Category: Transport

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London2012: Doctor gets closure at Olympic Games

Flags outside the Basketball Arena, Olympic Park. Copyright the author 2012

A 7/7 doctor says they now have closure after the 7/7 bombings 7 years earlier. That’s really good to hear.

Dr Hartle, one of 70,000 Games Makers volunteering in London, said: “We had just won the Games and the only thing people were talking about during the first hour of work that day was the Olympics. Most of us were pretty cynical. What was the impact going to be on those who lived and worked in London?”

He added: “Then, as you all know, the day turned out to be about something completely different, with the terrorist attack on London. I was there and I did my job. It wasn’t the job we planned to do that day, but we did it, and we did it well.

This is similar to my own journey, except I never had the trauma of the bombings as a medical expert.

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London2012: London Bomb Victim is Chosen for Parlympic Games

Martine Wright, a former marketing manager, is now on Britain’s women’s sitting volleyball team.

I know I’ve written on this before, then it is dear to my heart. Martine Wright, who lost both legs in the 7/7 London Bombings has definitely been named for the Paralympics Volley ball team for London2012. That has to be the most wonderful recovery story ever and I’m so pleased for her.

The only sad thing is that LOCOG charged the British taxpayers (via the London Mayor) who invited all victims and families of the 7/7 events to the Games for free. It now turns out LOCOG want the money to do so! Shameful stuff LOCOG. Rethink that one!

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London2012: Games Come In Under Budget. Hmm Let Me Think…

So Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary tells us the Games are under budget and LOCOG are to hand back nearly £500 million pounds. It’s taxpayers’ money so that is quite right. However, since there is so much cash still in the kitty maybe a rethink on travel arrangements and/or accommodation for Gamesmakers could be re-addressed before you hand anything back. 70,000 volunteers are giving up their free time, and 70,000 of them are more than happy to do so, but there are some that are working late into the evening and the next day. There are also many that will have to get up before dawn to get to their venue in time for the start of their shifts.

So LOCOG before you hand back that money think about giving priority to these particular Gamesmakers and provide them with special transport and/or accommodation in London. It makes good sense for a smoother, better Games. After all, the vast majority of Gamesmakers are taxpayer too!

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London2012: Gamesmaker Drivers – Big Brother May Be Trailing You!

The fleet of luxury BMWs that will chauffeur officials around London during the Olympics has been pictured on the city's streets for the first time

The coaches and VIP vehicles are being fitted with state-of-the-art technology to monitor vehicle systems and driving patterns for the Olympic vehicle fleets. Both coaches and other vehicles being utilised at London2012 are fitted with TraffiSafe and TraffiMech from Traffilog, a major provider in the systems market dedicated to driver analysis, skills and safety. Gamesmakers, you may be being logged throughout your shifts. Drive safely!!!

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London2012: Shame on LOCOG Charging for 7/7 Bomb Victims and Families to watch The Games

Attack: This bus was destroyed by a bomber in Tavistock Square, London in 2005

It’s a bad start to the day when the news is of LOCOG charging for the ‘free’ tickets for survivors and the families of the victims of the July 7th bombings in 2005. OK so they are not charging the people themselves, but they are charging the taxpayer £221,000 according to the Mail report.

 

It seems a callous act to HD to even think of getting money back for the free tickets that the London mayor had promised them.

 

‘The GLA offered tickets to the families of the 52 people killed in the attacks and to 91 others who sustained ‘serious injuries’.  This was particularly poignant because the attacks on July 7, 2005, happened the day after the capital won its bid to host the Games…’

As a taxpayer, I am happy to foot this bill. If you have read from the start of HD’s journey you will know that the London bombings were the reason why he is a GAMESMAKER today. If I and 70000 others can do this for nothing (and may I add a lot of additional traveling costs as well) then an organization as big as LOCOG could forget their ticket receipts on this occasion. Shame on LOCOG’s men in suits and their innate greed!!!

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London2012: New Zealand Olympic Committee Sends Heathrow Scouting Party!

It’s started then. The jibes about the country’s airports that is. This Olympic Committee member was quick off the mark to condemn Heathrow’s immigration control:

‘A member of the International Olympic Committee today branded Heathrow airport a “nightmare” after enduring a two-hour wait at immigration.

Former New Zealand Olympic windsurf champion Barbara Kendall, a veteran of five Olympics, became the first member of the IOC to openly criticise the embattled airport….’

Only Two hours! Try going to the Canary Islands mate!!!

There’s NO GAMESMAKERS on duty yet!

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London2012: New Meaning to a Green Olympic Games

Tracked: Traffic controllers watched the convoy of IOC delegates and ensured they did not hit a red light, it is claimed

Looks like the powers that be will have their work cut out to keep those ‘Beamas’ moving across the capital. However, they have had plenty of practice apparently! Transport Gamesmakers you are so lucky! Never happens when HD negotiates the London streets.

 

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