2012 Olympics in London...

[DLee]

Have you read about this yet?? :eek::no:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics/article-23522363-details/2012+and+the+threat+to+an+iconic+London+landscape/article.do

[Regal Grace]

I've been following this for awhile and yes many Equestrians are not happy with Greenwich. Mind you it's a beautiful park and location to London to die for. I've been there myself and on paper sounds great but not really pratical in terms of cost and suitable venue for the Equestrian segment plus it leaves no legacy to build where the time and money would be better put to use at other Equestrian venues in place already. The UK has a long history of embracing horse sports and there are so many more suitable venues. The location of where they hold the Barbury HT is a fabulous place and spector friendly as well and Hickstead too.

http://www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk/

http://www.hickstead.co.uk/index.php

But given the way the IOC runs the Olympics it never makes sense to me so why should it be any different for London.

[His Greyness]

I have seen similar reports in other U.K. newspapers. The London Olympics are already seriously over their proposed budget. The present political regime (New Labour) in power in the U.K., who supported London's bid, is unpopular and getting more so. Not only people local to Greenwich, but many others are uncomfortable with the choice of Greenwich Park as an Olympic Equestrian venue. So I would say that there is a small (at the moment) but definite possibility that eventing could be dropped from the London 2012 Olympics. After all, who would have expected the British to ban fox-hunting?

Windsor Great Park would be a much better venue. Horse events of all kinds are held there on a regular basis. The Queen could foot the bill!

[bludini]

What about Powderham Castle? I was there back in 94 and they just revamped their cross country course this year.

On another topic. I "heard" I think, it announced that Chicago bid for 2016? Does that mean flutie will be hosting the Equestrian portions? <raising my hand> I'll take vacation and volunteer for the entire event (Eventing and dressage and show jumping)

[vineyridge]

Gatcombe?

It's hosted European Championships before. And Princess Anne would be a great hostess for the Olympics. Or would that give Zara even more of a home field advantage?;)

[Shrapnel]

Why can't they hold the Equestrian Events at one of the facilities used for Badminton or Burghley or Gatcombe, or Blenheim, or Barbury.....

[Mudroom]

On another topic. I "heard" I think, it announced that Chicago bid for 2016? Does that mean flutie will be hosting the Equestrian portions?

Yes Chicago is bidding. Equestrian would be a Tempel Farms, not Lamplight.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/755281/chicago_2016_olympic_planners_choose.html?cat=14

[Sightunseen]

So kind of off topic, but most people have heard about the end of the world being predicted by the Aztecs or Mayans or someone of the like, in 2012, that was always where my aim was, to go to the 2012 Olympics, I remember hearing this and being devastated until i found out that the world is not supposed to end until Nov/Decish...

[poltroon]

I personally am saddened by the idea that they would spend all that money to build a temporary venue, and in England of all places. Wouldn't it be better spent on a permanent location, either one already extant or a new one that would be able to host horse shows indefinitely?

[clivers]

Poltroon - I agree completely!

Bludini - Yup - Chicago's on the short list, but so are Tokyo, Rio and Madrid. Sofar Tokyo is said to have the advantage.

[bludini]

So kind of off topic, but most people have heard about the end of the world being predicted by the Aztecs or Mayans or someone of the like, in 2012, that was always where my aim was, to go to the 2012 Olympics, I remember hearing this and being devastated until i found out that the world is not supposed to end until Nov/Decish...


<snort>

[bludini]

I personally am saddened by the idea that they would spend all that money to build a temporary venue, and in England of all places. Wouldn't it be better spent on a permanent location, either one already extant or a new one that would be able to host horse shows indefinitely?

Ooooo! Ooooo! I know! Take a clue from the Chinese and use a GOLF COURSE! ALWAys a better use of the space for cross country! Hmmmmm. St. Andrews comes to mind <ducking and running>

[LisaB]

Okay, I realize that it sucks that it's going to be a temporary venue and they are spending tons when they have some of the most gorgeous horse venues in the world. BUT, for once the horse sports will be in with all the other sports. For once, our athletes can be included with everyone else. For once, they don't have to travel all over kingdom come to get to the venue. For once, our commentators and Olympic organizers will be close to the heart of the rest of the organizers. For once, other sports enthusiasts will be able to easily get to the equestrian events. And maybe just maybe we will have a small window of opportunity to be a mainline sport.

[bludini]

Okay, I realize that it sucks that it's going to be a temporary venue and they are spending tons when they have some of the most gorgeous horse venues in the world. BUT, for once the horse sports will be in with all the other sports. For once, our athletes can be included with everyone else. For once, they don't have to travel all over kingdom come to get to the venue. For once, our commentators and Olympic organizers will be close to the heart of the rest of the organizers. For once, other sports enthusiasts will be able to easily get to the equestrian events. And maybe just maybe we will have a small window of opportunity to be a mainline sport.
Nice dream, but really, non-riders think our sport is like watching paint dry. Since they don't realize, even at BN, how difficult it is to really make a circle 20M and ROUND, diagonals straight, halts square, free walks free. The only exciting part for them is the hope of seeing one of us eat it jumping (without getting hurt, of course) So being inlcuded with the other vunues won't bring that much bigger of a crowd.

Have you seen much ping pong or badminton at these Olympics? They're contested in the main venue. If it's not mainline American sport (swimming, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball)forget it.

[Ajierene]

So kind of off topic, but most people have heard about the end of the world being predicted by the Aztecs or Mayans or someone of the like, in 2012, that was always where my aim was, to go to the 2012 Olympics, I remember hearing this and being devastated until i found out that the world is not supposed to end until Nov/Decish...

Dec 23rd, 2012 - so we get one more Olympics.....

The date is from Aztec mythology and was seconded by the McKenna brothers and their interpretation of the Chinese I Ching.

I watch a lot of History Channel....

[DLee]

I just figured so much for any chance of it being a remotely gallopy course. :no:

[poltroon]

I think at the end of the day that the closeness of the venues isn't all that important for the spectators. (Very possibly for the athletes.) No matter how close they are, you still can't be in 25 places at once. And I've never had the experience at the World Cup or the like of, "Wow, that was great show jumping. You know what I could go for now? A couple of hours of beach volleyball." :D

[lucretia]

there is no way they will dig up greenwich (a world heritage centre) for a temporary equine facility and do you know why that is? One reason is that part of the plan involves using the adjourning blackheath (open common land) for the horsebox park which is fine but the the officials being given the tour of the proposed site are visiting from the greenwich direction with its marbled white buildings, and dont spend much time i expect in the tenement blocks in blackheath town where most of the residents barely see a horse and could care less about them. the security would be massive, you could park you flash truck there but it might not be where you left it when you return......And i believe as blackheath is common land under british law they would need an act of parliament to dig it up and fence it off. Easy i hear you say, the britsh goverment wants the games they will pass one. well they could try but it would only take one resident to trot to the e high court and the goverment would lose because the laws regarding common lands have charters some on which go back several centuries if not more.
i think the whole thing was a PR excercise to get the games myself the whole idea is ridiculous. and as someone above has said eventing might not even be in it. that descision in the IOC's and nothing to do with the organising comittee. i suppose i dont need to tell you lot on your side of the pond how much money reining is prepared to invest in gettingin and how many members of the American Quarter Horse Association that would back it? and then there is endurance. backed by the money of the maktoums. eventing people will smugly tell you neither of these sports currently fulfils olympic criteria (what ever those are) but do they relly think backer such as these havent thought of that and covered it.
i am a born and bred south londoner by the way and both my brothers still live in the very part of london that will be affected if anyone is wondering.

[snoopy]

there is no way they will dig up greenwich (a world heritage centre) for a temporary equine facility and do you know why that is? One reason is that part of the plan involves using the adjourning blackheath (open common land) for the horsebox park which is fine but the the officials being given the tour of the proposed site are visiting from the greenwich direction with its marbled white buildings, and dont spend much time i expect in the tenement blocks in blackheath town where most of the residents barely see a horse and could care less about them. the security would be massive, you could park you flash truck there but it might not be where you left it when you return......And i believe as blackheath is common land under british law they would need an act of parliament to dig it up and fence it off. Easy i hear you say, the britsh goverment wants the games they will pass one. well they could try but it would only take one resident to trot to the e high court and the goverment would lose because the laws regarding common lands have charters some on which go back several centuries if not more.
i think the whole thing was a PR excercise to get the games myself the whole idea is ridiculous. and as someone above has said eventing might not even be in it. that descision in the IOC's and nothing to do with the organising comittee. i suppose i dont need to tell you lot on your side of the pond how much money reining is prepared to invest in gettingin and how many members of the American Quarter Horse Association that would back it? and then there is endurance. backed by the money of the maktoums. eventing people will smugly tell you neither of these sports currently fulfils olympic criteria (what ever those are) but do they relly think backer such as these havent thought of that and covered it.
i am a born and bred south londoner by the way and both my brothers still live in the very part of london that will be affected if anyone is wondering.



Great Post but south of the river??? Dear oh dear;):lol:

(a little light hearted pi$$ take...lucretia will get it)


Lucetia: On a night bus going to a friends flat I sat next to two folks one who said they lived in Claaahm Common and other Ba-ter-sia...I get so annoyed by that, I started laughing and when asked where I lived, I replied Chizwee.

[LexInVA]

Random question...does Mark Phillips speak in Cockney slang? :lol:

[snoopy]

Random question...does Mark Phillips speak in Cockney slang? :lol:



strictly ew-are.

[lucretia]

Random question...does Mark Phillips speak in Cockney slang? :lol:

no he mostly just mumbles the queens english!!!:)

[His Greyness]

Random question...does Mark Phillips speak in Cockney slang? :lol:

No, he does Upper Class Twit Posh Chat!

[Event4Life]

Ooooo! Ooooo! I know! Take a clue from the Chinese and use a GOLF COURSE! ALWAys a better use of the space for cross country! Hmmmmm. St. Andrews comes to mind <ducking and running>

HAHAHAHHAAHAHA I actually laughed out loud at this...too bad the Olympics is in London and not Edinburgh. I think 9-10 hours drive (esepcially w/ a horse trailer) is probably a bit too far.

I really can't see them being held in Windsor Great Park. As far as I'm aware, Hickstead does not have a cross country course but they could build one I suppose...I'd be all for Hickstead, actually. Great venue! As for Greenwich, I'm sorry, but WTF?! As has been stated, there are sooo many places...Badminton, Burghley, even Blenheim that could be used for way less money than building a whole new temporary venue in the middle of freaking London.

I'm so excited about 2012, I will for sure be spectating!

[ksbadger]

Random question...does Mark Phillips speak in Cockney slang? :lol:

I've talked to him a couple of times & I would say he's got a typical ex-Guards officer accent - what's known as "standard" English. "Cockney" strictly is not an accent or rhyming slang but where you were borne - "within the sound of Bow Bells" (St. Mary le Bow church in the East End of London). CMP probably was stationed in Chelsea Barracks at some point in his career but that's more Central London or the West End.

[LisaB]

Look, I worked with a Brit. He was urban as urban could get. He asked what type of riding I did. I first stated 'English, jumping'. Pretty generic but most folks will get it. He asked ,'What? Dressage, Eventing?'. Hey, ding ding! We have a winner! Let's reel him in. So we got to talking about eventing and I asked him how come he knows so much about it since he's never even seen a horse live. He said,' The BBC shoves it down our throats during the weekends, there's nothing else on so we all start to get involved'. So the locals know all about eventing. It may be a 'slight' pipe dream but the Brits are well acquainted with horse sports and I think the venue will be packed. They are also very sadistic so there will be throngs around the water jump and stuff.
I love that it's in the heart of the city. Adelaide does it in their park so does Malmo. I can see it becoming more realized with our loss of land issue.

[Carol Ames]

I thought NYC:eek: was next in line?:confused:









n another topic. I "heard" I think, it announced that Chicago bid for 2016? Does that mean flutie will be hosting the Equestrian portions? <raising my hand> I'll take vacation and volunteer for the entire event (Eventing and dressage and show jumping) http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/buttons/quote.gif (http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=3443525)