Olympics

Originally it was trumpeted that the Olympic Site would derive most of it’s power from it’s own Wind Turbine!

The ODA (The Olympic Delivery Authority) said the turbine would be a visible symbol to its commitment to staging the most sustainable Olympic Games ever. Problem is that they decided it was too dangerous and cancelled it!

One wonders what the carbon footprint of all these executives travelling around the world for meetings and conferences is before you take into account the IOC and the athletes. Whilst the man on the Clapham Omnibus is told to holiday at home, the great and the good enjoy the gravy train of world travel. And who pays? We do! A world gone mad? I have no objection to these people jollying around the world as long as the Great British Taxpayer isn’t footing the bill. I do object to being forced to accept Wind Farms to alledgedly save a negligable amount of CO2 for the greater good of the population; obviously they are referring to the city dwellers that don’t have windfarms rather than the rural minority; whilst the great and the good enjoy first class worldwide travel. All at our expense. Hypocritical is the word that comes to mind!

Mr Higgins of the ODA said that new health and safety measures had meant the original design of an Olympic site wind turbine was no longer viable and the preferred bidder had pulled out. No other contractors had come forward.

Eton Manor will host temporary pools for Olympic swimming and venues for Paralympic archery and tennis tournaments.

Delays have dogged the turbine project since it was unveiled in October 2006. Planning permission was granted in 2007 but safety tests have put back building work by two years and it is not due for completion until next year.

There were concerns that ice could form on the 131ft-long blades and pose a danger to the public. But the ODA said in a statement: “The risk of ice formation on the turbine blades is extremely low.” Bit of an understatement during the summer period when the games are due to take place.

 An alternative was suggested at Weymouth. Unfortunately it was turned down by planning. So much for the Carbon free ambitions of the Olympic Committee.

Seems like one rule for London and another for the rest of us. As far as being green, it may not be for all the Politicians and Olympic Committee. A noticeable
fact is the removal of all overhead cables in the area around the Olympic Site. They can’t afford to do it for Beauly-Denny or in Wales but for London there is no problem!

The 2012 Games was also originally touted as being car-free, but in reality this will be far from the case. While spectators will arrive by public transport, there will be lane closures across the capital to enable athletes (?) and officials quick and easy access to venues.

The Olympic Route Network will link all competition venues and other key places such as accommodation. Up to 3,000 chauffeur-driven carswill be needed for the purpose.

London’s ambition to hold the first car-free Olympics in 2012 is being undermined by the International Olympic Committee’s demand for more than 3,000 chauffeur-driven cars for dignitaries, officials and corporate sponsors.

These cars will have access to a network of dedicated lanes, which will be closed to other traffic for up to two months.

Those whom the IOC insists need cars, in addition to receiving free access to public transport, include the 110 IOC members, 400 presidents and secretary-generals from the Olympic committees of the 200 competing nations and 450 senior executives from corporate sponsors. None of the 10,500 athletes will have access to the 3,145 cars and will instead travel on a dedicated fleet of coaches.

The eight million spectators will not be able to travel by car because the Games venues will have only a small number of disabled parking spaces.

The London 2012 Organising Committee confirmed that the coach service would operate every few minutes between the hotels where the VIPs were staying and the venues but that it would be powerless to make them use it.

The requirement for a fleet of VIP cars is part of the IOC’s contract with London. The contract is being kept secret at the insistence of the IOC. Members of the London Assembly have asked for an explanation of why so many cars are needed and to see the details of the contract. They have been told that they can read the contract, but only after signing a legal agreement not to divulge the contents. BMW has been awarded the contract so a great benefit for UK Plc? Even the bicycles provided as part of the contract are electric. Wonder where the electricity to charge them will come from. Either French Nuclear or fossil fuel?

Another level of Idiocy. 3000 traffic lights are all having sensors fitted to mean they change to green for all the IOC Members. Even, as far as we know, Tony Blair never had that! Certainly the Queen has no such luxuries. Just imagine the chaos for all the unfortunate Londoners that have to go about their everday business. Perhaps it might be best to chose that fortnight to go away on holiday. Are we going to now see the Olympics Committee buy Gaddafi’s personal jet to fly all the great and the good of international Olympic sports around the UK?

At the same time a virtual No-Fly zone will be in force over Greater London with very strict conditions. For a whole two months, the Olympics only go on for two weeks, all private flying will be restricted to such an extent that small training schools at airfields, small charter and helicopter operations will effectively be closed down with no compensation (Lord Attlee-House of Lords) For many, this will be the final straw after several difficult years and at their busiest time of the year with the longest daylight hours. Not a designation of National Air Traffic Service or the CAA, but a Diktat of the Home Office and Security Services. The full details are draconian and have been put forward with no consultation with the aviation industry. This sounds frightenly familiar. However a vicious backlash from both the General Aviation Industry and other air operators have forced the government to re-think their options. Present plans are supposed to be workable but they have yet to be approved by the Home Office. Military and Civil interests will be divergent and it will be interesting how things work out in practice. The big problem is likely to be the requirement of all flights to file flight plans, although common sense has now realised that balloons are not actually controllable. What bright civil servant ever thought they were?? The requirements for flying school operations seem a little haphazard and one suspects that they may well fall over in action. An airfield manager or Air Traffic Controller is required to liase with a military controller for all circuit flights and any off circuit training must fight plan out of the restricted area and back in.  Anyone missing their slot time will have to land away. If everyone was perfect, fine, but we do not live in a perfect world. All aircraft must have transponders installed. Not normally a legal requirement. An expensive provision for a short time although perhaps a wise provision in congested air space. Essentially a lot of people were going to lose their businesses and jobs as collateral damage from an event that has more to do with a few politicians ambitions than any benefit to the country. Proposed Airspace restictions.