London 2012...Olympic Games

Just to keep you guys on your toes we are switching from Historical Palaces to a very new and modern place....The Olympic Sites for London 2012.  As many of you are probably aware these games begin in just a few short months so I have taken the opportunity to check out the site.  I will not be here during the games (which is a good thing since it will be crazy tourist time) but I am here close enough to the start that everything is finished and good for viewing.    So, let the tour begin...I chose the absolute coldest day since I arrived to take a 2 hour walking tour, outside of course, of the London 2012 Olympic Sites.  The bright side of this frigid weather is I get to wear my scarf, pea coat and boots which is a pretty good look for me if I do say so myself.  The site is about an hour ride on the tube from where I am staying so I hop on and settle in with my book (yes, I'm kind of a local now and can read on the tube) and enjoy the ride.  When I arrive at my stop I have the first moment of uncertainty of the trip.  I'm alone in a very sketchy area and the specified tour meeting point was just "at the front of the station" apparently.

Car Bodies, Rubbish and Abandoned Buildings

 I was a bit early so I figured I could just find a coffee shop and read till it was time.  I was very mistaken with this thought....all there was to my left and right were abandoned buildings, car bodies and piles of rubbish.  The only small bit of civilization was a Tesco (gas station style mini mart).  The only thing that kept going through my head was "The Olympics are in a couple of months right?  Seriously this is where they are bringing people...What are you thinking London!"  I almost got back on the tube and left because I was a bit nervous about the whole situation but decided "I just rode an hour to get here...I really want to see the sites...(wo)man up and just figure it out!"  So I walked back to the station and a small group of people had gathered and there were tour guides.  All my anxiety subsided and was replaced with the excitement of what I was going to get to see in the next 2 hours.
As we walked the tour guide explained to us that the site had been chosen because of the great need in this area for redevelopment (hence the car bodies and abandoned buildings).  They said they start the tour on the outskirts that is not part of the redevelopment area to show the contrast of what it was and what it is becoming.  It all made sense then but a bit of warning of what you would be arriving into would have been nice.

Residential Water

 Historically this whole area was hugely industrial.  They made everything from gin to soap in all the different mills and factories.  This left a ton of pollution and chemicals in the soil and canals that are through out the area.  They had to completely remove all of it before they could start any building. I love that it has all been cleaned up and that now it is totally usable.  The canals are really cool too.  Apparently while cleaning the canals out they found thousands of tires, sofas, cars and other random stuff.  No dead bodies though thank goodness.  People have great little boats and live on them in the residential sections of the water.  I loved that there is residential water space!

The Europeans really know how to do it right.  Many of the Olympics in the past have gone hugely in debt to hold the games and they create spaces that are never really used again.  London has thought ahead and has already sold many of the venues for future use with sight modifications.  The coolest thing they came up with is the basketball venue.  It is not a permanent structure and can be moved after the games.  The country holding the next olympics has already purchased it.  Such a smart move...not sure why no one else has done this before.  The other simple smart thing they did is they are having athletes housed right at their specific event venue (or very close).  There is still an Olympic village but the travel time is much less then past Games so athletes don't miss their events (like in Atlanta) due to traffic.

Olympic Areas (aquatic)

 The actual arenas for the event look pretty amazing.  We are only able to see the outside due to security but it's still really impressive.  The photos just don't do it justice.  The design was very thought out.  The aquatic building which you can see in the photo here was meant to be similar to a person doing the butterfly stroke.  Also the dark grey area under the wing is additional seating for during the games but then will be removed to make it a more realistic size after for other events.
One of the major sponsors of this event is Westfield Shopping Center.  They have built a huge mall that is right at the entrance to the games.  It is apparently the largest mall in Europe.  Being the very business savvy people that they are they have made it so you are forced to walk through the mall to enter and exit the games.

Shopping Center (I heart the Penguin!)

I suppose it's just like how you are forced to "exit through the gift shop" everywhere.
I have a huge respect for London and how they have taken the olympics and used it as something so positive for the community.  They have created thousands of jobs that will be maintained after the events are over, built venues that will have purpose after and are not going in debt like many other countries have to hold these amazing games.
I will leave you with this small bit though....McDonalds is the main food of the Olympic games in the venue.  Olympic level athletic event paired with really bad Fast Food....just have a think about that.....