Forum Topic

Olympics-even the media get shafted!

After much ironic laughter over a beer or two, a cameraman pal who is accredited for the Olympics showed his Olympic pass. To the sites only the rest is a lottery.He gets a free Oyster card. Due to the games being off limits to cars etc.Then on another document, he is advised that he cannot - for Health and safety reasons, Insurance reasons and security reasons, carry more than one large item on the underground or buses during the Olympic period. So no stepladder, battery packs or lens cases, or wet weather gear.He can however, use a car and make use of the games lanes. There will not however, be parking guaranteed as priority is given obviously to competitors and officials and then sponsors.He can have a games lane permit though. For the Olympic site his for £2,425 plus congestion charge as per usual. for Wembley and other venues add £425- £670 on top.He is far from happy as it already will be 16 hour shifts and NO extra money from the norm.He doubts whether there are any media organisations bar the BBC and Sky that could afford the charges but suspects that it was deliberate to ensure the lanes are really purely for VIPs and not for anyone as he says, unfortunate enough to have to work there.Sponsors will of course not be paying for the games lane use.

Michael Brandt ● 5027d8 Comments

I have to admit that I like to sit on the right-gand side at the front on the 83 . The views of changing urban architecture along the route are interesting, nothing touristy, just very insightful.I like to travel everywhere by bus if I can. The tube is very unhealthy: there is no proper ventilation on most tube lines and the view is very limited when travelling through dark and dirty tunnels.

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

Re  journey often times myself.      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      try it Jon, sit upstairs at the back on the l/hand side. Very revealing.  As to the East End, I would always go by tube.

Tony Price ● 5024d

The 83 is a very long bus route. I have wondered about the journey often times myself. Have you noticed that it is impossible to get from West London to East London (Ealing Broadway to the Excel Centre in East London) in less than three bus journeys (across three different routes obviously) and it takes about three hours to do on a good day?

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

Good question!

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

Re  Ealing for "Olympic decorations" has been spent on?          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx have the Council not said how and where this money has been spent?

Tony Price ● 5024d

Olympic rings noticeable only by their marked abscence.Even TFL have had their knuckles rapped and had to reprint all their signage.Costing ££££s and hence the cheap and nasty signage now being applied.Wholly ironic that the only place you can see the rings in abundance is on the roads marking the 'Games Lanes'  So the rings are now a sign for a fine.Well done LOCOG.

Michael Brandt ● 5024d

I noticed that a lot of lamp-posts in Ealing have gained faded-looking dull-coloured banners saying: "Inspire a generation". Is this what the £50,000 that Boris Johnson has given Ealing for "Olympic decorations" has been spent on? Inspire a generation to do what: run a cat hospice -- it does not specify? What is wrong with some plain old white banners with some colourful Olympic rings on them?

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

Re  Wembley and other venues add £425- £670 on top.          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx maybe the 83 bus won't be too much delayed then on it's way to Golders Green, often taking 2 hours from central Ealing.

Tony Price ● 5027d