A new 2012 website has been launched to try and involve the youngsters to get involved. Its not got much on it yet but I’m sure it will grow as the years go by. Theres a few interactive bits and pieces aimed at different ages groups from 3-19 years. Take a look at www.getset.london2012.com

Those of you who were lucky enough to get tickets to the handover party in London last month, will have had the chance to buy one of the many 2012 pin badges available as limited editions.
Coming in all shapes and sizes, the badges were sold for around £7 each. Theres no telling when or where they will become available to buy again. An official online shop for merchandise is sheduled to open in 2009. However those Ebay sellers are hard at work making a healthy profit selling them for around £18- £50 and beyond. If your interested take a look at all the ‘memorabilia’ HERE. (but watch out for those fakes!)

Photo by mac morrison

Get involved with the Open Weekend to celebrate the olympics coming to London. Britains buildings will be open for the weekend 26- 28th September 2008 and other selected dates. These include Behind the scenes tours of BBC TV studios, Theatre Halls and Museums. And its all FREE! But you’ll have to hurry because places are very limited.

Join in HERE

View live image captures of the olympic building site
HERE and HERE

Above image- CliqueCAM HD Webcam

The organisers are hoping that 100% of spectators will get to the games by the various methods of public transport, cycling or by foot.
With around 8 million tickets being sold, the transport will need to be up to scratch. The transport plans for the Games will help transform the Lower Lea Valley into one of the best connected areas in the capital which will go far beyond the olympic period. Much of the work is expected to be finished before 2012. Train lines and stations will be updated and some new stops added. Also the capacity on some lines will increase by 50 per cent. Another £4bn of improvements are also underway across the Tube network.
The famous frequency problems with the buses is expected to improve and a network of cycle lanes and walking routes will be developed, connecting the Park and other venues into the wider London networks.

You can read more about transport improvements by going HERE

Image by George Dunkley

Building the Olympic park is a job twice the size of Heathrow’s Terminal Five. The Park is located in the Lower Lea Valley area of east London. Much of the site itself is contaminated, derelict and abandoned. The waterways in the area have suffered from years of neglect.

“The 2012 Games will help to revitalise this part of London and open the east of the capital to development opportunities.”- Olympic Delivery Authority

The buildings due to be built include the main stadium, aquatics centre and energy centre. An Olympic village will also be built to accommodate athletes and workers and will include shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. After the games the village will be transformed into up to 3,300 new homes, with a mix of affordable housing, and accommodation for sale and rent. After the Games the park area itself will be transformed into the largest urban park created in Europe for more than 150 years.
The ODA say that it is commitment to recover and reuse or recycle 90 per cent of the waste created through the ‘big build’ phase of the project.

The architects are HOK Sport/ Buro Happold who also created the stadiums at previous olympics such as Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

More images and photos of the site and venues can be seen at HERE
A promotion video of the constuction plans can be seen HERE

Image from the ODA

Up to 70,000 volunteers will be needed to help put on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Recruitment will start in 2010. London is looking for volunteers from across the UK – from a range of communities and backgrounds. You can volunteer to have specific (e.g. medical) roles or General roles (e.g. event services). For general roles, special skills or qualifications are not needed and everyone will receive full training.

Register your interest HERE

Photo taken by Pepijn Vanthoor

Olympic sponsors Adidas have launched a range of 2012 branded sports gear including t-shirts, caps and hoodies.

See the range exclusivly being sold at JD Sports HERE

Original image by Alex Surrey

London will host the next olympics in 4 years time. At the Beijing closing ceremony today we showed the world what to expect from us.

Right then, this blog is where you’ll find all the latest news on the London 2012 olympics. But not the sport!
This blog is all about the branding, promotion, design and people behind the olympic games. Everything from the logo to the closing ceremony. The olympics isn’t just a sporting event, it’s a brand.
Over the next few years you will find information on the opening and closing ceremonies, tickets, volunteering, the stadiums, merchandise and loads more.
The games are due to start in London on 27 July to 12 August 2012.

And me to favourites or whatever.

Enjoy