The start of Olympic Games is only 73 days but many of us are focusing on the Diamond Jubilee at the moment. The build up the Jubilee is very exciting, especially as we look ahead to the River Pageant. This is going to be the biggest event on the River Thames for 350 years (since Charles 11 if you like to know) with over 1000 boats forming a procession that will be 7 miles in length taking 90 minutes to pass by. There will even be a boat as a belfry with newly cast bells on ringing all the way and being 'answered' by bells in church towers along the route. The Royal Family will be on a boat and your blog writer will be in the Tower of London on the day so expect lots of photos and excitement in future blogs!
As well as the build up to the Jubilee, the Olympic preparations are all around us. I heard that the wonderful viewing platform and cafe by the Olympic Park was closing as the area will be an access route to the Park, so I headed down there to bring you the last photos of the venues. Stratford is the main gateway tube station for the Olympics and you can see their signage is up and ready!
There are 2 key places to view the Olympic Park in Stratford, the first being an indoor viewing area in John Lewis which
gives you the chance to see the stadium and the wonderfully curved
aquatic centre, on the left of this photo.
Across the other side of the park is the Greenway with its View Tube Cafe where you can see the stadium and Orbit right in front of you and they serve a great cup of coffee too!
The stadium looks wonderful and will be the centre piece of the games and the park, seating 80,000 spectators for the much anticipated opening ceremony which has Danny Boyle (director of Slumdog Millionaire) as its Artistic Director . The red Orbit tower is impressive, looking like a crazy helter skelter and was designed by Anish Kapoor.
The Orbit tower has a viewing platform that will open during the games and will be accessible by a lift or by the 455 spiral staircase if you are feeling very energetic! At 376 feet/114 metres it is Britain's tallest sculpture. It is made from 60% recycled steel to reflect one of the key themes of the London Olympics. It is a controversial structure but I love it, it is crazy and wild looking but has energy and distinctiveness.
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| Olympic clock 73 days to go! |
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| Stratford station |
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| View from John Lewis |
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| View Tube Cafe |
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| Stadium and Orbit |
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| Olympic Stadium |
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| Orbit |
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| Orbit viewing platform
The great views from the
View Tube cafe will be closed from 18th May but will reopen later in the
year so I will keep an eye open for this news. Soon, however, you'll be able to
see the park from the inside as, after all, it is only 73 days to go!
Bye for now,
Sue
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
@itsyourlondon
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