London ready for Olympics, but Tube a worryReported by SeattlePI.com on Monday, 25 June 2012 (on June 25, 2012)
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London ready for Olympics, but Tube a worry
Associated Press
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Updated 08:38 a.m., Monday, June 25, 2012
In central London's main shopping district, rows of giant flags representing 206 countries flutter over Regent Street, reminding even the most focused shopper: With less than 40 days left until the July 27 opening ceremony, many Londoners remain ambivalent about the city's ability to host the grand event. Despite a 6.5 billion pound (US$ 10 billion) investment in lengthy upgrades, London's Tube system remains notoriously susceptible to bottlenecks, delays and signal failures. Newcomers nervous about navigating such a sprawling city can expect a hand from an army of 8,000 brightly-dressed, trilby hat-wearing volunteers — called Team London Ambassadors — who will be stationed at the airport and around town to provide smiles and tourism advice. If that leaves any doubt about what authorities are doing to secure the Games, consider the equipment on stand-by: surface-to-air missiles, typhoon fighter jets, helicopters and two warships. A poor, long-neglected corner of the capital and a former marsh, the area has had a stunning makeover, with gleaming facilities complete with an athlete's village, landscaped riverside parkland and Europe's largest mall right next to it. While none of the facilities have the grandiose architectural ambition of, say, Beijing's National Stadium (nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" for its memorable steel latticework design), visitors will surely be talking about the Orbit, the area's divisive landmark. Visitors not going to any of the sporting events can get still buy tickets to enter the Olympic Park and go up the Orbit. The park is connected to the city by more than a dozen transport links, including a high-speed train service called the Javelin Shuttle that takes just 7 minutes from St. Pancras station. Giant screens will broadcast Olympic events live to thousands at Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Victoria Park for free, where entertainment will also be provided — including a special appearance by legendary crooner Tom Jones. Starting from Waterloo and heading east, a 40-minute walk will let you take in many of London's most iconic landmarks — the Houses of Parliament, the Big Ben, London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and St. Paul's Cathedral. A recent survey by the booking company Hotels.com suggests that the average hotel room rate in central London during the Games is 213 pounds (US$341) — expensive, but not extortionate given the capital's high costs. [...] if you're stuck on the Tube, or caught in the rain — two entirely possible scenarios — just adopt the British wartime poster slogan, that quintessential mantra of British stoicism: Spectators with tickets to Olympics events get a free Travelcard, which can be used on most modes of transport including the Javelin Shuttle on the day of their event.
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