Simply Abu Dhabi VI

2 0 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I L ondon is a place where history seeps from every street corner and every building - but even in this exceptional city, 2012 will be a very special year. Not only will Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II be celebrating her Diamond Jubilee at BuckinghamPalace, but for the first time in over half a century, London will be hosting the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’: the Olympic Games. The British may be known for their reserved character, but their capital erupted with joy when they found they had been awarded the honour of hosting the Games. London has been a powerful force on the global stage for centuries, and is still at the heart of world affairs. But since it last hosted the Olympics in 1948, the city has utterly transformed its character. London is now more exciting than ever: a diverse global hub which is a centre of finance, business and culture, sometimes chaotic, often confusing, but always fascinating and thrilling. What better place could there be to bring the Games? The city has been hard at work in preparation for years: the Games will use a total workforce of around 200,000 people, including 6,000 staff; 70,000 volunteers and 100,000 contractors. The Olympic Park, the centre of sporting action, has been constructed in the historic eastern part of the City: a continually evolving melting pot which will now become the focal point for phenomenally talented competitors from across the world to gather. In total at London 2012 there will be 10,500 athletes competing in 26 sports and 39 different disciplines at 34 different venues, many of which have been built completely from scratch for the Games. A spectacle like no other One of the most striking new competitive arenas is the Aquatics Centre, designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid. It has a spectacular wave-like roof which is 160m long and about 80m wide – which gives it a longer single span than Heathrow Terminal 5. And in the hope he can replicate the three gold medals he claimed at the Beijing Games in 2008, Brits will also be cheering on star cyclist Sir Chris Hoy at the new velodrome. The arena has 500 seats located around the track and a further 2,500 suspended in two upper tiers in the roof, with a glass wall that gives spectators a 360-degree view across the Olympic Park - and allows people outside to see the sporting action inside. The Olympics will be graced by many more massive global stars including the Jamaican 100m world record holder Usain Bolt, but every country will have its own heroes to support - hoping to celebrate their triumphs but ready to commiserate disappointments. The classic Olympic moments are remembered for generations, gripping dramas that become woven into the fabric of history. On the Olympic stage there is nowhere to hide: the whole world is watching this ultimate test of mental and physical strength, where hours, weeks and months of training will be distilled into a single moment. And following the Olympics will be the Paralympic Games, where 4,200 athletes with physical disabilities will compete in 20 sports and 21 disciplines, with a total of 503 medal events. Unsurprisingly, a huge number of tickets have been sold: in total there will be 10.8 million ticketholders (8.8mOlympic, 2m Paralympic). But the Games themselves are only the start. A variety of engaging and often spectacular events taking place alongside the sporting challenges will take London’s vibrant spirit to new heights. There will be over 1,000 different events around the UK as part of the Cultural Olympiad, with 10 million free opportunities as well as 3 million paid-for tickets. In fact, 14 million people have already participated in Cultural Olympiad events, including four Open Weekends and BT National Portrait Gallery exhibitions. Over 155,000 people have attendedmore than 8,000 Cultural Olympiad workshops. A spirit of generosity Despite the intensity of the athletic competition, the Olympics are ultimately rooted in a spirit of generosity and understanding across borders: which is why it’s fitting that the London 2012 organisers have been working with local communities in the city and beyond to capitalise on sport’s power to inspire and to transform lives. 200,000 Ticketshare tickets have been made available for schools, colleges, and troops, and 24,000 schools and colleges are participating in the Get Set programme, which involves children and young people in the inspiration of the Olympics. In turn, many citizens are contributing themselves to the London Olympics: by putting in 1 million hours of training and 8 million volunteer hours, up to 70,000 ‘Games Maker’ volunteers will be absolutely fundamental to the expected success of the Games. Many believe that the Olympic Spirit is best symbolised through the tradition of the Olympic Torch, which links the modern Games to their forerunner in Ancient Greece at the sacred site of Olympia. A flame burned throughout the ancient Olympic Games, as it also does at the modern Olympics, and ever since 1936, a torch has been lit in Olympia and carried by a series of relay runners to the city hosting the Games. This year within the UK alone there will be a total of 8,000 inspiring Torchbearers, who will travel 8,000 miles through over 1,000 communities, villages, towns and cities over 70 days. On average, 110 Torchbearers will take part each day and the Flame will travel 110 miles. 50% of the Torchbearers will be aged between 12 and 24, and the route they take will mean that 95% of the UK population will be within 10 miles of the Flame. The Olympic Torch tradition has led to some truly memorable occasions - such as when boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who was by then suffering fromParkinson’s disease, lit the flame in Atlanta in 1996. Bill Clinton, then US President, said to Ali “They didn’t tell me who would light the flame, but when I saw it was you, I cried.” Occasions like these underline the fact that the Olympics are not just for the host city: they are for everyone. That’s why people from across the world are set to visit the London this summer, determined not to miss this once in a lifetime experience.