.

Constructionbytes.com is a free construction news and resource site established by construction professionals for fellow industry members.

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Paul James

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What Does London 2012 Olympics Mean?

What do you think the London 2012 Olympics means to athletes or sports professionals? Is it inspiring for them to always make a comeback to the sports arena? Like other academic careers that people decide for their lives, athletes or sports professionals are happy to engage in something they truly love.

The city of London prepared so many attractions to offer people and the sporting events will be just one of them. Among those well known sports that are hosted by London annually, is tennis, and this will be held at the Wimbledon village. These past years there are well known champions, which includes the sisters Serena and Venus Williams. The UK previously hosted the Olympics in 1948. The UK also provides excellent players like football legends, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and a lot more.

It means that a person who is commissioned to this project will already be having a very difficult work in terms of planning, to strategize things for increasing of funds and to ensure that all projects are completed, and punctual or in time. They are having some difficulty in work due to the recession, even if there is a financial disaster, a positive feedback coming from the Eastern part of London takes place, and soon newer faces will emerge.

The Games are much awaited by so many people around the world. London has a good record on hosting big sporting events, however, this event is simply huge and will need lots of preparation, budget, and participation.

For London, this will also mean new work opportunities, new chances for business and people. This will also mean opportunity for London to reinvent itself and show the world what else it can provide - in tourism, sports, and other areas - while hosting the Games as best they can.

What's the Meaning of the 2012 Olympics to the Whole World? Naturally, it means visiting London more frequently for the Games and after. This may also mean excellent opportunity for shopping. This can also mean an opportunity to travel the great attractions found in this city. London is really one unique type of city; they've got everything a nation need. London`s got everything it needs for its people and its visitors.

London will do its best to be able to shake the whole world and make a difference in the Games and beyond. London, which is already a melting pot of cultures in itself should be the best place to host the Games and the many people from all over the world who will be its guests. What is the Role of the Social media in the Olympic Games of 2012? As is expected, a lot of people will be following and discussing about this event. Twitter will have many tweets; YouTube will be full of Olympic highlights, and Facebook will be sprouting with new groups, new stats, and other online activities relating to the London Olympics. There'll be lots of photos due to the fact that there are athletes in the Olympic Games and there are people being fanatics.

Nosagie Esere is an information publisher and has written an ebook on how to make unique money before, during, and after the London 2012 summer Olympics. For info visit, [http://www.107olympicwaystomakemoney.com]

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The London Olympics - Will Your Business Be A Winner?

According to a recent survey by BT, nearly a third of organisations don't have any plans for dealing with the possible disruption that this summer's Olympic games may cause to their businesses, even though most of those surveyed expect to be affected. Disruption could include staff absence, travel difficulties, and requests to volunteer to be "game masters."

If your business is based in London then you can expect the trains and tubes to be extra busy, which may mean delays for your staff in getting to work. The situation has been likened to the travel disruptions caused by the snow in the winters of 2010 and 2009, when buses were stuck in their depots and planes were grounded at Heathrow. You would be well-advised to plan now for temporary flexible working arrangements for the duration of the games. And even if you are not in London, there will be other parts of the country affected by travel disruption at certain times, for example, the cycle races through Surrey in late July/early August will cause significant difficulties to local employers on account of road closures.

Even if your business is not close to any Olympic venues or events, how are you going to deal with requests for time off to watch the most popular events? You may want to keep it simple, with a "first come, first served" approach to requests for annual leave, or you may decide to deal with conflicting requests on a "lottery" basis to give everybody a fair chance of getting time off when they want it. Alternatively, you could consider making arrangements for screening popular events during working hours on the premises, via a television or internet connection - that might be more palatable and manageable than having to discipline staff who watch events surreptitiously on their company computers. But be careful of setting up resentment on the part of those who are not interested in sport, and might perceive such treatment as favouritism. Requiring people to make up any time lost over the course of the next few weeks may be a fair way round that. Think about how you dealt with requests to watch World Cup matches in previous years, and apply any lessons learned.

Volunteers have no legal right to take time off, and you are not under any obligation to pay them, so it is up to you to determine whether to grant paid or unpaid time off, or to insist that they take it out of their holiday entitlement, or whether to refuse permission altogether - although the latter option would not win you many friends and you might find yourself investigating dubious "sickness" absences instead. Better to take a more conciliatory approach, perhaps.

Again, you may put an upper limit on the number of days off you will grant for volunteering, so as to be fair to all concerned, and to show that you are taking a balanced approach. If you have more volunteers than you can let go at any one time, then you will have to decide who will be permitted to take the time off and who will not; the key thing here is to set your policy in advance and publicise it, so that everybody knows where they stand.

On the other hand, think about the potential benefits to you of allowing your staff to volunteer - in terms of developing their skills, supporting the community, and being seen as an employer with a social conscience. A generous approach should also win you valuable goodwill from your employees, which will be beneficial to you when you need them to go the extra mile on your behalf!

So, as with most situations, forward planning, good communication, and a generous dollop of common sense, will be the best recipe for a Gold Medal!

For more information about planning for the impact of the Olympics, or any other HR topics, look at the full range of services available from M Thorne Consulting Limited, your friendly, flexible HR consultancy. Check out http://mthorneconsulting.co.uk or contact Mara Thorne on mara@mthorneconsulting.co.uk.

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2012 Olympic Accommodation Problems

Are you going to London 2012? Well unless you happen to be lucky enough to live in London then if you are traveling from any distance at all then you are likely to need some accommodation. You have tickets and think that because you only live an hour from London that you will be able to make do without staying overnight. Well think again and read on.

There are a few reasons why you might want to consider finding some cheap london accommodation for the 2012 London Olympics, the first of which is the time that some events are scheduled to finish, with some running to 9 or 10pm in the evening. The majority of the events are taking place in East London so if you live to the North, South or West of London and it normally takes you an hour to get into London, then you will also have to budget for 30 mins traveling to and from East London.

Your problem lies in the fact that several other tens of thousands of people will be trying to do the same, and this means journey times are likely to be extended as you are likely to have to face substantial queues to leave venues and to get on transport.

So this means if attending an evening session that you seriously need to think about staying overnight in London. Whilst it will not be cheap it will certainly be cheaper than an hours cab drive home if you miss the last train home (Which is very likely), and better than sleeping on a park bench.

Hotels and B&B's at the minute are not too expensive but believe me prices will skyrocket as they realise the demand that is going to occur. Indeed I believe that many people who are in the home counties and think they can get in and out in a day may well end up looking for Olympic accommodation at the last minute when they start to work out the logistics of getting to and from the venues. So it makes a great deal of sense to look at the logistics of attending your event now and booking accommodation as soon as possible.

If you leave it too late then you could find that you end up either paying sky high hotel prices or end up not going to the event as logistically you cannot get in and out in time.

Find out the latest about Olympic Accommodation availability, prices and problems booking. Also get the very latest news on London 2012 every day.

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