Being a Londoner and a huge sports fan I can’t tell you how excited I am that we are hosting the 2012 Olympic Games. However, 2012 can seem a long way off. I have no doubt Seb Coe and his team will deliver the ‘Greatest Games on Earth’ and leave a real legacy for the next generation but it can be hard to get truly excited about something that is still two and half years away. Well, that was what I thought until last night.
Yesterday as the milky autumn sun set on Docklands’ skyline a few of the Synergy team headed East, to Stratford. In fact none of us had ever been to Stratford before so that was a first in itself. We boarded the official Tour Bus and prepared for our hour long trip around the 2012 Olympic Village.
Our guide was the brilliant Des Blake from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), a very friendly chap with a unique grasp of the English language. His energy, enthusiasm and knowledge of the local area was fantastic. He’d evidently been briefed to cover what each area will look like during the Games and then emphasise that the Park will leave a real legacy for the local commmunity. But with Des you really believed he meant it, in fact you believed he wasn’t just reciting a brief but he genuinely knows that the Games will make a huge difference to the area.
When we arrived at the site entrance, the bus was given a full once over by the security team, each yellow jacket clad team including a Ghurka – Joanna Lumley would be very proud! We then proceeded into the Olympic Park. With the River Lea running through the centre of the site you really begin to feel what it will be like in August 2012 (with the help of the odd animation or two).
2012 Aquatics Centre - September 2009
The velodrome is currently just a big hole but the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre are well under way, infact ahead of schedule. The media centre and Olympic Village, that will house all the athletes, are huge and the scale of this project is really mind blowing. From re-housing thousands of newts and toads, to deconstructing two electricity pylons and moving London’s premier salmon smoker 500 yards, the amount of planning that has made this project happen is just unbelievable.
I have to say I would highly recommend taking the tour. As a Londoner I’m going to feel pretty proud when the Olympics rolls into to town so why not feel part of it now… booking a tour is pretty easy just call 0300 2012 001.
Finally, I have to say that the highlight of the whole tour was when Des Blake announced that the ODA has in fact been training up local residents to take the tour and we had been his first guests. He may not have spoken the Queen’s English but I have to thank Des Blake for really bringing London 2012 to life. Bravo Des!
By Caroline Ayling on September 22nd, 2009
Tags: community, London 2012, Olympic sponsorship consultants, Olympics
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Dear Caroline Ayling,
My name is Des Blake, thank you so much for your kind and positive words on your blog about my first tour.
Do you remember I said I may see you or get touch on 2012 well I am keeping my promise? Please see picture, and today’s date 2012!!!
Please also see below some comment I made to the media.
“I now have a far better out look on life, more positive about things, and local people are always stopping me in the street to chat about the 2012 games! (When I have my 2012 top on or when they see my Olympic badge.
I have always had a dream since a boy to represent the UK in the Olympics, or to be involved in one, I feel by doing this work I have gone along way in achieving this! The pleasure I get from for seeing the smiles and the excitement on the people’s faces and the thanks they give me as they leave the tour bus is incredible!”
Kind Regards,
Des Blake