Archives for January 2010

WORKERS on the 2012 Olympic site in East London have been invited to ‘down tools’ and improve their computer skills. They are getting the chance to sign up to free IT courses at the new Community & Trade Union Learning Centre opened in nearby Pudding Mill Lane in Stratford last week.

The centre for Olympics site workers and for the East End community offers courses in literacy, numeracy and computer skills as well as how to write reports and job applications.

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In what's sure to be a popular idea, Britain's Kent Police Department wants to use unmanned aerial vehicles to keep tabs on the massive crowds during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Now, before you start thinking that Ministries and doublethink are soon to follow, Olympic games mean a large influx of people to keep track of, and that means spreading security pretty thin.

Evidently UAV monitoring already has a precedent in Britain through the South Coast Partnership, which uses UAVs to patrol the country's southern coast. UAVs aren't yet cleared to fly the skies over London with other manned aircraft, however.

But when there's a suggestion of some money to be made, they are suddenly keen to cosy up. Councillors in Pas-de-Calais, northwestern France, are seeking to cash in on the London Olympics by rebranding their region "part of Britain". The ploy has helped them land contracts with a string of foreign teams to train there ahead of the 2012 Games.

Boulogne and Calais – long the British tourist's first cross-Channel ports of call –now claim that the Britain no longer stops at the white cliffs of Dover. "I consider that we are the south of England, and because we're the south of England it's normal that we would associate ourselves with this extraordinary event," said Dominique Dupilet, head of the Pas-de-Calais' county council.

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Minister of state for culture and tourism Margaret Hodge will give a presentation on key achievements to date related to the Olympics at the event, which is being held at the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, and showcases the tourism potential of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Other speakers include Visit Britain marketing director Laurence Bresh and Visit London marketing director Martine Ainsworth-Wells, who will talk about brand and tactical marketing.

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Veteran British actor STEPHEN FRY is supporting the London Olympic Games in 2012 - he's in talks to boost the event with a role in its publicity campaign. The funnyman has been invited on a tour of the Olympic Village in the British capital while he negotiates his role. Event organisers are reportedly considering giving Fry an ambassador position, or making him the 'official voice' of the Games, according to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper. Fry says, "I have been asked to have a meeting with the Olympics people. I am really behind it."A spokesperson for the London Olympics adds, "Stephen has been very supportive. We would love to have him involved."

He's known more for his intellectual capacity and dry wit than his sporting prowess. But Stephen Fry is being lined up as the voice of the London Olympics. The comedian and broadcaster is in talks with organisers to help boost the profile of the event.

It is understood he has been invited for a tour of the Olympic Village in Stratford, East London before negotiations about his role begin. One suggestion is he could be an ' ambassador', featuring in adverts to encourage people to visit the 2012 Games. Another idea is to make him the 'official voice' of the event.

Fry confirmed: 'I have been asked to have a meeting with the Olympics people. I am a supporter of it and I am really behind it.'The 52-year-old has seen his profile soar in recent years after appearing on BBC1 quiz QI and ITV's popular Sunday night drama Kingdom.

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Sebastian Coe will bid to become president of the International Association of Athletics Federations next year, 11 months before he completes his role as chief organiser of the 2012 London Olympics.

Friends say he has been persuaded by prompting from several major European countries to offer himself to succeed Lamine Diack when elections are held before the world athletics championships in 2011.

An extra job before the Games, even though unpaid, might be seen as a distraction at a crucial time and Coe’s fellow stakeholders in the Olympics organising committee (LOCOG), the Government and London Mayor Boris Johnson may be surprised and concerned.

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Speedskating medallist Susan Auch hoisted the torch in the Olympic Oval on the second day of the flame's three-day journey through Calgary. Thousands of cheering fans gathered at the oval for the Tuesday morning event, hosted by another Olympic medallist, Catriona Le May Doan.

Several people skated the torch around the oval, including Auch, whose three Olympic medals include a bronze at the 1988 Games in Calgary, and promising teenage short-track speedskater Kyle Yoshida. The Canadian Olympic speedskating team also did laps around the oval, waving to the enthusiastic crowd. After the torch left the oval, there was a free public skate with Le May Doan.

Japan's multi Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima has signaled his intent to swim at the 2012 London Olympics, describing the Games as his "last target," local media reported Tuesday. The 27-year-old considered retirement after successfully defending his 100 and 200-meter breaststroke titles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, he returned to competition late last year, ending a 15-month hiatus. "To take on the challenge of the Olympics again, I need to gradually improve my condition," Asia's most decorated swimmer told Japanese media after a race in Long Beach, California.

"That (competing in London) will probably be my final target."Kitajima added: "I want to race at the Olympics again if possible. The Winter Olympics are being held in Vancouver this year and that will give me more motivation."Kitajima moved to Los Angeles in April to train under U.S. Olympics coach Dave Salo.

YOUNG people in Essex are being given the opportunity to participate in Personal Best, a unique national training and volunteering programme linked to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The Personal Best programme is funded by Essex County Council, the only local authority in the country to be financing the programme, and will be delivered by SEEVIC College at venues in Basildon, Colchester and Braintree from February 2010.

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