26 Thursday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, london, where in the world
The Games of the XXX Olympiad, the Summer Olympic Games of 2012
This will be the third time that London has been an Olympic City, having hosted the games previously in 1908 and 1948.
Over 10,000 athletes
204 nations
4,700 medals
and dozens of venues throughout England
I’m ready London! See you in a few hours 
26 Thursday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, london, where in the world
Flights set. Accommodations set. It’s packing time folks!
As you can see, London is ALWAYS gloomy. When is not raining in London?! As a matter of fact, I don’t recall it ever being sunny in my history of visiting the city…
How depressingly gloomy. Where’s my rainboots? This kind of reminds me of that old Married With Children episode! Do you remember that?
Cosport update:
I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately about the difficulty with Cosport, the biggest overseas agency for Olympic tickets, has apologized after people were forced to queue for more than six hours to collect their allocations, but said it could do nothing to help some of those whose seats are scattered around stadiums.
Several hundred people joined long lines on Monday at a CoSport office in Paddington, in central London to collect tickets. Queues on Tuesday were still significant, with some buyers reporting wait times of around two hours.
In a statement CoSport, the official overseas ticketing partner for the USA, Australia, and Canada, said it apologised to those forced to wait and could “understand their frustration”.
Monday was the first day that tickets could be collected in London and the company had laid on more than twice the usual number of staff to help, it said. The statement added: “We understand that people want to collect their tickets as early as possible but in an email to customers sent out more than a week ago we encouraged them to avoid peak periods, particularly yesterday (Monday), where possible.
…. So I am beginning to think that I should have had the tickets mailed to me. However, with some of the articles I have read, the mailing process was also a bit of a nightmare. PLEASE WISH ME THE BEST THAT I WILL GET MY TICKETS IN A TIMELY MANNER AT WILL CALL!
This 1992 Barcelona Olympic track & field moment by FAR has been the most memorable event in my memory. Still brings tears to my eyes 12 years later! What are some of your favorite Olympic moments?
25 Wednesday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, london, where in the world
Today is actually the first day of the 30th Summer Olympic Games, however, the IOC technically marks the opening ceremony as the first day.
It was a perfect start for Team GB as the women’s football team beat New Zealand 1-0.
But organsiers were forced to make a grovelling apology to the North Korean team who refused to start their match against Colombia when the South Korean flag was displayed by mistake! YIKES!
photo credits: dailymail
23 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, london, travel, where in the world
London 2012 has been the catalyst for transforming 2.5 square kilometres of land in east London. What was once industrial land has been rapidly transformed over the last few years into green space that both visitors to the Games and local residents can enjoy.
My friend Cathy has a cousin in London who was able to get us tickets to Olympic Park! I’m thrilled! I didn’t think I was going to be able to have access! What’s even better is that we will be celebrating her birthday in London at Olympic Park! How amazing is that?!
3x Olympic Park tickets for Saturday 28th July 2012, 10:00 till 15:00 = £30 (3*£10)
3x Olympic Park tickets for Monday 30th July 2012, 10:00 till 15:00 = £30 (3*£10)
3x Olympic Park tickets for Monday 30th July 2012, 16:00 till 21:00 = £30 (3*£10)
Here is pdf map of Olympic Park
To help visitors find their way around, the Olympic Park has been divided into four different zones. Each of these zones has its own unique atmosphere – from how they look, down to the type of food and drink available to buy there.
The Street Market
See and do:
- Live Site
- Bandstand on River Lawns
- Wetlands Walk
- Walk in the Park
- BP. Fuelling the Future (interactive experience)
- The Acer Journey (interactive experience)
- Samsung Mobile Live PIN (interactive experience)
Eat and drink: Grab some tasty street food from around the world – choose from Chinese noodles, Mexican burritos, French crêpes and more.
Don’t miss: Take a load off your feet and catch some live sport at the Olymipc Park’s very own Live Site. Or check our events listings to see which performances are taking place at the Bandstand on River Lawns.
Britannia Row
See and do:
- Live Site
- London 2012 shop
- RUN art installation
- Coca-Cola Beatbox (interactive experience)
- The National Lottery: It’s Your Space (interactive experience)
- Panasonic 3D Theatre
Eat and drink: Enjoy the very best that British food has to offer, including traditional meals like fish and chips or pie and mash.
Don’t miss: The enormous RUN art installation by the Copper Box. Designed by internationally-renowned artist Monica Bonvicini, these three nine-metre tall letters are made from glass and stainless steel. At day, the letters act as a mirror, and at night they glow with internal LED lighting.
World Square
See and do:
- London 2012 Megastore
- Great British Gardens
- EDF Pavilion – The Magic of Electricity (interactive experience)
Eat and drink: Sit back, relax and watch the world go by while enjoying delicious international food, from Asian and Italian dishes to Caribbean specialities.
Don’t miss: The London 2012 Megastore, which stocks the biggest range of London 2012 souvenirs and gifts under one roof, anywhere in the UK.
Orbit Circus
See and do:
- Orbit
- Steles (Waterworks) art installation
- London 2012 shop
- 2012 Gardens
- Walk in the Park
- The BMW Group Pavilion (interactive experience)
Eat and drink: Get some food to go – from authentic Cornish pasties to adopted British dishes like curry – and relax in the 2012 Gardens while you admire the towering Orbit.
Don’t miss: The towering Orbit – at 115m, it’s the tallest structure on the Olympic Park and Britain’s tallest artwork.
The Olympic Park is located in Stratford, east London. There are three gateway stations to the Olympic Park: West Ham, Stratford and Stratford International.
2012 Games coach services and services from park-and-ride sites will also serve the Olympic Park for spectators arriving from outside London.
The walking time to cross the Olympic Park will be approximately 30 minutes. At certain periods, this journey time may increase, so please allow plenty of time to move between venues.
Please allow at least one hour travel time from central London and at least two hours from some locations in west London (for example, Paddington) to get to the Olympic Park.
The Aquatics Centre will be the venue for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, and the aquatics discipline of Modern Pentathlon during the London 2012Olympic Games, and Swimming during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The Aquatics Centre is located at the south-east corner of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
The Basketball Arena will host Basketball and the final stages of the Handballcompetition during the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Wheelchair Basketball andWheelchair Rugby during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The Basketball Arena is located in the north of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
The BMX Track will be the venue for BMX during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The BMX Track is located in the north of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
The Copper Box will host Handball, and the fencing discipline of Modern Pentathlonduring the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Goalball during the London 2012Paralympic Games.
The Copper Box is located in the west of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
Eton Manor will be the venue for Wheelchair Tennis during the London 2012Paralympic Games.
Eton Manor is located in the north of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Paralympic Games for more information.
The Olympic Stadium will host the Athletics competitions during both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for both Games.
The Olympic Stadium is located in the south of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
The Riverbank Arena will be the home of the Hockey competitions during the London 2012 Olympic Games and 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football during the London 2012Paralympic Games.
The Riverbank Arena is located in the north of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
The Velodrome will host Track Cycling during both the London 2012 Olympic Gamesand Paralympic Games.
The Velodrome is located in the north of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the map of the Olympic Park during the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games for more information.
The Water Polo Arena will host the Water Polo competition during the Olympic Games.
The Water Polo Arena is located at the south-east corner of the Olympic Park. Please refer to the Olympic Park map for more information.
For more information, see London2012
I hope to see some athletes walking around Olympic Park when I visit on Saturday & Monday! More importantly, celebrate my friend’s birthday!:)
ciaociao
Maureen Rose
22 Sunday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, life, london, where in the world, world news
Now it’s time to plan to/from the venues events I will be attending. I’m actually a little nervous & excited at the same time about this. Nervous, because I have never seen London this busy & will have to leave ample time to arrive to the venue and go through security. In my previous posts here & here, I was magically granted tickets for Men’s Volleyball & Mens/Women’s Tennis!
You can plan your journey from anywhere in London with the Spectator Journey Planner. The official Olympic site has made this quite easy for everyone to plan travel times & any expected delays.
Spectators with a ticket for a Games event in London will receive a one-day Games Travelcard for the day of that event. Games events include all ticketed sporting events and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The Games Travelcard will entitle you to travel within zones 1-9 on the London public transport network throughout the day of your event. This includes London Underground (Tube), London Overground rail, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), buses, trams and national rail services – but not the Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick Express trains or taxis and private hire vehicles. Spectators will also be able to use their Games Travelcard on the Javelin® service between St. Pancras and Stratford International stations.
There are some key points to remember when travelling by train and tube at Games time:
Public transport in London will operate for extended hours on Games competition days. London Underground (Tube), London Overground rail, DLR and some national rail services will be extended to run until approximately 1.30am. Many bus routes will operate a 24-hour service as is currently the case in London.
During the Games, public transport systems will be under increased pressure. At certain times and locations, high demand will increase the time it takes to make a journey. Please allow plenty of time to travel to and between venues.
Central London is more compact than most people think. It is often quicker to walk between areas, and discover new parts of London on the way.
This site offers a very interactive map of London & the high traffic tube stations:
Tickets to be Picked-up at the Will Call Center
I opted to pick up my tickets because of the cost of GBP to have it mailed to me. I am now wishing I had it mailed because now I have to travel out of the way to pick them up!
Location:
City of Westminster College
Paddington Green Campus, Paddington Green
London W2 1NB
E-mail: cosport@cosport.com
Telephone: will be updated on the CoSport website on Monday, July 16th
Hours of Operation:
Open every day from July 23rd to August 12th inclusive
9:00am – 7:00pm (09:00 – 19:00)
Hours may be further extended during peak times. Please visit www.cosport.com for specific details.
By Train: Take the London Tube, the Bakerloo Line and exit at Edgware Road Station. Walk north on Edgware road until you reach Church Street. Turn left onto Church Street and continue until you reach City of Westminster College on the right.
Earl’s Court – Men’s Volleyball
Earl’s Court will be home to the Volleyball competition during the London 2012 Games. Earl’s Court Underground station provides access to Earl’s Court Tube station on the Picadilly or District Line.
You should allow at least one hour to travel to Earl’s Court from central London and two hours from the Olympic Park during the Games.
On June 19th, 2012 The IOC announced the Volleyball Schedule is confirmed here. A total of 144 men and 144 women will compete for gold medals, with 12 teams in each competition. Men’s Full schedule. Based on this schedule I believe I am watching the following two matches:
Defending women’s champions Brazil will open their campaign against Olympic debutants Turkey, while a repeat of the women’s final from Beijing 2008 between Brazil and USA will take place on 30 July. In the men’s competition, defending champions winners USA will take on Serbia in their opening game on 29 July, before meeting Brazil – who they defeated in the Beijing 2008 final – on 2 August. London 2012 Organising Committee Director of Sport Debbie Jevans said: ‘Everything is set for the London 2012 Volleyball competition. The schedule has been announced by the FIVB and we look forward to both welcoming the teams and watching some exciting matches which will comprise the best players in the world.’ The knockout phase of the competitions gets underway on 7 August for women and 8 August for men, with the finals being held on 11 and 12 August.
WIMBLEDON – M/W Tennis
Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5AE
Located at Wimbledon at Wimbledon Park on the District Line
The Olympic site has not provided the player’s Tennis schedule at this time:
| 11:30 | * - Order of play available evening before |
The tennis courts at Wimbledon ready for action
A general view of the outside courts during previews ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon on July 23, 2012
Centre Court in the sunshine
A general view of Centre Court during training at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon on July 23, 2012
Roger Federer trains in the sunshine
Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a forehand in a practice session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon on July 23, 2012
Water sprays on a court at Wimbledon
Sprinklers spray water across the grass on an outside court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon.
For my information about the following specific Olympic Venues, visit the site!
Olympic Park venues
London venues
Out of London venues
To make sure you arrive in plenty of time, you should also consider the following additional factors when planning your travel to your chosen event:
I hope this information was helpful!
ciaociao
Maureen Rose
20 Friday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, london, travel, where in the world
T-7 DAYS!
I’ve been to London a handful of times now, so I have always felt no need to thoroughly plan my stay. However, after reading a few sites and mainly Olympics2012 in preparation for the Games, I started to ask myself.. am I ready for this?? The answer to that would be a… NO. Oh dear.
First things first. Getting ready for the entrance of the Olmypic Games…
I’ve noted a few tips below to make things easier for myself during my stay. This post tells you everything you need to know about going to a London 2012 sports event or ceremony – including what you can and can’t bring in, accessibility information, and tips to help make your Olympic experience as memorable as possible.
Here are our top 5 tips on how to have a great Olympic Games:
l. Be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport. It will be busy and you will have to queue, so get there early – check your venue information for your recommended arrival time.
2. Bring as little as possible with you: the more you bring, the longer it will take to go through security. One small soft-sided rucksack or handbag is allowed per person – this must fit under your seat. If you have a ticket for Football, we strongly suggest you do not bring a bag – if you do, your entry will be delayed and you may miss your event.
3. Read the lists of prohibited items before you leave: you cannot bring in liquids over 100ml*, including water – but at most venues you can bring an empty plastic water bottle and fill it up at water points inside venues. There is a wide range of food available to buy, but if you need to bring your own food, it must fit inside your bag. See list venue here.
4. Leave plenty of time to travel to your venue: London and the UK will be extremely busy and very different to what you’re used to. Use the spectator journey planner to find the best route and, where necessary, book your travel to make sure you get to your event on time. Ticket holders for events in and around London can use their Games Travelcard (map) for travel in London zones 1-9.
5. Remember the only way to pay is by Visa (debit, credit or prepaid card) or cash: read about the services and facilities available in your venue.
In the summer of 2012 London and the UK will come alive with events, celebrations and activities during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Official London 2012 Join In app is a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.
This free app is an essential planning tool for everyone, whether you have tickets for a sporting event or not. From the start of the Olympic Torch Relay to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus all the cultural, city and community celebrations happening across the UK, Join In is your essential companion.
Giant Olympic Rings revealed in Newcastle and Gateshead
A set of giant Olympic Rings has been unveiled in Newcastle and Gateshead, coinciding with the Olympic Flame’s journey in the North East of England.
Installed on the iconic Tyne Bridge, the Rings are approximately 25m wide by 12m high
The Olympic Rings at St Pancras International
Giant sets of Olympic Rings are being installed at iconic sites across the United Kingdom to excite and inspire people ahead of the Games and to demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world.
Hope this was helpful! Happy planning!
ciaociao
Maureen Rose
13 Friday Jul 2012
Posted in europe, globetrotting, london, travel, where in the world, world news
Can you believe it?
In 14 days the Olympics will be launching in London!
It just seems like yesterday during the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the Olympic flag was formally handed over from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London. This was followed by a section highlighting London, remember Leona Lewis on the red double decker bus during the Closing Ceremony? One month later, the Olympic and Paralympic flags were raised outside the London City Hall.
Then a countdown clock in Trafalgar Square was unveiled, 500 days before the games. Final countdown to the start of this year’s summer games in London has begun with the ceremony of lighting of Olympic flame in Ancient Olympia in Greece.
Here are some fun photos from London in preparation of the games!
T-14 DAYS!
Olympic Rings on the River Thames
The launch of the Rings on the Thames coincided with the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s announcement of a programme of cultural events to celebrate London 2012.
Largest Olympic Rings unveiled at Richmond Park
The Olympic Rings, measuring at approximately 300 metres wide, have been mown into the grass by The Royal Park’s shire horses. They can be seen from the air as Richmond Park lies under the flight path of Heathrow airport and will provide a unique welcome to athletes and visitors to the London 2012 Games
Giant Olympic Rings launched on the River Thames
Measuring 11 metres high by 25 metres wide, a set of giant Olympic Rings travel on a barge past London’s Canary Wharf
Giant Olympic Rings at Heathrow to welcome visitors to London 2012
Giant Olympic Rings have been unveiled at Heathrow, the Host Airport of the Games, to help provide a spectacular visual welcome to athletes and visitors during London 2012.
The aluminium Rings, which measure 12 metres in width, have been installed in Terminal 5 international arrivals and will be seen by at least two million passengers travelling through Heathrow
ciaociao
Maureen
05 Saturday May 2012
Posted in europe, london, where in the world
Tags
2012 hours, 2012 london olympics, 83 days countdown to london, flight booked, olympic stadium, virgin america
The event, called 2012 Hours to Go: An Evening of Athletics and Entertainment, featured a host of celebrities and athletes taking part in a series of stunts and games in front of 40,000 spectators.
Over 30 British celebrities jumped at the chance to be involved in 2012 Hour to Go: An Evening of Athletics and Entertainment including Tottenham-born rapper and song-writer Chipmunk, impressionist Jon Culshaw, singer Melanie C, two of Britain’s most celebrated Olympians Sir Steve Redgrave and Mark Foster, Hugh Bonneville of Twenty Twelve and Downton Abbey fame and comedian Jack Whitehall.
Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: This event is very important to us for a number of reasons. Seeing athletes on the track for the first time will be a special moment for me personally and then welcoming 40,000 people into the Stadium on Saturday night will be a major milestone.
“This crowd will not only be starting their Olympic journey just weeks ahead of the Games, they will also play a vital role in helping us test the venue and earn our licence to operate the Stadium.’
I am also pleased to announce that I have officially purchased my flight to London! This will be my first time flying Virgin Atlantic and quite ecstatic that my planning is coming along nicely
Countdown: 83 days to London
Thank you for reading!
19 Thursday Apr 2012
Posted in europe, london, where in the world, world news
My apologies for the lack of content on here for the past couple of months, but I promise I have been working hard and will give more attention to my blog soon again!
Summer in London
London 2012 celebrates 100 days to go to the Olympic Games today by confirming that millions of people around the UK are getting ready to welcome the world to London.
Among those getting ready are a total of 70,000 volunteers, already a significant way through the million hours of training they will receive ahead of the eight million hours of volunteering they will deliver.
Over eight million people have said in a recent survey they are getting ready to line the streets and cheer the thousands of community heroes carrying the Olympic Flame around the UK.
Two million school children are learning about the values of the Games and the countries and cultures of the 10,000-plus athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees coming to compete in the UK.
Spectators are also getting ready: eight million Olympic and Paralympic tickets will be in the hands of British sports fans by the summer.
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) also announced today that the world-famous Red Arrows aerobatic display team will perform a nine-ship flypast in Big Battle formation to symbolically link the whole of the UK and provide a quintessential British welcome on the day of the Olympic Opening Ceremony (27 July).
Further details of the London 2012 Live Sites up and down the country have also been announced. The big screens, run in partnership between London 2012, the BBC and local authorities, and supported by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, partners BT and Lloyds TSB, and supporters Cisco and Cadbury, will become fully dedicated to coverage of London 2012 from May onwards.
Thousands of people are marking 100 days to go across all nations and regions. In Weymouth and Portland, the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing competitions, a giant sandcastle has been built featuring the Olympic Rings on Weymouth beach. And to celebrate the UK’s role in the birth of the modern Olympic movement, a total of 40 ‘Coubertin Oaks’ oak trees are being planted at venues around the UK.
LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: ‘With 100 days to go to the start of the Games, millions of people are getting ready to do the best work of their lives and welcome the world this summer. There is a groundswell of support and excitement, not just in the UK, but internationally as the final countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games begins. Whether it’s the competing athletes or people getting ready to join their communities in supporting Torchbearers on the streets of the UK, the whole world is getting ready for London. Expectations are high, and we won’t disappoint.’
LOCOG also today unveiled the motto for the Games – ‘Inspire a generation’, reflecting the promise made when London bid for the Games – and launched the latest ‘spectacular’ installation of the Olympic Rings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, west London. The rings are 50m long, made up of 20,000 plants and are visible from the Heathrow flight path.
London in the warmer months is a renowned for its unique buzz filled with the sights, sounds and breathtaking views. With hundreds of restaurants, pubs and bars and endless shopping in the capital, London has some of the best attractions Europe has to offer including action packed sports, beautiful parks, theatre shows to wow you and so much more… you will be spoilt for choice!
What plans are you making to prepare for the upcoming Olympics? I hope to hear from you all soon
10 Tuesday Apr 2012
Posted in africa, asia, europe, globetrotting, life, north america, personal growth, travel, united states, where in the world
Tags
Nike hired a film director Casey Neistat and editor Max Joseph to create a commercial for the Nike FuelBand featuring the slogan “Make It Count.” But at the last minute, the duo strayed from the agreed-upon spot, and set off on a journey around the world using Nike’s money and advice to “Make It Count.”
34,000 miles
16 cities
13 countries
3 continents
The result is a four-and-a-half-minute film….
If you could do anything in the world and make it count what would YOU do?
MAKE IT COUNT
