Beijing is in the process of drawing up contingency plans to lessen its traffic and smog during the 2008 Olympics.
Jiang Xiaoyu, a vice president of the Beijing Olympic organising committee, said that the plans were needed to augment long-term strategies to improve road and air conditions and ensure that the Games were a success.
Lanes on some city roads will be designated for Olympic vehicles only, and cars will also be banned.
Jiang said:
"We're striving to achieve better air quality by the 2008 Games to welcome the athletes and the Olympic family."
Beijing's roads are often clogged with traffic, and a brown haze hangs in the air.
Ironically during the IOC inspectors' visit this week, there was a heavy sandstorm and the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau recorded severely polluted air in the capital.
Hein Verbruggen, the head of the IOC's coordination committee, ignored the pollution and (refering to the venue construction) said:
"You can't think of any other word than stunning."
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Pathetic!
There is one constant associated with the Olympics, that can always be guaranteed, namely that the costs originally budgeted will always be overshot.
It seems that the politicians and construction companies, that get their greedy little snouts into the Olympic trough, are simply not capable of telling the truth when it comes to budgets.
It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that the costs of the London 2012 Olympics are already spiraling out of control.
The British government admitted yesterday that the cost of staging the 2012 Olympics in London will be £500M more than stated in the original bid.
Pathetic!
The cost is now estimated to be around £2BN.
Seemingly the financial "wizards" who put together the budget forgot to allow for inflation from 2004 to 2102.
Again, pathetic!
Liberal Democrat spokesman, Vince Cable, said that it showed "total chaos" at the heart of the project.
Quote:
"How they got into such a complete muddle about an important part of the costing of the Games, why they got this so wrong, is a mystery."
Seemingly the London Olympic Organizing Committee (LOCOG), which is responsible for putting on the Games, were always aware that the costs would go up.
I wonder why they didn't mention it to anyone?
Needless to say, the organisers and politicians who saddled us with this unecessary waste of money are claiming that the extra costs will be covered by ticket sales and marketing rights.
Well they would say that, wouldn't they?
As sure as eggs are eggs, the eventual costs of these games will massively exceed the current estimate of £2BN.
It seems that the politicians and construction companies, that get their greedy little snouts into the Olympic trough, are simply not capable of telling the truth when it comes to budgets.
It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that the costs of the London 2012 Olympics are already spiraling out of control.
The British government admitted yesterday that the cost of staging the 2012 Olympics in London will be £500M more than stated in the original bid.
Pathetic!
The cost is now estimated to be around £2BN.
Seemingly the financial "wizards" who put together the budget forgot to allow for inflation from 2004 to 2102.
Again, pathetic!
Liberal Democrat spokesman, Vince Cable, said that it showed "total chaos" at the heart of the project.
Quote:
"How they got into such a complete muddle about an important part of the costing of the Games, why they got this so wrong, is a mystery."
Seemingly the London Olympic Organizing Committee (LOCOG), which is responsible for putting on the Games, were always aware that the costs would go up.
I wonder why they didn't mention it to anyone?
Needless to say, the organisers and politicians who saddled us with this unecessary waste of money are claiming that the extra costs will be covered by ticket sales and marketing rights.
Well they would say that, wouldn't they?
As sure as eggs are eggs, the eventual costs of these games will massively exceed the current estimate of £2BN.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Olympic War Breaks Out
Politicians are never shy when trying to claim credit for something, and attach their names to what they perceive will be a success; in truth they are seeking a monument to their personal and political ambitions.
The London Olympics in 2012 offers such a monument, and both the Tory and Labour Parties have been working hard to ensure that their names are associated with this event.
The Labour Party, under the guidance of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, exploited the Olympics repeatedly in its local election campaign. She cited the Games in a campaign email, a speech and a party election broadcast.
Needless to say, the voting public were not so easily swayed, after all the Games are costing a small fortune in increased council taxes; Labour received a total "drubbing" in the polls.
Now the Tories are making vociferous complaints about the "betrayal" of the cross-party consensus on the Games, and the use by Labour of the Games for its own ends.
A cynic might observe that is now exactly what the Tories are doing, by making such vociferous complaints.
The London Olympics in 2012 offers such a monument, and both the Tory and Labour Parties have been working hard to ensure that their names are associated with this event.
The Labour Party, under the guidance of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, exploited the Olympics repeatedly in its local election campaign. She cited the Games in a campaign email, a speech and a party election broadcast.
Needless to say, the voting public were not so easily swayed, after all the Games are costing a small fortune in increased council taxes; Labour received a total "drubbing" in the polls.
Now the Tories are making vociferous complaints about the "betrayal" of the cross-party consensus on the Games, and the use by Labour of the Games for its own ends.
A cynic might observe that is now exactly what the Tories are doing, by making such vociferous complaints.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Tight Olympic Timetable
The timetable for the preparations for the London 2012 Olympics is "extremely tight", according to submissions made to the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders for land in Stratfod (the London site of the Games).
David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), said that no building work could begin on the East London Olympic Park until all the land needed is in public control.
Many firms and residents are fighting eviction from the Lower Lea Valley. They fear that they are being ripped off, in the push to acquire the land.
Higgins said:
"There is a considerable amount of work to carry out, let alone work commencing on the major facilities.
The timetable is extremely tight, and for the facilities to be completed for commissioning and test events from mid-2011, the land must be in the control of the LDA (London Development Agency) and the ODA by the summer of 2007 at the latest."
Gareth Blacker, the director of development for the London Development Agency which must get hold of the land, told the inquiry:
"We are still negotiating with the other landowners in the Olympic zone and continuing to try and make agreements with them."
The inquiry will make a recommendation to the trade and industry secretary, who will make a decision on the compulsory purchase orders.
If they are confirmed, the LDA will serve notice on all owners, leaseholders, tenants and occupiers.
I think it fair to say that the political pressure, behind the scenes, will ensure that the Olympic juggernaut rides roughshod over the rights of the individuals who are currently objecting to the purchase orders.
David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), said that no building work could begin on the East London Olympic Park until all the land needed is in public control.
Many firms and residents are fighting eviction from the Lower Lea Valley. They fear that they are being ripped off, in the push to acquire the land.
Higgins said:
"There is a considerable amount of work to carry out, let alone work commencing on the major facilities.
The timetable is extremely tight, and for the facilities to be completed for commissioning and test events from mid-2011, the land must be in the control of the LDA (London Development Agency) and the ODA by the summer of 2007 at the latest."
Gareth Blacker, the director of development for the London Development Agency which must get hold of the land, told the inquiry:
"We are still negotiating with the other landowners in the Olympic zone and continuing to try and make agreements with them."
The inquiry will make a recommendation to the trade and industry secretary, who will make a decision on the compulsory purchase orders.
If they are confirmed, the LDA will serve notice on all owners, leaseholders, tenants and occupiers.
I think it fair to say that the political pressure, behind the scenes, will ensure that the Olympic juggernaut rides roughshod over the rights of the individuals who are currently objecting to the purchase orders.
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