London Gets Ready for the Olympics!

Our Blue Badge Guide, Sean, in front of the map of the Olympic Park

Today we ventured into East London for a glimpse at the construction of the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Olympics.  Our Blue Badge Guide from the coach tour on Sunday, Sean, lead us around the park and surrounding areas. 

When London pitched their idea to have the 2012 Olympics here they illustrated how they were going to rehabilitate the surrounding areas...this along with the fact that the Olympic Park was going to be so close to the heart of London were the main reasons why London was granted the hosting of the 2012 Olympics.

One of the buildings in East London that will be refurbished for the Games.

Main Olympic Stadium

The Games have been in London twice before, 1908 and 1948, and will be the only city in the world to have hosted the games three times.
You can visit http://www.london2012.com/ for more information about the 2012 Games!

Zane with  the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Olympic Aquatic Center

 










By bringing the Olympics to East London, the city has a chance to rehabilitate an area that they would not have been able to on their own.  The waterways in the area were contaminated, buildings were in ruin, and tourist rarely visit the area.  Now the Park is going up, the waterways are being cleaned up and wildlife is returning to the area, buildings are being demolished or repurposed, and tourists are flocking to see the Olympic Park being built.  The Legacy Plan is also impressive, everything that is being built for the games will be either taken down or usable to the community once the Games are over.  It is going to be an amazing complex that I hope to be able to visit once it is completed!

After leaving Olympic Park a group of us took a quick trip to an ASDA, the UK version of Wal Mart, then had an unbelievable Indian meal!  Wish you all could have joined us for some Naan!

Indian Dinner!