Here's to 2012!
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Today is officially 200 DAYS and counting to the LONDON OLYMPICS!
Read the official press release below, or, see who's put a call out for MEN WITH RHYTHM by heading to the NEWS section and see what we're blogging, and tweeting about on our return to work today!
The invitation is also open to women, and ends at midnight! Read more
London 2012 outlines scale of plans to get Games ready with 200 days to go,
09 Jan 2012.
To mark 200 days-to-go, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today hosted the first Cabinet meeting of 2012 on the Olympic Park and outlined the scale of hosting the two biggest sporting events on the planet this summer.
- Olympic Park to be handed over to LOCOG by ODA, as site hosts first Cabinet meeting of 2012
- New Games-time names confirmed for Olympic Park and public called to “plan your summer”
- Organisers launch online event guide so people across UK can join in local and national celebrations
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “As we kick off 2012, the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee, this is the perfect time for the Cabinet to come together and ensure we are doing absolutely everything we can to make the most of this unique opportunity to showcase all the great things the UK has to offer to the rest of the world. As Ministers visit Olympic venues, businesses, schools and organisations associated with 2012 right across the UK, I want the message to go out loud and clear, from tourism to business, sport to investment, we are determined to maximise the benefits of 2012 for the whole country.”
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said: “The handover of the Olympic Park sounds the starting pistol in the race to get the site and venues ready to host the two biggest sporting events on the planet. In just 200 days time, 200 countries – more than the membership of the United Nations – will be sending 15,000 athletes and 20,000 accredited media to London to create history. There is huge excitement ahead and we want the whole country to start planning their summer.”
Dennis Hone, ODA Chief Executive, said: “We are in fine form ahead of the Games, having built the venues and main infrastructure on time and within budget. We hand the Olympic Park to the Organising Committee fully confident that they will continue pressing ahead on their preparations so that London 2012 becomes a brilliant once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience for everyone involved. As we move ahead into the final straight we will continue to work alongside the organising Committee in completing our remaining construction work.”
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has now completed the main structures on the Olympic Park and will officially hand the site over to LOCOG to begin transforming it into a fully-operational Olympic and Paralympic Park. The Olympic Park now becomes a live operational site with LOCOG ramping-up work to fit-out venues, and staging testing and licensing events. The huge logistics challenges ahead of the Games include:
- Taking over the Olympic Park which becomes a live operational site with ‘overlay’ works, and testing and licensing events taking place throughout
- The fit-out of 9 competition venues on the Olympic Park to world-class standards including all temporary ‘overlay’ such as timing and scoring equipment
- Sourcing a million pieces of sport equipment such as 510 hurdles for athletics, 600 basketballs, 356 pairs of boxing gloves & 12 pairs of goalposts for Handball
- Getting the Olympic Park and venues ready to host 15,000 athletes and over 20,000 accredited media from 200 countries
- The construction of 100,000 square feet of Games-time retail space including a 40,000ft2 Mega Store – the flagship and largest London 2012 shop
- Building 11 sponsor showcase areas which will provide unique spectator experiences, many of which are large buildings or structures
- The creation of functional spectator areas within the Olympic Park including installing over 1,000 picnic benches, 362 toilet blocks, and 165 concessions
- Installing ticket box offices, information booths and programme sale points
- Installing the ‘look and feel’ of the Games throughout the venues and Park
- Installing almost 4,000 waste bins including recycling and composting bins throughout the venues and Park
- Set-up back-of-house facilities including 273 temporary buildings, cleaning and waste compounds, equipment rooms and workforce areas including 7 canteens
Alongside the huge amount of transformation work taking place in the coming months, the Olympic Park will also host a large number of pre-Games events for elite athletes, schools and members of the public alike, including:
- From February, 11 test events in Olympic Park venues including Olympic qualifiers, two World Cups, British Championships and a series of international invitational events - before the Games even begin, over 4,000 athletes will compete at the Olympic Park
- A series of community and public events will also be hosted in Olympic Park venues including the National Lottery Fun Run, the School Games and the Gold Challenge in the Olympic Stadium which will involve over 40,000 participants and tens of thousands of spectators
- During the first weekend in May, five venues and all the common areas of the Olympic Park will be in used with 80,000 visitors expected to the Park on Saturday 5th May alone
- Outside of the Olympic Park, the London 2012 Festival will bring over 1,000 different events to the UK, and the Olympic Torch Relay will see 8,000 people carry the Olympic Flame within ten miles of 95 percent of people in the UK
The London 2012 'Join In' event listing, launched today, is an Olympic and Paralympic first and will store all of the events that are connected to the Games, meaning millions of people around the country will be able to ‘Join In’ the celebrations simply by going to www.london2012.com/joinin and see what’s happening in their local communities. The event listings will unite all strands of celebration; from the London 2012 Local Leaders, Inspire celebrations, Festival, Olympic and Paralympic Torch relays, events staged as part of Mayor of London Presents, through to events which Sponsors of London 2012 will stage for the UK public.
LOCOG has also today announced that Birmingham Airport will host a London 2012 ‘welcome spectacular’ to give athletes and fans flying into the region a special Midlands welcome. On approach to the airport, passengers will see the five giant Olympic Rings on the airport’s new air traffic control tower, which can also be seen from the main road into Birmingham. The airport will also feature the London 2012 pictograms along the taxiway, and will use London 2012 branding to cover Diamond House opposite the terminal.
As part of the 200 days-to-go countdown, LOCOG also released details of new Games-time naming for selected venues and spectator areas in the Olympic Park. The naming will help create consistent signage and ‘wayfinding’ for spectators, aiding crowd flows and helping spectators navigate the 500-acre Olympic Park site. New naming includes:
- Riverbank Arena (Formerly Hockey Centre). The venue hosts Hockey events in the Olympic Games along with Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football. The new name reflects the venue’s location next to the River Lea in the Olympic Park.
- Copper Box (Formerly Handball Arena). The venue hosts Olympic Handball and the Fencing discipline of the Modern Pentathlon, then by Goalball during the Paralympic Games. The new name reflects the venue’s boxed-shape and distinct copper cladding, helping create a visual reference for spectators travelling to the venue.
- Stratford Walk (Formerly F10 / Aquatics Centre bridge). This huge 250m-long land bridge forms the main ‘Gateway to the Games’ taking spectators from Stratford City across the Aquatics Centre and towards the Olympic Stadium. Stratford Walk is expected to carry two-thirds of people visiting the Olympic Park, and will be joined by three other main spectator entrances - ‘Greenway Walk’ in the south of the Olympic Park; ‘Eton Manor Walk’ in the north; and ‘Victoria Walk’ in the west.
- London Way. The main circulation route for spectators and central ‘spine’ of the Olympic Park, running north-to-south through the middle of the site. It will be the only 'London Way' within London.
- Orbit Circus. Located around The Orbit, the 115m high visitor attraction in the south of the Olympic Park between the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre, this spectator area takes the typically London reference to ‘Circus’ meaning a central area where a number of different spaces converge.
- Ends -
MEN WANTED TO PERFORM at the OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES ... REGISTER here. Closes at midnight!
Follow the link to see what we're blogging about, 200 days before the Olympics, and for your chance to register to perform at the opening ceremonies.
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WEEK
14th - 19th November, 2011
Want to know more about the power of the internet in the world of business ... then look no further than this event, at Excel, London!
From the Entrepreneur's Festival (14th-19th) leading up to the main event: TechWorld's Exhibition, to the Conference with some sixty speakers presenting over the two days, concluded with daily plenary's, to the opening addresses on each day by Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries in the UK Ed Vaizey, and Business Secretary Vince Cable (respectively).
These events combined have it all. A simple, yet fantastic concept. Covering all the real requirements for entrepreneurs to develop their ideas with expert advice and support on hand, to enable start up's to quickly and accurately advance into successful businesses, and makes GMI's front page, as we begin showcasing
© iGMI! The company's digital arm which will be announced during Business Enterprise Week. Those that can't wait to find out more, can scroll to the end of this article for a sneak peak!
Ever wanted to have a 'One to One' with industry experts to simply ask "How do I ...?"
Would you like to hear success stories from industry leaders and learn how to avoid the mistakes they made along the way?
Do you dream of meeting the movers and shakers from Silicon Valley with a sound idea for investment!?
If you're ready to turn fantasies into reality then get your pitch perfect, as they're all possible this Business Enterprise Week. You can register to have a conversation with a selection of industry specialists at TechWorld, or sign up to the Investors Soiree in one of London's most dynamic venues, in the heart of London's Dockland's.
The Entrepreneur's festival is in essence a boot-camp where five hundred of the best start up's, businesses and individuals will gather for a week from around the world. Designed to put one on the fast track with the right advice, directives and support the festival is run by business champions from Europe's answer to Silicon Valley.
Successful applicants will be based at Tech City and taken through a robust itinerary aimed at providing the essential tools and solutions needed to turn ideas into thriving business initiatives.
Entry to the Entrepreneur's Festival boot-camp is gained by e-submission of your idea, or company introduction.
This is followed up with an interview over the phone.
On the final day of boot camp the best entrepreneur's from the week will be given the opportunity to present their ideas to an audience, of the leading investors in Europe, and America!
TechWorld takes place as part of Global Entrepreneur Week
Here the organiser's: Youth Business International express their aspirations for this year's event:
"We want to create a national conversation about entrepreneurship which will help to connect people, share ideas and address regional issues to drive the next generation of business owners.
Global Entrepreneurship Week will make it easier to turn those conversations into action - so be part of the discussion and run an event to help the businesses of tomorrow."
Entry to the TechWorld 2011 Exhibition is free to visitors.
The exhibition is held in partnership with UK Trade & Investment and takes place from the 16th - 17th at Excel, London, easily accessible by Dockland's Light Railway (DLR).
These events are open to business throughout the duration. Taking place over four days, the finale, or in this case, the icing on the cake, is an evening of networking with industry giants keen to invest in tomorrow's success stories to be held at the East Winter Garden, in London's Dockland's.
For more information, to schedule your one to one meetings, and for conference bookings, or for more information --- do the honours!
Coming soon ... What's Your Story!?
© iGMI! want to hear, see or read them. Watch this space to learn about the opportunity that's turning your stories into money-making ventures.
C
These events are open to business throughout the duration. Taking place over four days, the finale, or in this case, the icing on the cake, is an evening of networking with industry giants keen to invest in tomorrow's success stories to be held at the East Winter Garden, in London's Dockland's.
For more information, to schedule your one to one meetings, and for conference bookings, or for more information --- do the honours!
Coming soon ... What's Your Story!?
© iGMI! want to hear, see or read them. Watch this space to learn about the opportunity that's turning your stories into money-making ventures.
C
This September the 'GARRICK THEATRE' in the heart of London's Theatreland, presents a tribute to some of the worlds's sassiest female legends since the sixties, and you can be there with 'GMI' for a fraction of the cost! Enter "GMIDiva" when booking to bag yourself a discount!
From Aretha Franklyn, Diana Ross and Dusty Springfield, to Dolly Parton. Alicia Keyes, Christina Aguilera, and Beyonce to Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey and host of others that will have you 'dancing in your seats!'
| Hot off the set of 'Thriller', director 'Adrian Grant' has collaborated with some of the greatest names in the industry to bring you this feet stomping, finger popping, voice breaking production ideal for three weeks of 'Ladies night's' out!
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