Vuvuzelas and the 2012 Summer Games

While visiting South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, London Mayor Boris Johnson made it clear that he doesn’t want the horns to catch on back home.


“I’m not convinced that we are going to need an Olympic vuvuzela," Johnson said  “It’s a wonderful thing. It’s a beautiful instrument. It’s very easy to master, but I don’t think we’ll necessarily be issuing them to the crowds."


“I’m very impressed with the vuvuzelas and," but he added, “we’re thinking of not having them.

Vuvuzelas and the 2012 Summer Games

While visiting South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, London Mayor Boris Johnson made it clear that he doesn’t want the horns to catch on back home.


“I’m not convinced that we are going to need an Olympic vuvuzela," Johnson said  “It’s a wonderful thing. It’s a beautiful instrument. It’s very easy to master, but I don’t think we’ll necessarily be issuing them to the crowds."


“I’m very impressed with the vuvuzelas and," but he added, “we’re thinking of not having them.

South Africa to bid for 2020 Olympics But what about Vuvuzelas?

South Africa to bid for 2020 Olympics But what about Vuvuzelas?

Vuvuzelas and Wimbledon Which is louder, the Grunt or the Vuvuzela?

Will the Vuvuzela be banned at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London?

Vuvuzelas and Wimbledon Which is louder, the Grunt or the Vuvuzela?

London 2012 outlines vision for welcoming the Olympic Flame to the UK

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today announced that the Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK on Friday 18 May 2012 and will travel around the UK for 70 days, arriving in London the weekend before the 2012 Games begin.

In line with the bid promise to inspire and connect a new generation to the Olympic Movement, 8,000 torchbearers will be selected with over half of the places expected to go to young people. There will be a torchbearer nomination process, expected to be announced in May 2011, giving people across the UK the chance to be involved in this historic countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games.

Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘The Olympic Torch Relay heralds the start of the London 2012 Games, bringing people across the UK together to celebrate the spirit of the Games. The London 2012 Torch Relay will connect people and places, young people to sport and the UK to the rest of the world.’

2012 London Summer Olympics -Inspirational Video - Dreams

London 2012 Summer Olympic Mascots - Wenlock and Mandeville

The launch of the official mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville, for London's Olympic Games continues a strange and colourful tradition

London 2012 Summer Olympic Mascots - Signing the girder, History

London 2012 Summer Olympic Mascots - Trying some sports (part 1)

London 2012 Summer Olympics Mascots - 'Out of a Rainbow'

2012 London Summer Olympics -Mascots- Wenlock and Mandeville.

 London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.



 London promised to connect young people with the power of the Games and in doing so inspire them to choose sport. The mascots will be one of the most powerful ways to connect with young people and deliver this promise.

Created from the last two drops of steel used to build the Olympic Stadium, sport is at the heart of the mascots' story.

Along their journey to London 2012, they will travel around the UK, meeting people and learning about all the Olympic and Paralympic sports – always striving to push beyond their personal best.

Cool New Town Hall will be in heart of the action for 2012 London Olympics

The  Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, a 98-room boutique hotel set to open this month in the gritty surrounds of London’s Bethnal Green, is being hailed as further proof that the city’s east end is firmly on the road to chicness.

Built a century ago, the imposing Edwardian building was reimagined by Loh Lik Peng, a hotelier with  history of developing cool design hotels in Singapore. Much of the grand interior remains, with swaths of oak paneling and marble floors, a soaring glazed dome and vast mahogany-walled suites.

Artists from the neighborhood — which is rich with artists – have been commissioned for one-off installations. Nuno Mendes, an up-and-coming Portuguese chef, will be in charge of the in-house Viajante restaurant.

Hotels watchers might consider the hotel, with rack rates starting at £290 for a short-term stay ($435 at $1.50 to the pound; cheaper rates available on the Web site), to be awkwardly situated. But two of London’s most charming markets — Columbia Road Flower Market and Broadway Market –  are within walking distance. Hoxton Square is a quick cab ride.  And when the 2012 Olympics roll in town, about two miles away, Town Hall will be in the heart in the action.

London Summer Olympics - Preparations and News!

London 2012 budget "worringly tight" warns Parliamentary Committee

A Parliamentary Committee report published today has warned the £9.325 billion ($14.069 billion) budget for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is "tight" with only £194 million ($293 million) available to cover any new risks in the build-up to the Games and has cast doubt over whether £400 million ($603 million) can be raised in ticket sales.

The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) reported that building work is on schedule for test events to begin next year but had fears that the project could still be hit by unforeseen problems.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), which is in charge of Olympic build and infrastructure, has £1,270 million ($1,916 million) left from the original £2,747 million ($4,145 million) contingency. Much of this is earmarked to meet predicted risks, leaving only £194 million ($293 million) "headroom," the PAC found.

March 2010 London Olympic Games Update

Extra £500m added to bill for London Olympics

Taxpayers could be hit with an additional £500million bill for the London Olympics, it was revealed today. The extra cash will be needed to convert the Olympic park and its sports venues after the 2012 Games.

Baroness Ford, chief of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, today said that the costs were not covered under the existing £9.3billion budget. She told the culture, media and sport select committee that the funding may come from central government, the Department for Communities and Local Government, City Hall, or a combination of the three.

Lady Ford said: “The £350 million (fund) is sometimes mistakenly called the legacy budget but that is a misconception because it is largely to discharge planning obligations. Quite a lot of things are out of the scope of that. To get the park properly up and running is quite a lot of money.”

2012 London Summer Olympics Update

Olympic Stadium reaches full height

The first of the Olympic Stadium’s lighting towers has been successfully lifted into place.

View photos of the Olympic Stadium

2012 London Summer Olympics - LOGO