In pictures: Olympic Park visit
This post is more about pictures than words. It's because we've just been on our latest visit to the Olympic Park, and I thought you'd like to see how it's looking. This trip was also a first experience of the venues for many of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's presenters currently working in and , so you'll notice some familiar faces en route.
First, the main stadium. Our bus was able to drive around what will be the field of play - at one point we were trundling along where the 100m final will take place - and it's already an impressive sight from inside. This picture, and others except where stated, is by Mark Bassett for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Ariel newspaper.
The thing a lot of our team picked up on was the closeness of the seats to the action, and for a venue with a capacity of more than 80,000 it's going to be surprisingly intimate. But the park is, of course, about much more than just the main stadium. As a couple of examples, here's the latest state of the Basketball Arena with the emerging Olympic Village in the right of the picture:
And this is a shot by my colleague Dave Gordon, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport's head of major events, of the Velodrome:
As I mentioned, many of the seats on our tour were occupied by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ on-screen talent. Here's having a look at the plans with and the man in charge of getting everything ready on time. You'll spot some other well-known faces in the background:
So this is now one of those faces, Gary Lineker, chatting to the controller of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three, Danny Cohen:
And next up is Huw Edwards, being interviewed himself rather than his more familiar role of asking the questions:
Finally, where will many of our staff end up for much of the Games? Answer: in the International Broadcast Centre - snapped by Dave Gordon, who knows as much about IBCs as any human alive. It's where the broadcasting technology and the incoming feeds from all the venues come together and it's where we'll have our main office. IBCs are never glamorous buildings, and this picture certainly doesn't flatter it!
But there's no doubt about the determination of the people engaged in the biggest building project this country has ever seen - or the surge of energy and excitement we all felt in witnessing the transformation of a derelict industrial wasteland into the place that will be the centre of world attention in just over two years from now.
I'm Roger Mosey, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's director of London 2012. That means I'm overseeing all the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's 2012 preparations including not just sport but the Cultural Olympiad, our Olympic news and information services and everything that will bring the story of the London Games to audiences at home and abroad. I want to share here what we're planning - and debate some of the big issues. You can also follow me on .
Comment number 1.
At 5th May 2010, U14449061 wrote:good morning ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ - Just a word from a Kiwi thanking your team for taking me on a guided tour of the 2012 London Olympics sites. Also most impressed with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Election coverage - looking forward to viewing next 48 hours. -
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Comment number 2.
At 5th May 2010, Brekkie wrote:Not quite sure why the controller of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ3 should be along for the ride, or even Lineker really. I know there are rumoured he'll head up 2012 but considering he hasn't been involved in the Olympic coverage since 1996 I wouldn't like to see him as the main presenter over the likes of John Inverdale.
As for the stadium itself - I really do like the general design, but I'm no fan of those triangular lighting rigs - they're just ruining it for me.
And I assume the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ will get a view over something from the IBC (I'd assume it's built with views of the stadium/cauldron in mind). Do the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ get first pick of the studios?
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Comment number 3.
At 5th May 2010, Roger Mosey - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director, London 2012 wrote:U14449061: kind words appreciated, and best wishes to all Kiwis.
Brekkie: with your proper strictures about the limits of Freeview and the red button, it's surely right that we should be thinking about using a wide mix of linear channels for 2012? (And if you look closely, the person obscured by Bill Turnbull is John Inverdale...)
On studios - we're aiming to be live from all around the Olympic Park, but precise locations aren't decided yet.
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Comment number 4.
At 6th May 2010, Brekkie wrote:Interesting - if the current situation doesn't change by 2012 I'm glad to here ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ3 will be involved.
And though of course you'll be represented inside arenas by presenters and reporters, I'm not sure if hosting from around the Olympic park really adds anything - wasn't really a huge fan of Clare Balding being stuck out in the middle of nowhere in Vancouver.
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should. Doesn't mean you shouldn't either though - perhaps you can plonk your World Cup glass box in the middle of Olympic Park if you want to be amongst the people.
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Comment number 5.
At 6th May 2010, magnificentpolarbear wrote:Roger
Are the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ making some 'behind the scenes' documentaries about the building of the venues and how the games are being organised?
I remember a couple of such programmes for Atlanta in 1996.
It would give people an idea of what a complex task it is just building the venues let alone actually organising and running the games.
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Comment number 6.
At 6th May 2010, Roger Mosey - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director, London 2012 wrote:Magnificentpolarbear - we had a short series called "Building The Olympic Dream" which looked at the initial stages of the Stratford construction. Our thinking now is that we want to do some set-piece live broadcasting from round the site relatively soon so viewers can have a real sense of the scale of the activity and what it's looking like. But you're right that in our reporting and general coverage we need to capture the complexity of the undertaking - because complex it certainly is...
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Comment number 7.
At 8th May 2010, magnificentpolarbear wrote:Roger - Thanks
I missed those. How about a repeat? BUt omsthing that follows construction right through to games operations would be interesting
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Comment number 8.
At 17th May 2010, Roger Mosey - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director, London 2012 wrote:A video of the presenters' tour is now on the LOCOG site:
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Comment number 9.
At 20th May 2010, Godophobe wrote:What global warming?
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Comment number 10.
At 29th May 2010, kma9090 wrote:Even now, only half built the velodrome is starting to look magnificent. I'm Really looking forward to now.
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Comment number 11.
At 23rd Feb 2011, TalS wrote:Very interesting. looking forward for more details:
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Comment number 12.
At 14th Mar 2011, U14813085 wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
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