Olympic and paralympic games in london Essay Example
Olympic and paralympic games in london Essay Example

Olympic and paralympic games in london Essay Example

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  • Pages: 9 (2286 words)
  • Published: September 23, 2017
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Introduction

London was selected as the host city for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on July 6, 2005. The Olympic Games were set to take place on July 27, 2012, followed by the Paralympics starting on August 29, 2012. This decision led to various developments and projects, including rerouting underground Olympic Park and installing power lines. The Olympic Delivery Authority also began procurement activities to support the management of Olympic Delivery in venues and infrastructure through the appointment of Delivery Partners.
Source: House of Commons - Public Accounts - Thirty-ninth Report Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2006-2007, Olympic Delivery Authority

1.1 Experiences of Olympic regeneration

The Helliniko Olympic Complex faced failure after the games in 2004. Out of the to

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tal number of competition venues (33) for the London Olympics in 2012, only one was temporary and designed to be removed post-event. The remaining venues were either newly constructed or renovated to accommodate larger audiences. According to the report on the London Olympics in 2012, the Helliniko Olympic complex comprising six sporting locations (Kayak, Hockey, Baseball, Softball, and two indoor arenas) has been abandoned since 2004.Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta was previously in poor condition but has now become Georgia's lasting legacy from the Centennial Olympic Games. Situated in Stratford, East London's Lower Lea Valley area, this park comprises several significant venues including The Olympic Stadium, The Aquatics Centre, The Hockey Centre, The Velopark with a Velodrome and BMX Circuit, and Four Multi-Sports Areas all housed within one building. These construction projects were announced by the London Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee as part of the 2012 London Olympics. This text describes the range of facilities

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and developments incorporated into the construction efforts for these games. It mentions an Olympic bowl, Aquatics Centre, Multi-Sports Arenas, Velopark, Hockey Center, training facilities, broadcasting advancements, and security installations. Residential accommodation for athletes and officials from over 200 countries was also provided at the Olympic Village. Furthermore, these construction activities produced long-term achievements in property development, renovation work sustainability measures regeneration initiatives ,and infrastructure improvements.The creation of the master plan for the Olympic Park was undertaken collaboratively by industry experts such as Huokemeisi Team Alies and Morrison Foreign Office Architects Faithful Gould Mott MacDonald under the supervision of London Development Agency (LAD) BuroHappoldAccording to "London 2012 Constructing the Olympic World" by Andrew Bolton, various construction projects were carried out for the 2012 London Olympics. These projects were spread across different locations in the country, with a major focus on the Olympic Park in Stratford, located within East London's Lower Lea Valley area.

The Strategy for Sustainable Construction, which can be found at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/hmtlsustaintranssys?page=2), is a collaborative effort between the government and the building industry. Its objective is to promote leadership and behavior change while providing benefits to both the construction industry and overall economy. The initiative aims to achieve sustainable development and construction based on a shared vision by providing clarity on government positions, implementing regulations and measures for sustainability, and committing to higher standards that help achieve specific sustainability goals.

Both the production industry and the Government have made specific commitments to advance sustainable construction. According to a report from Session 2006-2007, the Transportation System for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been fully established.The report proposes suggestions for optimizing existing

transportation infrastructure and improving service levels. It recommends only creating new infrastructure where necessary and using cost-effective temporary solutions if needed. Furthermore, it suggests utilizing existing expertise and processes for new infrastructure or services, and working with partners such as Transport for London, Network Rail, and Docklands Light Railway.

The ODA conveyance squad has gained valuable experience by enrolling a group of experienced individuals, which has further strengthened their work. The London 2012 Accessible Transport Strategy aims to improve transportation accessibility for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London and the UK. The objective of the ODA is to ensure that all spectators can access the Games through public transportation, cycling, or walking. In order to promote this goal, free travel by public transportation is provided to spectators during the event.

Additionally, designated paths spanning 35 kilometers will be available for pedestrians and cyclists. The operation and expansion of railway assets are under the responsibility of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). This information comes from the Department of Transportation's monitoring and planning efforts in meeting the needs of the East region.

Moreover, according to a report on the 2012 Olympics, co-funding from ODA has enabled early procurement of 22 additional rail cars.In 2012, due to expansion work at Woolwich Arsenal station under-river channel project impacting signal and power technology, these cars will be used to form three-car trains instead of two-car trains. In December of the previous year, tunneling drivers successfully completed their inaugural trip to Arsenal station. The DLR currently has multiple infrastructure projects underway, which will lead to a network of 17 three-car trains by 2012. This will result in a 50% increase in capacity between

Lewisham and the Bank. Official development aid funds will be utilized to enhance Prince Regent Station and Customs House for the Excel event. The objective is to complete City Airport expansion within the designated timeframe and budget. The new DLR platform and access at Stratford Regional Station have been designed with long-term growth requirements in mind. Additionally, the ODA is co-financing the operation of the North London Line within the DLR system for areas south and east of Stratford Regional Station. The lengthening of all London Underground Line trains was finalized in January 2006, resulting in a 17% boost in capacity.Traveling block signals are scheduled for installation in December 2009 with aims to reduce journey time by 25% while further increasing capacity.Furthermore, there are plans from 2009 until 2012 to renovate all District line trainsAccording to section "3.13 National Rail Undertakings," the Olympic Delivery Authority has a crucial role in moving train parking facilities from Stratford to West Lea Valley railroad lines. The goal at West Ham station is to enhance rider service by increasing train capacity per hour. At Stratford Regional Station, the main focus is on initiating work at the project site for design and preparation purposes. There are several initiatives aimed at improving railroad transit capacity, reliability, and travel for all users. These initiatives include: (1) Increasing the frequency of the North London Line between Richmond and Stratford to provide better service (source: http://www.dgp.utoronto.ca/people/modjeska/Cities/lynch.html). (2) Extending and reconstructing the East London Line by summer 2010 to connect Highbury and Islington with Stratford in the North and Crystal Palace in the South of London (source: http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-projects/stratford-city-development-17.html). (3) Establishing a high-speed connection between St

Pancras, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet, Paris, and Brussels (source: Transport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games: The Draft Transport program: Olympic Delivery Authority Response to the Committee's Third Report of Session 2007-2007, House of Commons, 2007 - http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmtran/484/48404.htm).The aim of regenerating east London's Olympic Park is to create a new society that is comfortable and sustainable, while also offering investment and development opportunities. This regeneration will be beneficial beyond just the Olympics. The park consists of various permanent and temporary installations such as the Olympic bowl, water sports center, and velodrome. The text explores different aspects of the Olympic Park including the Olympic Village, media center, new parks, and Lea Valley waterways. It discusses how the park's athletic legacy has had a positive impact on the community's elite sports core. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining sports facilities for various groups such as clubs, local communities, and both elite and amateur athletes.

The plan is to construct one million new residences within the Olympic Park area, with 40% specifically designated for families and a significant proportion allocated for affordable housing. These residents will have access to community amenities like schools, libraries, stores, cafes, restaurants, green spaces,and other facilities that contribute to cultural development and tourist attractions.

According to a report titled "The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Fourteenth Report of Session 2007-08" by the Home of Common Community of Public Accounts,the transportation services improvements are currently in progress along with park developments. This includes extending the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), increasing silver-line capabilities,and upgrading Stratford Regional Station.
The report highlights improved access to parks and open spaces through canal towpaths, pathways, and cycle networks. It includes

a case study on Lewisham Stratford and Canary Warf, which played a significant role in the 2012 London Olympic Games Paralympic Games. Lewisham serves as a gateway to the games and is home to major retail areas and transportation interchanges. The city center plan focuses on improving housing, shopping opportunities, and the overall environment through the Gateway strategy. This development aims to address traffic congestion and improve land use by rearranging railroad line junctions to create new development opportunities such as a well-designed transportation interchange, new housing, and employment prospects. Additionally, there are plans to improve town center links including expanding and renovating the Valley shopping center and public areas on High Street. Future renovation projects are expected for Lewis Grove Island and Engate Street. Planning consent has been granted for over 200 homes each year at Thurston Road and Venson Sites. In Stratford, a significant project has been approved that will bring around 5,000 homes and 30,000 jobs.Planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of Stratford City, a former derelict rail area. The project aims to create a large shopping district and office space spanning 465,000 square meters, providing employment opportunities for approximately 11,000 people. The discussion focuses on the development plans for Newham's Olympic Park, which will include various amenities like wellness centers, primary healthcare facilities, an employment agency, and youth services. Additionally, there will be educational institutions such as a primary and secondary school accommodating 900 students and a nursery with four classrooms. Lifelong learning facilities along with public spaces featuring sports areas and water elements are also part of the plans. Other amenities encompass libraries, tourist information centers, daycare establishments,

public service offices including security agencies as well as offices designated for civil society groups and religious sites. Furthermore, retail space covering 150,500 square meters will be provided along with around 2,000 hotel rooms across 4,850 new locations. The application is now awaiting approval from several authorities such as the Mayor of London's office,the Deputy Prime Minister's Office,and the Secretary of State for Transport. It is crucial to ensure legal compliance among all parties involved in order to address environmental and transportation concerns effectively. Newham has pledged ?150.4 million towards the project while consulting various stakeholders including local planning authorities,t ransport bodies landowners,and local communities during the decision-making process.
The Stratford City plan includes provisions for residential dwellings, department stores, cafes, commercial office space, and town center amenities. The development will be located near the Startford Channel Tunnel Rail Link international station, which is scheduled to open in 2007. Construction of Stratford City is planned to begin in 2006 and is expected to be completed by 2009 for the city center and by 2020 for the entire project.

The development of the new Stratford International Station will position the country as a gateway to Europe with just a two-hour travel distance between Paris and London. This project will generate employment opportunities, including 15,000 construction jobs and up to 30,000 jobs in retail and office work (source: http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-projects/stratford-city-development-17.html ,2009).

Canary Wharf serves as an established financial services hub that houses renowned companies such as Barclays Bank, Reuters,Citigroup , HSBC,and Morgan Stanley. The current workforce in this area is approximately 65,000 people and is projected to grow to over 10 million by 2010. This includes employees, volunteers, and contractors (source:

House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts - Thirty-ninth Report of Session 2006-2007 - Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - Hazard appraisal and management).

London also offers favorable rates for acquiring commercial and industrial properties.The A13 and A2 corridors, particularly along the east side of the River Thames, are active areas for new industrial and logistics development (source: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/europe/uk/england/london/east/e15-stratford/stratford-city/stratford-city-housing.htm). Canary Wharf provides excellent office space in London (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/london2012/5925603/london-2012-olympic-legacy-company-set-to-create-new-east-london-community.html, 2009), contrasting with the established environmental engineering, fabrication, R, logistics, and distribution centers found in Canary Wharf. The East London City Airport is specifically designed for business travel with a quick check-in service that allows management personnel to be seated within 30 minutes after departure from the desk. Additionally, the London International Airport is conveniently located within a 60-minute drive from Canary Wharf. The Jubilee line connects major railroad terminals in Stratford and Canary Wharf while the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) links Canary Wharf to other areas in East London. This transportation network serves as the heart of Canary Wharf's financial and media district. The station itself is architecturally stunning and features over 200 stores and waterside bars and restaurants (http://www.thinkinglondon.html, 2009).The text discusses the impact of the Olympics on London and the UK, focusing on how it has affected property values and social inequality. The presence of the Olympics has caused middle-class households to move into urban areas, resulting in poorer households being displaced. This issue is particularly evident in the Docklands regeneration project, which some criticize for widening the gap between rich and poor. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of affordable housing for low-income families after the games, with

only 30% being accessible to them. These circumstances raise questions about whether the area will become impoverished or gentrified. Overall, these developments are unprecedented and showcase both positive and negative aspects that arise from government actions that have primarily been beneficial despite a few drawbacks.

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