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.