Over 370,000 tickets remain unsold for the Turin Winter Olympics, which begin on February 10th.
That represents over one third of the available tickets.
The Turin organising committee are putting a brave face on it by claiming that, in Italy, everything is done "at the last minute".
Friday, January 20, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Turn or Torino?
It seems that there is some confusion in the media as to precisely where the forthcoming Winter Olympics are being held.
Is it Turin, or Torino?
Turin is the English translation of the Italian word Torino. Therefore, if the English speaking media are to follow standard practice, the word should be Turin.
Someone needs to tell the guys at NBC Sports that it is the shroud of Turin, not the shroud of Torino!
Is it Turin, or Torino?
Turin is the English translation of the Italian word Torino. Therefore, if the English speaking media are to follow standard practice, the word should be Turin.
Someone needs to tell the guys at NBC Sports that it is the shroud of Turin, not the shroud of Torino!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
IT Boom Time
Wherever the Olympic juggernaut trundles, in its wake it leaves a pile of cash for those with the business nounce to feed off.
Britain, which hosts the Olympics in 2012, is expecting a large payoff to its IT industry.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) has a projected budget of £204M for information systems, £63M for telecommunications and £12.5M for internet applications.
The London 'bid book' for the Olympics notes that the IT sector will account for £7.2BN of the £9.9BN of capital investment.
Needless to say, much of this will be spent on security which the British government loves.
It is expected that there will be a big expansion in the number of CCTV cameras in the city, and a move from analogue to digital technology facilitating more automatic analysis of people's behaviour.
I am sure that the government will enjoy putting all of these new "toys" to "good" use after the games!
Britain, which hosts the Olympics in 2012, is expecting a large payoff to its IT industry.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) has a projected budget of £204M for information systems, £63M for telecommunications and £12.5M for internet applications.
The London 'bid book' for the Olympics notes that the IT sector will account for £7.2BN of the £9.9BN of capital investment.
Needless to say, much of this will be spent on security which the British government loves.
It is expected that there will be a big expansion in the number of CCTV cameras in the city, and a move from analogue to digital technology facilitating more automatic analysis of people's behaviour.
I am sure that the government will enjoy putting all of these new "toys" to "good" use after the games!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Greek Lessons
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has promised to provide assistance in every possible way to the Chinese, in order to make 2008 Beijing Olympic Games successful.
Quote:
"I would like to assure you that Greece will assist in every possible way the effort of the Chinese government so that the Games of Beijing will be outstanding in all aspects, and a true reflection of the long history and rich culture of China, as well as its current status as a world political and economic power."
Adding:
"Greece is ready to offer her expertise and know-how whenever this is asked for."
Two Chinese Olympic delegations have already visited Greece, and the Alternate Minister for Culture and Athletics, Ms Petralia, has already visited China twice.
There are some very clear lessons that the Chinese can learn from the Athens Games, namely; cost control, effective planning and budgeting.
None of these were in evidence at the Athens Games, the result being a crippling price tag to the hapless Greek taxpayer of 13BN Euros and a variety of white elephants that no one wishes to use.
Quote:
"I would like to assure you that Greece will assist in every possible way the effort of the Chinese government so that the Games of Beijing will be outstanding in all aspects, and a true reflection of the long history and rich culture of China, as well as its current status as a world political and economic power."
Adding:
"Greece is ready to offer her expertise and know-how whenever this is asked for."
Two Chinese Olympic delegations have already visited Greece, and the Alternate Minister for Culture and Athletics, Ms Petralia, has already visited China twice.
There are some very clear lessons that the Chinese can learn from the Athens Games, namely; cost control, effective planning and budgeting.
None of these were in evidence at the Athens Games, the result being a crippling price tag to the hapless Greek taxpayer of 13BN Euros and a variety of white elephants that no one wishes to use.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Alitalia Threaten Strike
In the true spirit of the Olympics, ie putting money first, Alitalia SpA pilots and flight attendants plan to strike on the eve and the first day of next month's Winter Olympics in Turin.
Needless to say this will cause havoc for arriving fans.
Cabin crews are set to strike for 24 hours on February 10th, the day of the opening ceremony, and pilots are scheduled to stage a four-hour protest the previous day.
The Turin organising committee spokesman, Giuseppe Gattino, said that the situation is being "monitored".
The strike is going ahead, despite the fact that local Turin unions signed an "Olympic Truce" in November. However, an agreement to suspend protests on a national level is still being discussed.
The 24-hour strike by flight attendants was originally scheduled for November 28, but was postponed due to the proximity of another strike.
According to Mauro Rossi, an official with transport union FILT-CGIL:
"It's a dispute that has been going on for a long time, and to postpone the strike we would need something really concrete from Alitalia."
He added that the date wasn't timed to coincide with the Olympics, but was the result of the postponement. Allegedly it would be difficult to postpone the strike again because the Easter holidays begin shortly after the games, and strikes are banned during that period.
Believe that, and you will believe anything!
Needless to say this will cause havoc for arriving fans.
Cabin crews are set to strike for 24 hours on February 10th, the day of the opening ceremony, and pilots are scheduled to stage a four-hour protest the previous day.
The Turin organising committee spokesman, Giuseppe Gattino, said that the situation is being "monitored".
The strike is going ahead, despite the fact that local Turin unions signed an "Olympic Truce" in November. However, an agreement to suspend protests on a national level is still being discussed.
The 24-hour strike by flight attendants was originally scheduled for November 28, but was postponed due to the proximity of another strike.
According to Mauro Rossi, an official with transport union FILT-CGIL:
"It's a dispute that has been going on for a long time, and to postpone the strike we would need something really concrete from Alitalia."
He added that the date wasn't timed to coincide with the Olympics, but was the result of the postponement. Allegedly it would be difficult to postpone the strike again because the Easter holidays begin shortly after the games, and strikes are banned during that period.
Believe that, and you will believe anything!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Poor Ticket Sales For Turin
With only one month to go until the start of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, only half of the one million tickets have been sold.
In theory, organisers hope to eventually sell around 850K tickets. However, expectations of a boost after the Olympic torch began its two-month tour the length and breadth of Italy in early December have not been realised.
The main problem is that there has been little or no publicity in Italy for the Games.
Italy-wide advertising has suffered from cuts in marketing expenses during a series of cash crises over the past year.
In theory, organisers hope to eventually sell around 850K tickets. However, expectations of a boost after the Olympic torch began its two-month tour the length and breadth of Italy in early December have not been realised.
The main problem is that there has been little or no publicity in Italy for the Games.
Italy-wide advertising has suffered from cuts in marketing expenses during a series of cash crises over the past year.
Friday, December 23, 2005
London Won By Accident
It seems that those who seek to guide the behaviour of competitors in the Olympics, are not beyond bouts of sour grapes themselves.
Alex Gilady, an Israeli IOC member and a vice-president of the Olympic broadcasters NBC, has said that he believes that London won the 2012 Olympics because one of his colleagues pressed the wrong button during the vote to decide the 2012 hosts in Singapore in July.
The mistake happened during the third-round vote, and it worked in London's favour.
The "culprit" is believed to be Lambis Nikolaou, the organiser of the Athens Olympics.
It is alleged that he voted for Paris, rather than Madrid, in the third round.
Nikolaou interrupted the count in Singapore to complain that he had not voted, but a count back showed that all eligible members had cast their votes and his protest was rejected.
London won the third round vote, but the margin between Paris and Madrid was just two votes in Paris's favour.
Had the vote been in Madrid's favour, then there would have been a tie. A further vote would have been required to decide who proceeded to face London.
Gilady is quoted as saying:
"In the vote-off all the votes supporting London would go to Madrid because the fear was that Paris had a big chance to win.
Madrid would have won against Paris, coming to the final against London, all the votes from Paris going to support Madrid. Madrid would have won. This is what you call good fortune and good luck."
All rather academic and irrelevant now, isn't it?
Alex Gilady, an Israeli IOC member and a vice-president of the Olympic broadcasters NBC, has said that he believes that London won the 2012 Olympics because one of his colleagues pressed the wrong button during the vote to decide the 2012 hosts in Singapore in July.
The mistake happened during the third-round vote, and it worked in London's favour.
The "culprit" is believed to be Lambis Nikolaou, the organiser of the Athens Olympics.
It is alleged that he voted for Paris, rather than Madrid, in the third round.
Nikolaou interrupted the count in Singapore to complain that he had not voted, but a count back showed that all eligible members had cast their votes and his protest was rejected.
London won the third round vote, but the margin between Paris and Madrid was just two votes in Paris's favour.
Had the vote been in Madrid's favour, then there would have been a tie. A further vote would have been required to decide who proceeded to face London.
Gilady is quoted as saying:
"In the vote-off all the votes supporting London would go to Madrid because the fear was that Paris had a big chance to win.
Madrid would have won against Paris, coming to the final against London, all the votes from Paris going to support Madrid. Madrid would have won. This is what you call good fortune and good luck."
All rather academic and irrelevant now, isn't it?
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Progress On Olympic Site
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, had some success in trying to clear a 500-acre industrial site for the London Olympics in 2012.
Sortex, a Swiss manufacturer of industrial sorting machines, has agreed a compensation package with the London Development Agency (LDA), which handles property deals for the Mayor.
The official announcement, which will be made in 2006, will put pressure on the other 280 businesses to settle with the LDA.
The LDA will pay Sortex to leave its premises at Lower Lea Valley in Stratford, east London; for a plot at Royal Albert Docks near City airport in the Docklands.
The company hopes to complete the move before October 2007.
The LDA recently increased its budget for relocating the businesses to £1BN, after complaints their valuations were too low and there was a scarcity of alternative sites nearby.
Sortex, a Swiss manufacturer of industrial sorting machines, has agreed a compensation package with the London Development Agency (LDA), which handles property deals for the Mayor.
The official announcement, which will be made in 2006, will put pressure on the other 280 businesses to settle with the LDA.
The LDA will pay Sortex to leave its premises at Lower Lea Valley in Stratford, east London; for a plot at Royal Albert Docks near City airport in the Docklands.
The company hopes to complete the move before October 2007.
The LDA recently increased its budget for relocating the businesses to £1BN, after complaints their valuations were too low and there was a scarcity of alternative sites nearby.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Banker Wins Top Olympics Job
Those of you who doubt that the Olympics is desinged to make money, rather than to promote sport, should note the fact that yesterday Paul Deighton was appointed to head the London 2012 Olympics Organising Committee.
He is currently chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs's European business.
Deighton will have responsibility for the running of the Olympics project, and was selected from a broad range of high-calibre applicants.
Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, said that Deighton was "the right person to lead the London Olympic Games organising committee on its mission to produce an outstanding Olympic Games for the athletes and youth of the world in 2012".
Deighton will start in early 2006, and end his 23 year career at Goldman.
He is worth an estimated £100M.
Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, said:
"Paul will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the task of planning and then staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012".
He is currently chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs's European business.
Deighton will have responsibility for the running of the Olympics project, and was selected from a broad range of high-calibre applicants.
Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, said that Deighton was "the right person to lead the London Olympic Games organising committee on its mission to produce an outstanding Olympic Games for the athletes and youth of the world in 2012".
Deighton will start in early 2006, and end his 23 year career at Goldman.
He is worth an estimated £100M.
Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, said:
"Paul will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the task of planning and then staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012".
Monday, December 19, 2005
London 2012 Chief To Be Named
The name of the person who will be responsible for organising the 2012 Olympics in London will be revealed today.
It is reported that a number of candidates have been headhunted to front the London Organising Committee (Locog), the post will pay £300K per annum.
The final interviews were held last week, and the successful candidate will start in the spring.
The CEO will work closely with Lord Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012. The CEO will also have to work with the Olympic Delivery Authority, the organisation responsible for delivering the venues and infrastructure for the games.
It is reported that a number of candidates have been headhunted to front the London Organising Committee (Locog), the post will pay £300K per annum.
The final interviews were held last week, and the successful candidate will start in the spring.
The CEO will work closely with Lord Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012. The CEO will also have to work with the Olympic Delivery Authority, the organisation responsible for delivering the venues and infrastructure for the games.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Piracy Alert
Dan Glickman, the CEO and chairman of Motion Picture Association of America, has urged the Chinese to eradicate on movie piracy and open its markets to additional American films by the time that 2008 Olympics kick off in Beijing.
He was speaking on Tuesday at an industry convention in Beijing.
Quote:
"In 2008, China will be at the center of the world stage, hosting the 29th Olympic Games. It will be a terrific moment of pride for the country. And so I would like to plant this challenge: by 2008, to have more legal than illegal DVDs sold in China, to have more American movies in Chinese theaters and to have more Chinese movies in American theaters."
Motion picture piracy in China costs US studios around $300M a year, according to estimates.
Glickman added:
"It is virtually impossible to find counterfeit Olympics goods in China.
Why?
As one of the Chinese officials said, it is because fakes dilute the value of the logo, the intellectual property upon which the Chinese have invested to finance the games.
The value of that intellectual property is worth protecting for all film producers, everywhere. It's the same value that exists for that independent Chinese filmmaker who was in my office and for all the other filmmakers from around Asia and the world whose collective creative spirit is such a commodity."
Money is a remarkable motivator!
He was speaking on Tuesday at an industry convention in Beijing.
Quote:
"In 2008, China will be at the center of the world stage, hosting the 29th Olympic Games. It will be a terrific moment of pride for the country. And so I would like to plant this challenge: by 2008, to have more legal than illegal DVDs sold in China, to have more American movies in Chinese theaters and to have more Chinese movies in American theaters."
Motion picture piracy in China costs US studios around $300M a year, according to estimates.
Glickman added:
"It is virtually impossible to find counterfeit Olympics goods in China.
Why?
As one of the Chinese officials said, it is because fakes dilute the value of the logo, the intellectual property upon which the Chinese have invested to finance the games.
The value of that intellectual property is worth protecting for all film producers, everywhere. It's the same value that exists for that independent Chinese filmmaker who was in my office and for all the other filmmakers from around Asia and the world whose collective creative spirit is such a commodity."
Money is a remarkable motivator!
Monday, December 12, 2005
40000 Violent Protesters Threaten Winter Olympics
The Turin Winter Olympic Games are at risk from tens of thousands of people protesting against the construction of an Alpine high-speed rail link.
Valentino Castellani, the head of the Italian organising committee for the Winter Games, said:
"We need a truce to save the Olympics."
The majority of the Olympic events are to be staged in Val Di Susa, which is the centre of the protests against a new rail tunnel through the mountains.
Dozens of protesters and police were injured last week. Police said that the number of protesters has risen to 40,000.
The demonstrations began when local residents opposed, on environmental grounds, the 33 mile tunnel.
They claim that the tunnelling, through asbestos and uranium deposits, will cause long term health risks and damage the landscape.
Signor Berlusconi said that the demonstrators had been infiltrated by "at least a thousand subversive hardline anarchists" from Italy and other parts of Europe.
Signor Castellani, the Italian Olympic chief, said:
"I am very worried."
Adding:
"It would take only a handful of violent protesters to disrupt the Games."
Sergio Chiamparino, the Mayor of Turin, said:
"We are dealing with a serious emergency that is becoming more dramatic by the minute."
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, said that he hoped that a solution would be found.
Valentino Castellani, the head of the Italian organising committee for the Winter Games, said:
"We need a truce to save the Olympics."
The majority of the Olympic events are to be staged in Val Di Susa, which is the centre of the protests against a new rail tunnel through the mountains.
Dozens of protesters and police were injured last week. Police said that the number of protesters has risen to 40,000.
The demonstrations began when local residents opposed, on environmental grounds, the 33 mile tunnel.
They claim that the tunnelling, through asbestos and uranium deposits, will cause long term health risks and damage the landscape.
Signor Berlusconi said that the demonstrators had been infiltrated by "at least a thousand subversive hardline anarchists" from Italy and other parts of Europe.
Signor Castellani, the Italian Olympic chief, said:
"I am very worried."
Adding:
"It would take only a handful of violent protesters to disrupt the Games."
Sergio Chiamparino, the Mayor of Turin, said:
"We are dealing with a serious emergency that is becoming more dramatic by the minute."
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, said that he hoped that a solution would be found.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Greece Hands Over Flame
The Olympic flame has been handed over to Italian officials for transport to the Winter Games in Turin, after a ceremony that included actresses dressed as priestesses from ancient Greece.
The ceremony was held on Tuesday in the restored ancient stadium in Athens, where the modern summer Olympics started in 1896.
The flame was handed to Turin organising chief, Valentino Castellani, at a ceremony attended by Greek President Karolos Papoulias and the heads of the Greek and Italian Olympic committees.
The 7,022 mile relay through Italy began yesterday.
The flame will be carried by 10,000 torchbearers, gondolas, a Ferrari sports car and a cavalry regiment.
The final torchbearer, whose name has not been revealed, will light the flame at the opening ceremony in Turin on February 10th.
The ceremony was held on Tuesday in the restored ancient stadium in Athens, where the modern summer Olympics started in 1896.
The flame was handed to Turin organising chief, Valentino Castellani, at a ceremony attended by Greek President Karolos Papoulias and the heads of the Greek and Italian Olympic committees.
The 7,022 mile relay through Italy began yesterday.
The flame will be carried by 10,000 torchbearers, gondolas, a Ferrari sports car and a cavalry regiment.
The final torchbearer, whose name has not been revealed, will light the flame at the opening ceremony in Turin on February 10th.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Over-age
Fifa has decided that men's Olympic football teams will no longer be allowed to field three over-age players.
Argentina won gold at the Athens Games with three over-age players, but for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and London in 2012 all players must be under 23.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said:
"We will ask the Fifa Congress to abolish the three over-age players."
No age restrictions apply for the women's tournament.
Argentina won gold at the Athens Games with three over-age players, but for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and London in 2012 all players must be under 23.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said:
"We will ask the Fifa Congress to abolish the three over-age players."
No age restrictions apply for the women's tournament.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Olympic Threat
Hundreds of paramilitary police have broken up a camp protesting against a high-speed railway through the Italian Alps.
The carabinieri dragged demonstrators from their tents in the village of Venaus and 20 people, including five police officers, were taken to hospital after the clashes.
Locals are also opposed to the planned £10BN rail link between Lyons and Turin. They rushed to the punch up, summoned by church bells and text messages from an anti-train website.
Several factories closed in sympathy strikes yesterday in the Susa Valley at the centre of the protest and in Turin, 40 miles away, while demonstrators blocked motorways and railway lines.
Protesters have pledged to disrupt the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin.
Some of February's Olympic skiing events are due to be held in the valley where the demonstrations are taking place.
The majority of the valley's 60,000 residents, including mayors and priests, are against the tunnel.
The carabinieri dragged demonstrators from their tents in the village of Venaus and 20 people, including five police officers, were taken to hospital after the clashes.
Locals are also opposed to the planned £10BN rail link between Lyons and Turin. They rushed to the punch up, summoned by church bells and text messages from an anti-train website.
Several factories closed in sympathy strikes yesterday in the Susa Valley at the centre of the protest and in Turin, 40 miles away, while demonstrators blocked motorways and railway lines.
Protesters have pledged to disrupt the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin.
Some of February's Olympic skiing events are due to be held in the valley where the demonstrations are taking place.
The majority of the valley's 60,000 residents, including mayors and priests, are against the tunnel.
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