Looking Ahead: The 2012 Olympics and General Election

Even the snow can’t keep down construction dust and political rumor

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BRITAIN USHERED in the New Year with a widespread disruption in people’s travel plans. Torrential rains and flooding in November gave way to heavy snows the weekend before Christmas. Heathrow and Manchester airports were closed for spells, and every commercial British airport faced weather delays and interruptions.
Trains were similarly affected. Melting snow on railcars caused electrical malfunctions leading to Eurostar services to the Continent being halted for three days (which in itself stranded 100,000 people). Worst of all, snows led to shortages in the Brussels sprouts crop for the Christmas dinner table. The Arctic chill and winter snows of one of the coldest Decembers on record continued well into January.
As if to add insult to injury, Parliament managed to stage a New Year’s Eve party for itself that, in the face of the expenses scandal and the unemployment rate, boggled the mind of the average Brit. For the spectacular end-of-decade fireworks display at the London Eye, MPs reserved for themselves and guests the riverside terrace at the Houses of Parliament. For a measly and subsidized 10 quid, MPs quaffed champagne and canapés at their private celebration.
The summer Olympics of 2012 are still more than two years away. Here in the States, we are hardly aware that they are coming. Two years seems like a long time. These are the London Olympics, though, being staged, held, played and politicked July 27 to August 12, 2012, on one of the world’s great stages, London itself.
In London and across Southern England, the 2012 Olympics are very much a present reality. Scarcely a day passes without the Olympics being in the news. Eastern London is a massive construction zone where the Olympic Village and Olympic Stadium are being purpose-built for the festivities. Venues for the 26 sports contested range not only across London but to the Home Counties and beyond. All the construction progress at these venues is carefully and popularly monitored. Games preparation is actively underway in such areas as sustainability, medical services and press operations.

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Revelers filled the piazza in front of Buckingham Palace during the official handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London. Preparations are feverishly underway, and seemingly inevitably over cost.[/caption]

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COURTESY OF LONDON 2012

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COURTESY OF LONDON 2012

Though the Aquatic Centre and the Olympic Stadium are still rising from the vast construction sites in East London, artistic renditions of the completed venues reflect the aspiration and promise of 2012.[/caption]

In addition to the physical and organizational preparation of the London 2012 Organizing Committee, the city and Westminster as well have thrown themselves into London’s great moment to show itself to the world. Infrastructure improvements in the London Transport and rail system are timed to be flowing freely for the summer of 2012. The transport system just to move the 17,500 athletes, coaches and trainers, plus Olympic officials and judges, press and such is a mammoth undertaking.
If center stage for the games is the under-construction Olympic Park and Stadium in Stratford, East London, there are other contenders for the spotlight. The All-England Club at Wimbledon hosts tennis events, and Wembley Stadium itself is a football venue. At Lord’s Cricket Ground, they’ll hold archery. Cricket isn’t among the 26 sanctioned sports. Volleyball is to be staged at Earl’s Court; beach volleyball at Royal Horseguard Parade.

Road cycling events will end in front of grandstands mounted in Regent’s Park. The O2 arena in Greenwich hosts gymnastics in front of 16,500 fans. Even Hyde Park has been pressed into service. The outdoor swimming events, 10km open water and triathlon, will be held at the Serpentine Swimming Club.
Not all venues are final, nor have they all been popularly received locally. The equestrian events are scheduled to be held in Greenwich Park. A vocal group of Greenwich folk (including British Heritage’s own Sandra Lawrence), would rather they didn’t. Stay tuned for further developments.
Still, the International Olympic Committee is pleased with progress on the games. The IOC’s Coordination Commission pays regular visits to keep an eye on preparations. Commission Chairman Denis Oswald pronounced after recent meetings: “We have been greatly impressed by the good progress that London 2012 has made in moving from planning to operational delivery. Seeing the transformation that has taken place in the Lower Lea Valley (Stratford) is nothing short of astounding, and this area will be a great legacy for the people of London and Great Britain.”
In addition to the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium where athletics will be contested, an aquatics center under construction will seat 17,500 for swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and modern pentathlon. A 12,000-seat basketball arena is in the works as well—this designed to be just a temporary venue. Basketball championships are scheduled for the larger O2 arena in Greenwich. A handball arena, hockey center and velopark are all in the works as well.
Further afield, Olympic soccer matches will be played across the country, from Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium to Manchester’s Old Trafford. And down in Weymouth, the Olympic sailing events will fill Portland Harbor.
I mentioned to British Heritage readers last summer that Weymouth is a secret option for those folk who would like to see Olympic action without the expense and hassle of London. All the sailing and yachting contests in Weymouth are unticketed events. Everyone is free to watch events along the Portland Harbor waterfront. Just saunter down to the beautiful Dorset countryside and pack a picnic lunch.
Officialdom isn’t the only realm planning ahead for London 2012. The tourism industry is gearing up as well. It is not too early to be making plans for traveling to the 2012 games—for those so inclined. If you would like to be there for the 2012 Olympics in London, start planning now yourself.
Research the components of independent travel, including air, ground transportation, accommodation and Olympic game tickets. There won’t be a London hotel room available for months, perhaps a year, ahead of time.
Take a look at packages that will increasingly emerge offering Olympic travel. As always, package tours will offer the best price advantage—for those who book early. What you sacrifice in freedom and flexibility, you make up in genuine cost savings.
The city will be a something of a madhouse during the games themselves. A festive atmosphere will permeate the whole metropolis. Getting around in central London, however, and getting easy seats at any restaurant or café will be cumbersome; even a quick pint at the pub will be a real challenge. As long as you are prepared to go with the flow, you’ll have great memories for a lifetime. The bottom line is: If you have any inclination to go, plan now. After all, London 2012 shows early promise of being a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In the meantime, of course, the United Kingdom will be distracted this spring by its first general election in seven years. PM Gordon Brown and his Government will have to call the election by June. Since the campaign season is limited to a very civilized six weeks, the whole matter may be called and over between British Heritage issues. Though loud murmurings continue to shake the British body politic, it seems now that Gordon Brown will lead the Labour party into the election, while David Cameron has been campaigning for the Tory opposition now for a couple of years. And the Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg are doing their best to convince someone that they are a realistic option.
Though there isn’t overwhelming enthusiasm for a Conservative government, polls continue to suggest that Brown will have a difficult time shaking the legacy of Parliament’s expenses scandal and the continued weakness in the British economy. I did have a letter some time back from a reader who objected to my commenting on British politics. Most British Heritage readers, though, know that Britain is a dynamic and living nation, not an idyllic theme park. Some 15 percent of our readers are British ex-pats in the States and Canada, who rely on the magazine as a touchstone to home. Hadrian’s Wall, Llanarmonyn-Ial, Sir Edward Elgar and lovely Tewkesbury are all a part of their, and our, heritage. But that’s not all; so are the housing estates of Newcastle and the price of beer in London pubs. Personally, I would rather let you know what’s actually going on than pretend that Britain is one giant Legoland.