The single consistent theme between all the different venues designed by London's Olympic Committee for the 2012 Games is the focus on developing a lasting legacy. London thus far has invested heavily in the venues for 2012 with "design, innovation, and creativity lie[ing] at the heart of the project" (pg. 3). First, the Olympic Stadium has been designed with a 25,000 base section with a removable 55,000 temporary section on top, which will be removed after the Games. This stadium is obviously the most important for London and the Olympics, and has been strategically designed as a sunken bowl in order to get the fans closer to the action and create a more personable atmosphere.
Next, the Velodrome, which will host the track and field events, is a 6,000 seat stadium shaped uniquely like a "pringle". The building's design reflects that of an actual cycling track, and therefore has a lightweight roof with a curving cable net structure. A key lasting component of the Velodrome is its environmental sustainability. Because of strategically placed roof lights, the Velodrome will have more access to natural light, thus reducing its dependency on artificial lighting. Also, the Olympic committee has ambitions to make the Velodrome into the "cycling hub" of London following the conclusion of the Games by adding another road cycle circuit. Organizers hope these additions will encourage the overall theme of promoting physical activity and well being for everyone in London.
Perhaps the most simple of the Olympic venues, the Handball Arena has been designed with a glazed concourse area to enable fans to have a complete view of both Olympic Park and the action within. Furthermore, retractible seats and 100 light pipes promoting natural light and circulation gives organizers many options looking into the future regarding the use of this simple building.
Swimming and diving has been one of the most important events in the most recent Olympic Games, and London clearly desires to provide a state of the art center for the 2012 Games. Featuring a wavelike roof, the Aquatic Center hopes to be an iconic image for the Olympics as it serves as the "gateway" into London's Olympic Park. Following the Games, the Aquatic Center will serve as a community swimming center equipped with two fifty meter pools as well as a full diving pool.
The most important feature of the Basketball Arena designed by London's organzing committee is the fact that it can pretty much be entirely torn down and recycled. London is focused on having every venue serve a unique purpose following the Games and will only keep the venue up if it is consistent with the goal of securing a long term legacy. Therefore, the Basketball Arena, which oddly will not even host the semifinals and finals of the basketball section, will benefit other parts of the UK because its nearly 17,000 person capacity stadium will be stripped for its raw materials and reused around the country.
The International Broadcast Center will serve as the home of the twenty odd thousand broadcasters, journalists, and photographers. The Center's design is very environmentally friendly; it will use recycled non-drinking water (who knows what for) and has a brown roof. This building, because of its sheer size and flexibility, will provide organizers with a full range of potential legacy options and goals following the Games.
One of the most important legacies of the 2012 London Games will be the Olympic Village. Already, the Olympic Village will provide over 3,000 new homes, community centers, and parks, which will increase consumer activity and social mobility in a previously slow economic area of East London. The Olympic Village has been designed to create a unique relationship between the buildings and the streets, allowing for communal gardens at the heart of each block, making the whole overall setting more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, because the new Olympic Village is essentially like creating a whole new neighborhood, there will be an influx in shops, restaurants, leisure facilities, and open spaces. However, the most important legacy of the Olympic Village will be the Chobham Academy, which will be a new world class educational facility.
In Olympic Park, the Greenway will serve as the street running across the south end connecting West Ham and the Park. This walkway will act as one of the main pedestrian centers during the Olympics and will possess numerous sustainable features such as recycled lampposts, gates, and benches. Furthermore, more industrial land is being transformed into a network of much needed parklands in London. With a riverbank in the center, the parklands will give London much needed greenery and open air space equipped with long green lawns and footpaths. Furthermore, during the actual Games, London plans to have screens playing live events for people to watch while enjoying a leisurely day in the park. As a legacy, the south end of the park will hope to continue the festival atmosphere of the Games while the north end will play host to wetlands and bio-diverse habitats for endangered species. Last, more than thirty bridges of varying design will be built which will leave the legacy of turning one of the least accessible parts of London into an easily travelled space.
London also plans to build a new Energy Center, Primary Substation, and Pumping Station, ensuring every aspect of the Games is run efficiently. At the core of the legacy London hopes to leave is the idea of accessibility and community. Officials have emphasized inclusive designs in all of their venues in order to create the best fan environment. This also includes making the venues very handicap accessible, as well.
http://www.tickets.london2012.com/
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Getting to the Games
In an attempt to get more active, the London olympic committee has implemented a program to increase the amount of walking and bycicling spectators do before, during and after games. They have encouraged spectators to travel in other forms of transportation other than cars and buses. In order to do this, they invested 10 million euros to improve London´s cycling and walking networks. The improvements include better cycling paths, more lights and security for safety, and improved paving. These improvements should ensure a rise of walkers and cyclists at the games. They believe that the increase of people using other forms of transportation from cars will be in the millions. They have even installed thousands of bike parking spaces for those who wish to bike to the games. Not only will this increase exercise in spectators but this also will benefit London´s plan to become greener.
The Program the initiated is called the London 2012 Active Travel Program (ATP). This plan hopes to instill the idea of physical exercise as a way of getting places without the spectators even realizing they are exercising. The goal is to subconsciously have the spectators exercise and hopefully even after the games are gone and the newly constructed/improved pathways remain, people in London will be more interested in traveling on foot or bike, rather than cars or buses. This will also reduce the amount of fuel consumed as well gases released into the atmosphere that harm the environment.
This initiative to create more pathways and encourage people to get places on foot is a lot like the other programs that encourage people to get involved in exercising and promote a healthier life style. However, this plan should be one of the more effective ones because it gets people to exercise without them even knowing it. Sometimes if people label exercise as actual exercise it makes them less likely to do it. However, everyone who is at the olympics wants to watch the games, therefore they will have to walk or bike which makes it more likely that they will.
http://www.london2012.com/news/2011/10/london-2012-spectators-encouraged-to-use-upgraded-walkin.php
The Program the initiated is called the London 2012 Active Travel Program (ATP). This plan hopes to instill the idea of physical exercise as a way of getting places without the spectators even realizing they are exercising. The goal is to subconsciously have the spectators exercise and hopefully even after the games are gone and the newly constructed/improved pathways remain, people in London will be more interested in traveling on foot or bike, rather than cars or buses. This will also reduce the amount of fuel consumed as well gases released into the atmosphere that harm the environment.
This initiative to create more pathways and encourage people to get places on foot is a lot like the other programs that encourage people to get involved in exercising and promote a healthier life style. However, this plan should be one of the more effective ones because it gets people to exercise without them even knowing it. Sometimes if people label exercise as actual exercise it makes them less likely to do it. However, everyone who is at the olympics wants to watch the games, therefore they will have to walk or bike which makes it more likely that they will.
http://www.london2012.com/news/2011/10/london-2012-spectators-encouraged-to-use-upgraded-walkin.php
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Spreading Sport in the UK
London isnt known for having a lot of participation in sport. In fact it is well known that many people in London rarely practice physical exercise, let alone play any type of organized sport. This, however, is going to change thanks to the Olympic games. With the Olympics quickly approaching, many programs have been set up to get people more involved in physical activity. One in particular, Sport England Programme, was created by Olympic legend, Sir Steve Redgrave to get volunteers involved in leading others in sport. The goal of the program is to get up to 40,000 people involved in at least 10 hours of sport leadership. Backed by a large sum from the National Lottery Funding, volunteers will be trained and then allowed to help out with other programs in their local communities. The programs initial intentions are to get people more excited and involved with the Olympics; however, there is more: by completing this program, Redgrave hopes to give people the same feeling and love of sport as he has. Also, he hopes the volunteers will carry that same feeling to their local neighborhoods, to begin a rapid spread of sports and physical activity throughout the country.
Its not just London that the Olympics hope to leave a legacy of sport with. Northern Ireland is also getting involved. It has set up programs with Active and Activ8 to promote physical activity in children leading to a better, healthier lifestyle. Some 100,000 children have joined and hopes are that another 100,000 will join in the next five years. Although the 2012 olympics are being held in London, they hope that its influence in Sport will spread through out the entire UK.
There are a few problems that I see keeping athletics from spreading like they hope it too. First, since sport isnt very big in the UK, I dont see how all of the sudden because of one event(granted it is a huge event) can touch so many lives. Maybe Im just playing devil’s advocate here but if its that easy to integrate sport in such a big area, than why hasnt it happened yet. Also, there is alot of talk about the legacy of sport the Olympics will leave after its gone. I think that since there really isnt much history of sport already in the UK it will be hard to keep the momentum going with nothing there to back it up one the Olympics are done. I think what the groups are doing by getting people involved in sport is good and its what they should be doing but as far as the legacy it will leave, that could just be a pipe dream.
Its not just London that the Olympics hope to leave a legacy of sport with. Northern Ireland is also getting involved. It has set up programs with Active and Activ8 to promote physical activity in children leading to a better, healthier lifestyle. Some 100,000 children have joined and hopes are that another 100,000 will join in the next five years. Although the 2012 olympics are being held in London, they hope that its influence in Sport will spread through out the entire UK.
There are a few problems that I see keeping athletics from spreading like they hope it too. First, since sport isnt very big in the UK, I dont see how all of the sudden because of one event(granted it is a huge event) can touch so many lives. Maybe Im just playing devil’s advocate here but if its that easy to integrate sport in such a big area, than why hasnt it happened yet. Also, there is alot of talk about the legacy of sport the Olympics will leave after its gone. I think that since there really isnt much history of sport already in the UK it will be hard to keep the momentum going with nothing there to back it up one the Olympics are done. I think what the groups are doing by getting people involved in sport is good and its what they should be doing but as far as the legacy it will leave, that could just be a pipe dream.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15276029
Monday, October 10, 2011
Economic Benefits of 2012 Olympics
In his essay discussing the economic effects of hosting the Olympics, Adam Blake states, "the wider economic impact of the Olympic Games includes the effects the visitors have...through their expenditures in the host city, the developmental benefits of targeted infrastructural investments...and the long term 'legacy' benefits that the increased exposure to the international media brings" (p. 4). Obviously, the opportunity to host the Olympics automatically increases tourism, both before, during, and after the Games. Tourists will spend money on airfare, hotels and accommodations, merchandise, and tickets. Overall, these tourists are pumping money directly into the host country's internal economy. However, achieving economic success is not always as easy as it sounds.
In the past, host nations of the Olympics have actually lost money because of the Games. The Games of 1972 and 1976 in Munich and Montreal respectively lost over eight hundred euros combined. On the other hand, Barcelona and Los Angeles netted profits of over two hundred million. Because of this discrepancy, it essentially comes down to the organizational capacity of the host nations planning committees, as they have to balance their own individual market size and capacity, television deals, infrastructure costs, and other expenditures.
In order to effectively plan an economically profitable event, Blake describes the use of "input-output models" in order to define the levels of spending brought on by tourists from the event as well as the increased internal expenditures generated by the event. Secondly, Blake compares this model with the Computable General Equilibrium Model, which differs from the input-output model in that the CGE imposes constraints on the relationships between certain factors such as income to spending or the availability of factors of production. In short, in planning for the Olympic Games, the necessary economic approach involves balancing your own internal expenditure increases while accurately forecasting the increase in revenue from hosting the Games. With this key at the forefront, organizers have to justify every purchase and calculate the anticipated return from expenditures in order to end up with an economically successful Olympic Games.
Another important concept to note is that the financing of any debt as a result of the Olympic Games is the responsibility of the host city. Furthermore, debts are almost inevitably going to occur because the majority of the infrastructural investments are funded through borrowing. As for London, the British Olympic Committee has vowed to invest in infrastructure that will provide long term value, and not in excessive and unpractical services that will prove worthless following the Games. Furthermore, the opportunity cost of hosting the Olympics is discussed in depth while analyzing the economic consequences of the Games because it is extremely difficult to put a monetary value on people's time and the allocation of resources. Even deeper analysis can be put into environmental costs of the Games, namely pollution, congestion, and increased emission levels, which ultimately result in more money spent by the host city in years to follow the Games.
Overall, according to Adam Blake's study, London can expect its GDP to rise by 1.9 billion euros if it has the Games (compared to what it's GDP would be not having the Games). Increased employment rates and capital reserves are also expected results from the Games, as well as increased tourism following the actually Games itself. All in all, I believe the Games will have a positive economic impact despite the high levels of spending necessary to host an event of such magnitude.
http://utsescholarship.lib.uts.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/handle/2100/994/Impact%202005_5.pdf?sequence=1
In the past, host nations of the Olympics have actually lost money because of the Games. The Games of 1972 and 1976 in Munich and Montreal respectively lost over eight hundred euros combined. On the other hand, Barcelona and Los Angeles netted profits of over two hundred million. Because of this discrepancy, it essentially comes down to the organizational capacity of the host nations planning committees, as they have to balance their own individual market size and capacity, television deals, infrastructure costs, and other expenditures.
In order to effectively plan an economically profitable event, Blake describes the use of "input-output models" in order to define the levels of spending brought on by tourists from the event as well as the increased internal expenditures generated by the event. Secondly, Blake compares this model with the Computable General Equilibrium Model, which differs from the input-output model in that the CGE imposes constraints on the relationships between certain factors such as income to spending or the availability of factors of production. In short, in planning for the Olympic Games, the necessary economic approach involves balancing your own internal expenditure increases while accurately forecasting the increase in revenue from hosting the Games. With this key at the forefront, organizers have to justify every purchase and calculate the anticipated return from expenditures in order to end up with an economically successful Olympic Games.
Another important concept to note is that the financing of any debt as a result of the Olympic Games is the responsibility of the host city. Furthermore, debts are almost inevitably going to occur because the majority of the infrastructural investments are funded through borrowing. As for London, the British Olympic Committee has vowed to invest in infrastructure that will provide long term value, and not in excessive and unpractical services that will prove worthless following the Games. Furthermore, the opportunity cost of hosting the Olympics is discussed in depth while analyzing the economic consequences of the Games because it is extremely difficult to put a monetary value on people's time and the allocation of resources. Even deeper analysis can be put into environmental costs of the Games, namely pollution, congestion, and increased emission levels, which ultimately result in more money spent by the host city in years to follow the Games.
Overall, according to Adam Blake's study, London can expect its GDP to rise by 1.9 billion euros if it has the Games (compared to what it's GDP would be not having the Games). Increased employment rates and capital reserves are also expected results from the Games, as well as increased tourism following the actually Games itself. All in all, I believe the Games will have a positive economic impact despite the high levels of spending necessary to host an event of such magnitude.
http://utsescholarship.lib.uts.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/handle/2100/994/Impact%202005_5.pdf?sequence=1
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Olympic Stadium
The construction of London's Olympic Stadium began in 2007 under the architectural guidance of Populous, a architectural firm specializing in the construction of large sporting venues. The 80,000 seat stadium will obviously be a landmark for the 2012 summer games, hosting both opening and closing ceremonies as well as many of the athletic events. Although there has been some controversy regarding the intricacies of the design of the stadium, the stadium all in all should prove suitable for continuing the great tradition of the Olympics. However, the legacy of the Olympic Stadium and use after the Olympic games was under great debate and was only just settled recently.
In November of 2010, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games announced it had received two bids for the Olympic Stadium following the Games. First, AEG and Tottenham Hotspur submitted a joint bid for the stadium. In the past, AEG redeveloped the Millenium Dome into The O2, a highly successful music venue in South East London. Personally, I believe that AEG's commercial interest in the stadium along with the LOCOG's commitment to preserving an athletic legacy for the stadium resulted in the stadium being rewarded to West Ham United of the English Premier League and Newham Council. West Ham United and Newham Council desired to bring a football club to the stadium, as well as ensure the venue could hold at least 60,000 in order to host international sporting events including NFL football, Live Nation events, and cricket matches.
Following the decision in favor of West Ham United, Leyton Orient, a football club in England, complained the stadium's proximity to their own would damage them financially and broke FA's rules. However, after a private investigation, the bidding process was not reopened at West Ham United officially was rewarded the stadium.
In conclusion, the legacy of the Olympic Stadium is to continue to promote sport and community activities in London. LOCOG's decision to rule in favor of West Ham United over AEG represents a philosophical commitment to this goal, as it could easily have given the stadium to AEG, whose interest in the stadium was way more commercially and financially oriented.
Finally, London also bid for the World Athletics Championships in 2015 against Beijing and Chorzow, Poland; however, London had to drop from the race because of the uncertainty and commotion regarding the stadium for these upcoming Olympic Games.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/23/observer-editorial-olympic-stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(London)
http://www.london2012.com/olympic-stadium
http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/publications/2012-games/venue-legacy
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Anti-Doping
While London as a city is preparing to host one of the biggest events in its history, bringing in tons of revenue, people, publicity etc., the Olympic staff is also preparing for what they hope to be another successful Olympic games. One of the biggest concerns in sports today is the use of performance enhancing drugs such as human growth hormones and anabolic steroids, both of which are used to artificially create leaner muscle mass while reducing body fat. In the past, these drugs have been a problem in a variety of sports such as baseball, cycling, and track and field. Even more specifically related to the olympics have been the use of these drugs during the actual games. For example, in the 2000 games, Marion Jones won 5 gold medals but was forced to forfeit all of them after it was discovered that she had used performance enhancers. Because of the cheating, it has created a "dark cloud" over those games, specifically that event as people wonder, what if every ran a fair race?
In these upcoming olympics, the anti-doping committee is going to extreme lengths to ensure, every event is competitive yet fair. They have set up multiple ways of detection, including even getting the domestic cleaners in the areas where the athletes will be staying to keep a keen eye out for anything they deem suspicious. Also, the committee has brought together enough funds to hold at least 5000 drug tests. Those can be distributed however the committee chooses, depending if a certain athlete is more suspicious then another.
I think that in the end, this close focus on performance enhancers for the olympics will turn out to be very beneficial and make the olympics a great event. Unfortunately, because everyone wants an edge on their opponent, some will nonetheless use the illegal drugs and get caught. Hopefully the committee can do their job and catch the perpetrators before they win the race and set new "world records" so we dont have to mark an asterisk next to their accomplishment. (see: Barry Bonds)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2044933/London-2012-Olympics-Cleaners-spy-drugs.html
In these upcoming olympics, the anti-doping committee is going to extreme lengths to ensure, every event is competitive yet fair. They have set up multiple ways of detection, including even getting the domestic cleaners in the areas where the athletes will be staying to keep a keen eye out for anything they deem suspicious. Also, the committee has brought together enough funds to hold at least 5000 drug tests. Those can be distributed however the committee chooses, depending if a certain athlete is more suspicious then another.
I think that in the end, this close focus on performance enhancers for the olympics will turn out to be very beneficial and make the olympics a great event. Unfortunately, because everyone wants an edge on their opponent, some will nonetheless use the illegal drugs and get caught. Hopefully the committee can do their job and catch the perpetrators before they win the race and set new "world records" so we dont have to mark an asterisk next to their accomplishment. (see: Barry Bonds)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2044933/London-2012-Olympics-Cleaners-spy-drugs.html
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