308 replies to this topic

[RobH]

Loads of interesting bits in this short and confusing article!! I wasn't really sure where to post it, so thought I'd start a new thread:

---

Symbolic rings around capital to signal Games are on the way

Away from the Stratford building site, there is scant visible evidence around London that in less than 18 months the Olympics will be here.

The few exceptions are the BT Tower's electronic countdown display, a London Transport ticketing poster campaign and the occasional flash of an Olympic logo on a taxi.

But next month the volume will be pumped up with the first of a series of spectaculars.

Giant Olympic rings will be suspended from Tower Bridge and will also eventually adorn the London Eye and St Pancras station, terminus for the Olympic Park "Javelin" shuttle service. London's tallest building, the Shard of Glass, will also be crowned with the rings and there are plans for one of its 72 storeys to light up each time the home nation wins a medal.

On March 15, to mark 500 days to the Games and the start of ticket sales, a giant countdown clock will be installed in Trafalgar Square, courtesy of Olympic timekeeper Omega. And on New Year's Eve a Games-themed firework display will herald the start of Olympic year.

Next spring will see the "dressing" of the capital's main roads, airports and railway stations. Early drafts of the colour scheme were rejected by Mayor Boris Johnson who demanded patriotic red, white and blue instead of what he called "vomit and vermillion".

Public services are being squeezed, but next summer will offer a window on the world like no other. There will be £30million in the Olympic budget to give streets a facelift, while the Mayor has offered each borough £50,000 spruce-up grants.

He also wants Seb Coe's Games organising committee to buck tradition and locate the Olympic cauldron not on the roof of the main stadium but atop the neighbouring Orbit Tower, Anish Kapoor's 115-metre structure.

Meanwhile, consumer champion Which? has attacked as "outrageous and discriminatory" the monopoly deal which dictates that Olympic tickets can only be bought using the official payment card, Visa.

The Office of Fair Trading and the European Commission are looking at the arrangement.

http://www.thisislon...e-on-the-way.do

---

So, exciting news about landmarks being decorated with giant Olympic rings, Boris has made a decision which will mean the branding will be inconsistent in the street decorations by the sound of it, the news about the Orbit seems to have been proved wrong by the announcement of Heatherwick as the cauldron architect today, and a good thing that VISA's monopoly is being looked into....

Discuss!

Edited by RobH, 18 February 2011 - 04:17 PM.

[faster]

How is it a good thing? VISA pays good money to be the only payment method accepted and because the UK and the European Union operate on a fiat currency basis it is between the consumer and the provider to agree on a payment method. Therefore any provided has the right to accept or refuse payment based solely on what they want and in this case the IOC wants VISA. Its not a monoploy but a function of the financial system we use.

[RobH]

OK, I'm sure you're technically right and I stand corrected, but there is something about an event funded in large part by taxpayers only accepting one payment provider which doesn't sit right with me.

"We're happy for you to pay for the stadium, but please sign up to become a VISA customer to get a ticket, there's a good man."

I think it's a barrier and actually, I don't think it does VISA any credit (NO pun intended). I didn't like this idea when I first heard about it, and I still don't; and I do have a VISA card before you ask.

Anyway, just one of those things. Perhaps I'm in a minority in not liking this system, I don't know? The fact that The Office of Fair Trading and the European Commission are looking into it is interesting though, whatever your opinion.

And here was me thinking the news about the giant rings on Tower Bridge and the Eye would be the talking points in this thread!

Edited by RobH, 18 February 2011 - 04:15 PM.

[faster]

From the IOC it is a good policy because VISA is the most universal credit card. It is not the most ideal system universally but it is the most ideal system for the Olympics. It is a huge event and cash/check/money order payments would be a nightmare to deal with and could potentially tie-up thousands of tickets in accounts that are not paid.

But, I also come from Canada. We have 5 major banks and out of those 4 have VISA as their credit brand. We are one of the most VISA dominated countries around. So it wasn't a huge issue with Vancouver. I don't know what the situation is in the UK.

[daveypodmore]

Great news on the rings.

The bit of Boris demanding red white and blue to dress the streets of London, where I presume venues will use the proper colour palette makes me shudder and rather mad. Does he want the games look to be confussed and not cohesive. Well done Boris, London sees itself as a design centre of the world, consider that image dead when the streets of London look like a dogs dinner. When can London get rid of him, I hope they make the right desision this time. Bye bye Boris

[The Tower Bridge Fox]

There are some exciting plans there , the Olympic rings on Tower bridge
And I will be verry interested to see how they dress up the lower lea valley,
Trinity buoy whalf ect.
72 storeys to light up each time the home nation wins a medal.
Not sure bout this ,sound to much like a film with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman.
that biulding look OK but it gives me the kreeps.

creeps

[baron-pierreIV]

Faster, on 18 February 2011 - 03:57 PM, said:

How is it a good thing? VISA pays good money to be the only payment method accepted and because the UK and the European Union operate on a fiat currency basis it is between the consumer and the provider to agree on a payment method. Therefore any provided has the right to accept or refuse payment based solely on what they want and in this case the IOC wants VISA. Its not a monoploy but a function of the financial system we use.

Agreed. Visa has an agreement with the IOC; the IOC has delegated London to stage its Games but observing some of the previous contracts that the IOC has with its sponsors. People are NOT OBLIGATED to buy Olympic tickets. They can watch the Games at home even on a Sony or Phillips TV set, and nobody will say anything. How difficult is it to respect another party's contractual obligations?

RobH, on 18 February 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

He also wants Seb Coe's Games organising committee to buck tradition and locate the Olympic cauldron not on the roof of the main stadium but atop the neighbouring Orbit Tower, Anish Kapoor's 115-metre structure.

It really doesn't make sense to build ANOTHER tower just to house the flame when there is already a similar overpowering structure right there. Maybe LOCOG should've stepped in before Boris firmed up his agreements/plans w/ Kapoor or whomever?

[Kenadian]

OK, sure is a lot in that short piece...so here goes...

- Love that they are talking of putting rings on all those icons! It will really help build excitement in the city.

- About time they put a clock up! That was a major attraction/landmark in Vancouver. Every day for 3 years, I would walk by it on my way into the office and there was almost always some visitor snapping a photo of themselves beside it.

- The mayor has that much control? The look should fit the Olympic Brand. Another lesson from Vancouver...VANOC avoided red for the most part because they knew that locals would be wearing it in support of Canada and its athletes. Thus, the brand would not stand out.

- How many boroughs are there in London? 50,000 quid doesn't seem like a lot.

- Oh lord no! The only flame that should be located near that tower is a welding flame to melt it down. Ugly! And back to Vancouver again, having the cauldron lighting split in two segments was a bit awkward. No Olympic Flame on the Awful Tower!

- The Visa thing. Well, come on! They are giving the Olympic Movement millions upon millions of dollars/pounds and they should be allowed to stipulate that as a condition of their sponsorship. Otherwise, what's the benefit to them? These are not the first Olympics that Visa have sponsored, but if London's Lord Mayor mucks it up, it might be their last. If you go to an Olympic event, you'll only be able to buy a Coke product, watch the replays and scores on a Panasonic jumbo screen, and catch the athletes timing on an Omega clock.

Edited by Kenadian, 18 February 2011 - 06:13 PM.

[Lee]

I disagree totally with Visa being the only method of payment acceptable for purchasing tickets. I am really annoyed by it. We aren't talking about shops only selling drinks belonging to one brand. This kind of monopoly could really obstruct the enjoyment of the games for some people. I had intended to put all my purchases onto my Mastercard. I tried to switch it with my bank to Visa and they don't offer it. I therefore have to apply for a whole new credit card. I am more than annoyed and might not even bother. I am sure I am not the only one in this position.

I really think that Boris is an absolute tit. He does realise this is the 2012 summer Olympics and not the 1953 coronation. Idiot!

[baron-pierreIV]

Lee, on 18 February 2011 - 08:16 PM, said:

I disagree totally with Visa being the only method of payment acceptable for purchasing tickets. I am really annoyed by it. We aren't talking about shops only selling drinks belonging to one brand. This kind of monopoly could really obstruct the enjoyment of the games for some people. I had intended to put all my purchases onto my Mastercard. I tried to switch it with my bank to Visa and they don't offer it. I therefore have to apply for a whole new credit card. I am more than annoyed and might not even bother. I am sure I am not the only one in this position.

Yes, but think of all the Olympic sweepstakes you could enter on VISA which Master, Amex, Discover, Eurocard? WON'T OFFER!!