| The Olympic Games were first celebrated in 776 | | | | and ride schemes are included among the many |
| BC in Olympia (hence the name) in Greece. | | | | plans to decongest traffic. Some concern has |
| According to legend, Hercules is the originator of | | | | been expressed on the logistics of travel outside |
| The Olympic Games. Legend says they were | | | | London. |
| created to honor Hercules father, Zeus. | | | | The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will use |
| They were celebrated until 393 A.D. Pierre Fridy, | | | | a mixture of newly built venues, existing and |
| Baron de Coubertin, revived the Olympics in their | | | | historic facilities, and temporary facilities. Some |
| modern form in 1896. The Olympics are a contest | | | | locations are well known such as Hyde Park and |
| of multiple sports and are divided into the | | | | Horse Guards Parade. The land in the east end of |
| Summer and Winter Olympics. The Winter | | | | London chosen for the site needs decontamination |
| Olympics are a much smaller event than the | | | | and major remedial work before it can be fit for |
| Summer Games. | | | | the games. |
| In 1896 there were 241 participants from 14 | | | | What is going to be involved in the development |
| nations. This number grew until there were 11,100 | | | | proposal are compulsory purchases of some |
| competitors from 202 countries in The 2004 | | | | businesses. This has caused some amount of |
| Summer Olympics in Athens. The Olympics are a | | | | angst with businesses not being happy with the |
| huge media event. Well over half the world | | | | compensation offered. With all these logistical |
| watched the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 (3.8 | | | | issues, it seems the cost for the 2012 London |
| billion to be exact). | | | | Olympics could rise to nearly four times the figure |
| The growth of the Olympics is one of the major | | | | set out during the bid. |
| problems of the Olympics today. Sponsorships | | | | From an initial figure of 2.35 billion pounds, what is |
| solved financial problems in the 1980's. Today the | | | | being discussed now is a staggering cost of 9 |
| large number of athletes, media and spectators | | | | billion pounds. Construction alone could now cost |
| make it difficult and expensive to host the | | | | 3.3 billion pounds. 2 billion pounds have been |
| Olympics. A great amount of infrastructure is | | | | allocated as a contingency fund. Regeneration |
| needed. | | | | costs of 1.8 billion and a 1 billion pound VAT bill |
| London is to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The | | | | have also been added to the costs. Security costs |
| games are to be held from 27th July to 12th | | | | have grown to 900 million pounds. The causes for |
| August 2012, to be followed by the Paralympic | | | | a rise in costs include rise in commodity prices, |
| Games. An Olympic Village has been proposed to | | | | adjustments to transport figures to reflect 2012 |
| be built with 17,320 beds providing a comfortable | | | | prices and a revised estimate for inflation on |
| and spacious environment for athletes. | | | | construction costs. |
| There is to be a massive redevelopment of public | | | | Will the 2012 Olympics fulfill their aim, which is to |
| transport. This includes the expansion of the | | | | stage inspirational Games that capture the |
| London Underground's East London Line, upgrades | | | | imagination of young people around the world and |
| to the Docklands Light Railway and the North | | | | leave a lasting legacy? Only time will tell. However, |
| London Line, and the new "Javelin" service. The | | | | with the effort being put in, we can hope that |
| organizers aim to make 90% of venues | | | | London 2012 will fly faster, higher, stronger and |
| accessible by at least three forms of public | | | | leave us happy memories of an Olympics well |
| transport and 93% of training facilities to be within | | | | done. |
| 30 minutes of travel of the athletes housing. Park | | | | |