2012 Olympic Games London

The Olympic Gameswere first celebrated in 776 BC in Olympia (hence the name) in Greece. According to legend, Hercules is the originator of The Olympic Games. Legend says they were created to honor Hercules father, Zeus.

They were celebrated until 393 A.D. Pierre Fridy, Baron de Coubertin, revived the Olympics in their modern form in 1896. The Olympics are a contest of multiple sports and are divided into the Summer and Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympics are a much smaller event than the Summer Games.

In 1896 there were 241 participants from 14 nations. This number grew until there were 11,100 competitors from 202 countries in The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The Olympics are a huge media event. Well over half the world watched the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 (3.8 billion to be exact).

The growth of the Olympics is one of the major problems of the Olympics today. Sponsorships solved financial problems in the 1980's. Today the large number of athletes, media and spectators make it difficult and expensive to host the Olympics. A great amount of infrastructure is needed.

London is to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The games are to be held from 27th July to 12th August 2012, to be followed by the Paralympic Games. An Olympic Village has been proposed to be built with 17,320 beds providing a comfortable and spacious environment for athletes.

There is to be a massive redevelopment of public transport. This includes the expansion of the London Underground's East London Line, upgrades to the Docklands Light Railway and the North London Line, and the new "Javelin" service. The organizers aim to make 90% of venues accessible by at least three forms of public transport and 93% of training facilities to be within 30 minutes of travel of the athletes housing. Park and ride schemes are included among the many plans to decongest traffic. Some concern has been expressed on the logistics of travel outside London.

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will use a mixture of newly built venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities. Some locations are well known such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. The land in the east end of London chosen for the site needs decontamination and major remedial work before it can be fit for the games.

What is going to be involved in the development proposal are compulsory purchases of some businesses. This has caused some amount of angst with businesses not being happy with the compensation offered. With all these logistical issues, it seems the cost for the 2012 London Olympics could rise to nearly four times the figure set out during the bid.

From an initial figure of 2.35 billion pounds, what is being discussed now is a staggering cost of 9 billion pounds. Construction alone could now cost 3.3 billion pounds. 2 billion pounds have been allocated as a contingency fund. Regeneration costs of 1.8 billion and a 1 billion pound VAT bill have also been added to the costs. Security costs have grown to 900 million pounds. The causes for a rise in costs include rise in commodity prices, adjustments to transport figures to reflect 2012 prices and a revised estimate for inflation on construction costs.

Accommodation for the 2012 Olympic Games

Although they are a long way off the 2012 Olympic Games will be upon us before we know it. Those that are planning on making the trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games know all to well, from past Olympic Games, that many people leave it to the last minute and end up having to stay in Hotels out of the city because everything is fully booked. When that happens, you can be sure that you will end up with nothing but problems; a long traveling distance to get to the daily events; and you will also fail to experience the buzz that will be present around London at the time when the event is on.

Lodging 2012 London Olympic Games

Lodging is one option for the 2012 Olympic Games; however it certainly has its disadvantages as well as advantages. On the up side you may be able to stay in a place right next to the city; however lodging usually suggests renting a room on a short term basis from a house that is not usually meant for playing the role of a hotel but has the hospitality not experienced in a hotel. For those reasons your accommodation may be relatively primitive in comparison to other facilities expect in a hotel. On the upside you will be able to live with people who really know the city, and as such they will be able to introduce you to the culture and the essence where you are staying.

Rented accommodation 2012 London Olympic Games

Rented accommodation is one great way to experience the 2012 London Olympic Games. Many people prefer the relaxed nature of living in a home, rather than a hotel, and they also like being able to go to sleep when they like, eat when they like and come home whenever it pleases them. With this option the price may be expensive considering how busy London will be at that time, however it will not be as expensive as a hotel and certainly more enjoyable experiencing a home from home lifestyle..

Guest house London 2012 Olympic Games

Staying at a Guest House for the London Olympic Games could be a great option for you to explore. It is almost certain that all of the available Guest House Accommodation will be used up pretty soon, however getting in early is one way of ensuring that you manage to get your Guest House accommodation at the best price.

Hotel London 2012 Olympic Games

Hotels are going to be more expensive during the London Olympic Games than they are at any other time of the year. That is why, unless you have a large budget, you should be considering other forms of accommodation. However if you have the money, and you enjoy being served hand on foot, then this is the best option for you. If you book now then you might be able to take advantage of early bird offers.

The London Olympics 2012 - A Golden Opportunity for Hoteliers

The 2012 Olympics is to be hosted by London, and poses a great opportunity for hotels and hoteliers, both in the Olympic year and several either side of the event. It is estimated by the government that the Olympics will boost the UK's tourism industry by two billion pounds, although many think it will be more like three billion.
Since the bidding ended and London beat Paris to host the 2012 Olympics, experts have been speculating about the games boosting house prices, the construction industry and tourism. One of the best opportunities is for hoteliers. China's visitors are forecast to grow 20-fold because of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing(100 million by 2020).

The Games is a unique marketing opportunity to re-position Britain as a 'must see' destination. It will also attract other iconic cultural and sporting events to the city, which will further boost various economies.

Lloyds TSB is an official sponsor of the London Olympics and has speculated that the games will boost the British economy by 21b. But a survey conducted by Lloyds TSB of businesses with a turnover of under 500 million has indicated that 66% of hotel and catering firms had not looked into the opportunities provided by the 2012 games.

Businesses are encouraged to market towards emerging tourism markets like China and India to properly capitalise on the potential benefits to be reaped from the Games, and not just for London but also the surrounding areas as visitors are likely to extend their stays and visit other parts of the UK.

Training experts have warned that hospitality and tourist businesses must improve their customer service skills to achieve significant growth during the Olympics. They are urging employers to outline quality standards, provide programmes on ethnic diversity and encourage staff to learn new international languages.

Customer service qualifications are available for committed employers, as Britain is well known as having poor customer service ethic. Others, such as the Jameirah hotel group fear skills shortages as hotels poach top talent from other hotels, and retaining high quality staff.

So plan now and fully capitalise on this great business opportunity. Although the London Games are four years away, Beijing 2008 is bound to galvanise enthusiasm for the next games, and many will book early to avoid disappointment or the possibility of having to find accommodation on the outskirts of London. Advertise to Chinese and Indian holiday makers, and improve your customer service standards!

Green Olympics - London and the Environment in 2012

With talk of China's high rates of pollution dominating headlines in the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it is important to remember that sport and the environment can go hand in hand.

In the last year, the Chinese capital has been the subject of much media scrutiny surrounding its environmental and emissions policy. In 2005, the European Space Agency declared that Beijing contained unnecessarily high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a bi-product of many industrial processes, including thermal power plants. It is poisonous to inhale, and since the revelation, the Chinese government have been accused of endangering sportsmen and spectators with the volume of air pollution that affects the capital.

For the environmentally conscious, it represents a serious concern. Historically, the designation of Olympic host has a symbolic resonance; it has been held by great cities, welcome to community spirit and accepted as representatives of an age old sporting tradition. That is not to deny that Beijing is a great city, but - for environmentalists - it has been difficult to reconcile the tradition and history of the city with a poor environmental and emissions policy.

Many spectators, then, will be watching closely. And they will also be looking to London in 2012, which will be subject to the same media scrutiny.

The Olympic Delivery Authority - the body who are in charge of developing the infrastructure for the London games - have so far acted carefully. David Higgins, the Chief Executive of the ODA, has officially stated that "Ensuring a sustainable approach to building the Games will help ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action, but also as the greenest games to date", championing the connection between the tradition of the event and the importance of a suitable environmental policy.

It is a positive statement, and one that is backed by the 'Towards a One Planet Olympics' initiative, which is the lynch-pin of the London games' environmental policy, and was developed from the WWF/Bioregional's 'One Planet Living', which lists ten main environmental initiatives that can be implemented throughout the world. These can be grouped into three key areas: carbon emission, sustainability, and culture and natural habitats.

The Committee for London 2012 has drawn these into five points: combating climate change, reducing waste, enhancing biodiversity, promoting inclusion, and improving healthy living. These tie in neatly with the original initiative, which targets - as some examples - 'zero carbon' and 'zero waste', sustainable transport and materials, and 'health and happiness'.

In theory, then, the commitment is clear, and the aim is an all encompassing one; to be the first fully sustainable Olympic games. And - as the Beijing Olympics prepares to open - the London bid is already working towards that aim. The ODA announced in January of this year that it is already beating its target of recovering 90% of all demolition waste for recycling and reuse. It has also begun to create new habitats for any wildlife that might be found on Olympic sites, and is recycling complete buildings to be re-assembled away from original Olympic sites.

Certainly, 2012 is a long way away. Beijing comes first, and its environmental policy since the original bid has improved. When the London games come, it will have China as a blueprint, plus another four years of work towards sustainability. If it succeeds in its aim, it might be one of the world's first large demonstrations of a link between tradition and a new 'green-consciousness'. Something to look forward to.

Green Olympics - London and the Environment in 2012

With talk of China's high rates of pollution dominating headlines in the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it is important to remember that sport and the environment can go hand in hand.
In the last year, the Chinese capital has been the subject of much media scrutiny surrounding its environmental and emissions policy. In 2005, the European Space Agency declared that Beijing contained unnecessarily high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a bi-product of many industrial processes, including thermal power plants. It is poisonous to inhale, and since the revelation, the Chinese government have been accused of endangering sportsmen and spectators with the volume of air pollution that affects the capital.

For the environmentally conscious, it represents a serious concern. Historically, the designation of Olympic host has a symbolic resonance; it has been held by great cities, welcome to community spirit and accepted as representatives of an age old sporting tradition. That is not to deny that Beijing is a great city, but - for environmentalists - it has been difficult to reconcile the tradition and history of the city with a poor environmental and emissions policy.
Many spectators, then, will be watching closely. And they will also be looking to London in 2012, which will be subject to the same media scrutiny.

The Olympic Delivery Authority - the body who are in charge of developing the infrastructure for the London games - have so far acted carefully. David Higgins, the Chief Executive of the ODA, has officially stated that "Ensuring a sustainable approach to building the Games will help ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action, but also as the greenest games to date", championing the connection between the tradition of the event and the importance of a suitable environmental policy.

It is a positive statement, and one that is backed by the 'Towards a One Planet Olympics' initiative, which is the lynch-pin of the London games' environmental policy, and was developed from the WWF/Bioregional's 'One Planet Living', which lists ten main environmental initiatives that can be implemented throughout the world. These can be grouped into three key areas: carbon emission, sustainability, and culture and natural habitats.

The Committee for London 2012 has drawn these into five points: combating climate change, reducing waste, enhancing biodiversity, promoting inclusion, and improving healthy living. These tie in neatly with the original initiative, which targets - as some examples - 'zero carbon' and 'zero waste', sustainable transport and materials, and 'health and happiness'.

In theory, then, the commitment is clear, and the aim is an all encompassing one; to be the first fully sustainable Olympic games. And - as the Beijing Olympics prepares to open - the London bid is already working towards that aim. The ODA announced in January of this year that it is already beating its target of recovering 90% of all demolition waste for recycling and reuse. It has also begun to create new habitats for any wildlife that might be found on Olympic sites, and is recycling complete buildings to be re-assembled away from original Olympic sites.

Certainly, 2012 is a long way away. Beijing comes first, and its environmental policy since the original bid has improved. When the London games come, it will have China as a blueprint, plus another four years of work towards sustainability. If it succeeds in its aim, it might be one of the world's first large demonstrations of a link between tradition and a new 'green-consciousness'. Something to look forward to.

Rented London Accommodation Options For The 2012 Olympic Games

In 2012 one of the most important sporting events will be coming to London, the Olympic Games will obviously draw huge numbers of people, all interested in experiencing the event in person and soaking up the incredible atmosphere in the capital. One of the most important aspects of any stay in the capital is the organisation of your accommodation; obviously you need the best options to make your time as enjoyable as possible. Firstly it needs to be within a moderately easy commute of main sporting areas, the ability to easily get to different areas of London will be seriously hindered by the sheer quantity of people prepared to use the transport routes. It is also essential to be staying in a relatively central place to really experience the buzz surrounding the event, the majority of central London will be a hive of activity with a great deal going on including markets and street shows. There are a great deal of options available to anyone looking to stay in the capital during the Olympics in 2012 and the venues of the Olympics will be spread over a vast area, so there will be plenty of different places that you can usefully stay.

It will be very busy during the Olympics in the capital so it will have to be a well prepared stay in the capital, and often there are massive price hikes towards the event and you can end up paying vast sums more than you would have done if you booked and paid in advance.


A brief Guide to the Olympic Venues

The majority of the venues for the Olympics are in central areas surrounding the Thames, the main arena is the 'Olympic Park Stratford', close to Victoria Park. The venue is currently being built and will house the main Olympic stadium, the aquatics centre, the athlete's village and the VeloPark (indoor cycle track). Other areas that will host some of the events include Wimbledon which is hosting the Tennis, Wembley which will be showing the football and the Lords cricket stadium will be staging the archery. Also the Millennium Dome (O2 arena) will be housing the gymnastics and possibly the quirkiest choice is the House Guards Parade, the home of the 'changing of the guards', which will play host to the beach volleyball tournament. There are a variety of venues in different areas of the country so you can enjoy the Olympics without necessarily travelling to London. Some of these venues include Old Trafford (Manchester), St James' Park (Newcastle), Hampden Park (Glasgow) and the Millennium Stadium (Cardiff), which will stage the football tournament. There will also be other areas playing host to specialist events, including Eton Dorney (Berkshire) staging the rowing, canoeing and kayaking and also Weymouth will stage the sailing competition at the National Sailing Academy on the south coast of England.

Hotels in London

For people wishing to stay in some good areas during the Olympics, hotels provide some good options. If you are looking to stay near the Olympic Park in east London then hotels such as the 'Holiday Inn Express Stratford' should comfortably accommodate your needs, as it is a recently built hotel and well known for its quality. There are various other options available within easy commute of Olympic locations including quality hotels in the docklands and the Canary Wharf areas, some of the options in these areas include the 'Hilton Docklands', the 'City Hotel', the 'Travelodge Docklands' and the 'Four Seasons Canary Wharf'. Hotels will certainly be expensive during the Olympics but will offer a useful, adaptable alternative then other forms of accommodation.

Rented Accommodation in London

A great way of experiencing the Olympics is to rent an apartment; many people prefer the relaxed nature of living in a designated home with comfortable living space compared to a hotel. It also affords you the adaptability to choose whether you want to go out for meals or enjoy an evening in or entertain friends, generally a more adaptable option. Often rented accommodation is cheaper than a comparable hotel as there is no service associated with the property and so lowers the overall cost of renting. There are some negatives though with the luxury of room service not being available at rented accommodation amongst other services associated with hotel accommodation.

Other Accommodation in London

There is a variety of cheaper accommodation available in London including various hostels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses available. These are situated throughout London and often in useful places to view and be involved in the Olympic Games; some of these include the 'Piccadilly Backpackers Hotel', the 'Jesmond Dene Hotel' and the 'Belgravia Hotel'. There are various sites that can be used to find and book accommodation throughout London.

2012 Olympic Games London

The Olympic Gameswere first celebrated in 776 BC in Olympia (hence the name) in Greece. According to legend, Hercules is the originator of The Olympic Games. Legend says they were created to honor Hercules father, Zeus.

They were celebrated until 393 A.D. Pierre Fridy, Baron de Coubertin, revived the Olympics in their modern form in 1896. The Olympics are a contest of multiple sports and are divided into the Summer and Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympics are a much smaller event than the Summer Games.

In 1896 there were 241 participants from 14 nations. This number grew until there were 11,100 competitors from 202 countries in The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The Olympics are a huge media event. Well over half the world watched the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 (3.8 billion to be exact).

The growth of the Olympics is one of the major problems of the Olympics today. Sponsorships solved financial problems in the 1980's. Today the large number of athletes, media and spectators make it difficult and expensive to host the Olympics. A great amount of infrastructure is needed.

London is to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The games are to be held from 27th July to 12th August 2012, to be followed by the Paralympic Games. An Olympic Village has been proposed to be built with 17,320 beds providing a comfortable and spacious environment for athletes.

There is to be a massive redevelopment of public transport. This includes the expansion of the London Underground's East London Line, upgrades to the Docklands Light Railway and the North London Line, and the new "Javelin" service. The organizers aim to make 90% of venues accessible by at least three forms of public transport and 93% of training facilities to be within 30 minutes of travel of the athletes housing. Park and ride schemes are included among the many plans to decongest traffic. Some concern has been expressed on the logistics of travel outside London.

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will use a mixture of newly built venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities. Some locations are well known such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. The land in the east end of London chosen for the site needs decontamination and major remedial work before it can be fit for the games.

What is going to be involved in the development proposal are compulsory purchases of some businesses. This has caused some amount of angst with businesses not being happy with the compensation offered. With all these logistical issues, it seems the cost for the 2012 London Olympics could rise to nearly four times the figure set out during the bid.

From an initial figure of 2.35 billion pounds, what is being discussed now is a staggering cost of 9 billion pounds. Construction alone could now cost 3.3 billion pounds. 2 billion pounds have been allocated as a contingency fund. Regeneration costs of 1.8 billion and a 1 billion pound VAT bill have also been added to the costs. Security costs have grown to 900 million pounds. The causes for a rise in costs include rise in commodity prices, adjustments to transport figures to reflect 2012 prices and a revised estimate for inflation on construction costs.

Will the 2012 Olympics fulfill their aim, which is to stage inspirational Games that capture the imagination of young people around the world and leave a lasting legacy? Only time will tell. However, with the effort being put in, we can hope that London 2012 will fly faster, higher, stronger and leave us happy memories of an Olympics well done.