Some Thoughts On 1,000 Days To Go

Time's running out!

In 1,000 days' time the first Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Games will begin. The point is marked tonight after 8.30pm on BBC1 (the Lottery Show) and with fireworks across the London sky-line. I'll be at Primrose Hill. Come!

It's a good moment to step back and have a think about things. I've worked at the Organising Committee for about 640 days, so I'm over 1/3 of the way there already. I have always - always - been a big advocate for the bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games here. I remember the initial discussions and how difficult it was at points in the early stages of the bid to persuade the more curmudgeonly officials and politico's. I remember the decision day, and being poised at a computer with 3 draft statements ready to go out at the push of a button - London win; Paris win; Madrid/Moscow/New York win.

It seems a different world. Now I get to contribute inside the body that will actually stage the event in 1,000 days.

My job is great, and I take great pride and satisfaction when the hard work and creative approach comes off - in Parliament, in the devolved assemblies, with individual MPs, Peers, Ministers, Civil Servants etc. But I get a huge kick from seeing fantastic work of others around me, who are the best and sparkiest in their respective fields - and brought together under one roof by the attraction of working on 2012. In the course of things I've learned loads on the technical/operational side but also absorbed so much across sport, culture, new media, press and areas that I had hardly been exposed to before January 2008 when I signed my name in black felt pen on the over-sized LOCOG Vision and Values now up on the wall at work.

There are so many highlights, though, and generally the unexpected things. Here's a Top 10:

* being personally inspired by being around a fair few Olympic/Paralympic athletes that have achieved amazing things (and realising how funny and enjoyable people they are whether they're young up-and-coming current champions, or legends - Seb, Jonathan Edwards, Giles Long, Christine Ohuruogu (the giggliest by far), Jason Gardener, Leon Taylor...) It's no coincidence that after I meet one, I end up gymming/running/squashing a lot in the few days afterwards.

* helping manage an area at the London 2012 Handover Party on the Mall in front of Buck House, and watching the Mayor of London take the flag before Mrs Boris texted how proud she felt (I'd helped her and her family get to their vantage point)

* being sung happy birthday by my Olympian boss underneath the London Assembly. a bizarre moment. (Note to self - never invite him to karaoke.)

* twittering for work and timing the VIP time-trial (from the front carriage) of the Javelin train from St Pancras to Stratford International

* being force-fed Welsh Cakes by the Welsh First Minister who thought everyone else in the meeting was too old and would have a heart attack if they had them (they were indeed lovely)

* physically following in the footsteps of diver Matthew Mitcham on to the Beijing 2008 Diving Board in the Water Cube (but not jumping off). actually, working in the London 2012 press office at the Beijing Paralympic Games was an amazing opportunity for me, so I soaked up every last minute of it - the atmosphere, how the place worked, the venues, the feel of the field of play.

* having to tell the Prime Minister he'd made a mistake and gone the wrong way on a visit (cue raised eyebrows and an ''ooh" - but him putting his hand on my back to reassure me my career hadn't just imploded after all)

* learning my way around the Olympic Park in Stratford so I can now tour-guide my own minibus. (my tourism past comes back to haunt me)

* watching the 2016 host city selection with colleagues to see Rio triumph (I predicted the winner correctly, if not the full order)

* standing on the 100m line - or up in the rafters of the Olympic Stadium - and imagining exactly what it's going to be like, and how lucky I really am (see pic I took yesterday, above)

What will the next 1,000 days bring? After the fireworks have dimmed tonight, I know of one highlight that'll take place next week, so god knows what'll happen next...

Calling All Greenwich Park Users

New post on Londonist: http://londonist.com/2009/10/calling_all_greenwich_park_users.php

Olympic Icons: Matthew Mitcham, Diver

woop!

http://www.london2012.com/blog/2009/10/20/olympic-icons-matthew-mitcham-diver.php

Obama Speech to HRC - blowing the doors off

In West Wing there's a point where a character says that the greatest speech can blow the doors off a hall.

This was yesterday. I think President Obama did it, in a speech to the Human Rights Campaign, the main gay civil rights group in the US.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Half-Way! Bum. Hump Year?

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

I'm 35 in 2 weeks. The old bible isn't often quoted on this blog (mainly because it's fictional and normally cited by wingnuts) but it does help remind that not so long ago, hitting 35 would have heralded life's half-way point. Which technically makes me middle-aged. And if Wednesday is 'hump day' then does that make 35 'hump year'?

Far from having a middle-age crisis, I plan to go out clubbing at the weekend after my birthday, just as I did in my 20s and early 30s. And, as then, don't expect me back before dawn. No speeding up, nothing special - but no slowing down quite yet either. But it does pose a challenge - what about in, say, 10 years time? If I'm slowing down then, is there anything I should be desperately seeking to get done now?

Well, I've never believed in big life plans. Set a course, do what you love, don't be afraid to strike out and take a risk, and milk every moment that you can. Big things will inevitably pop up, and they should simply be grabbed. But there's little point in setting out a masterplan and sticking to every point. En route there are a few modest things I'd like to get done in the next few years:

* Take photography lessons. I do love my canon camera and take good pics but without any real clue what I'm doing - and I'd like to.

* Get my marathon time to sub-4 hours. I've had this aim for too many years. I'm over 6 minutes outside, but I'm going to get there if it (almost) kills me.

* Start up a small business or consultancy. God knows what in!

* Refresh my french to basic and up to basic-fluent. I'm fed up of being an idiotic Englishman unable to speak someone else's language. And French would be useful.

* Buy an acoustic guitar and re-learn how to play. Would be good to perform somewhere, even if it's only one tune on an open mic style night in some grotty pub. (That's preferably empty.)

* Travel to Asia and South America as I've hardly been to the former and never been to the latter. And it's probably about time. Rio anyone?

Thankfully, I'm only half-way - so with a bit of luck (and with no help from the beardy old chap upstairs however much he's quoted in the big book) I've got a little bit of time to get these done.

Happy hump year, and happy half-way!

Rio 2016 Presentation Video

Brilliant.

But is it just me or is this inspired in part by the amazing British Airways ad in the late 80s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxs106rp5RQ

Rio 2016 - Suddenly Someone There Right Behind Us. (NB Including Full Voting Figures)

Apologies for being a bit tiddly.

Wow, what a day! Tonight Rio de Janeiro just won 2016.

All of a sudden, for everyone working to ensure that London 2012 are the best possible Olympic Games and Paralympic Games - finally there's someone right behind us, over our shoulder. Rio enjoys a day or two of partying, ecstacy and celebration.

And then the international Olympic and Paralympic movements focus right back on London, the next summer host city. In the mean-time, hats off to Rio. What a campaign, and what amazing bids they had to beat. Wow. Great party. Great day. Great day for the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Very proud.

NB THE VOTES WERE AS FOLLOWS - note that Rio almost won outright in the second round, crikey. And 2:1 in the final!

ROUND 1 :

MADRID - 28
RIO DE JANEIRO - 26
TOKYO - 22
CHICAGO- 18

ROUND 2:

RIO DE JANEIRO - 46
MADRID - 29
TOKYO - 20

ROUND 3:

RIO DE JANEIRO - 66
MADRID - 32

Where do you stand on all Parties' approaches to the drugs problem?

Interesting debate up on LordsOfTheBlog by learned stalwart Lord Norton of Louth (my former tutor). He discusses the potential decriminalisation of drugs - good idea, bad idea?

Go see and add your ha'pennyworth to the comments. You never know, it might lead to a Royal Commission (my suggestion):

http://lordsoftheblog.net/2009/09/14/decriminalising-drugs/

London Bus Battles Porsche (and Totals Bus Stop)

aftermath here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-PxxfCRw2Q&NR=1

Bloomberg and Matt Damon

Not sure the humour works, but top marks for trying

Can you see any of our party leaders doing something like this?

Oh, and of course this gives the excuse to have a look at the classic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd4o_hUXbfs and the response (which I've not seen before) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxvQks8iD4

What.A.Shot.

Ted Kennedy's Posthumous Letter to Obama

This is the text of the letter written by Sen. Kennedy in May to be sent to President Obama upon the Senator's death. Obama quoted it in his healthcare reform address to Congress on Wednesday night. Wow.

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me and one last time, to salute your leadership in giving our country back its future and its truth.

On a personal level, you and Michelle reached out to Vicki, to our family and me in so many different ways. You helped to make these difficult months a happy time in my life.You also made it a time of hope for me and for our country.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the president who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society. For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination.

There will be struggles - there always have been - and they are already under way again. But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat that you will stay with the cause until it is won.

I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth.

And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will - yes, we will - fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.

In closing, let me say again how proud I was to be part of your campaign and proud as well to play a part in the early months of a new era of high purpose and achievement. I entered public life with a young president who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young president inspires another generation and once more on America's behalf inspires the entire world.

So, I wrote this to thank you one last time as a friend and to stand with you one last time for change and the America we can become. At the Denver Convention where you were nominated, I said the dream lives on.

And I finished this letter with unshakable faith that the dream will be fulfilled for this generation, and preserved and enlarged for generations to come.

With deep respect and abiding affection,

(Ted)

Hat-tip to Theo's blog

Four To Follow At London's Paralympic Games

http://londonist.com/2009/08/our_four_to_follow_at_londons_paral.php

Olympic Icon - Lasse Viren

http://www.london2012.com/blog/2009/08/20/olympic-icons-lasse-viren-the-flying-finn.php

Scrat

woop! we ♥ scrat

also go here: http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoaftMZR.html