Thursday 26 July 2012

Olympics Sidelights


It's very exciting having the Olympics here in London, but I've never been into competitive sport, so sorry but you will have to look elsewhere for a commentary on the games. But it's so much fun to go around the city and find that parts of it have been totally transformed. It makes it feel like a new place.

Yesterday, for instance, outside Southwark Cathedral, a large area was cordoned off and painted bright red, in fact, VERY bright headache-inducing red. I spotted a figure of Wenlock, the Olympic mascot. That's him, on the left.



Personally I find Wenlock pretty darn creepy with his single eye, although he is certainly memorable. Anyway behind Wenlock was a small climbing wall, with some people scrambling up it.



This wall was called a "Qualification Park." I was intrigued, and found that if you climb up to the top (honestly it is not very far), you are entered into a competition for a very interesting sounding prize - a place for the winner and friend on the special anniversary trip in 2013 to commemorate the original Thomas Cook trip to Switzerland in 1863.

I was too hot to enter but I might go back and have a go later. If you're on the south bank and want to enter, the contest closing date is 12 August.

A bit further on I saw something being put together. What was it? I had absolutely no idea, It was also that dazzling shade of red, but I learned that it was nothing to do with Switzerland.

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I asked one of these men in yellow jackets (the one on the right) to tell me all about it. I wish I had taken a close up photo of this man - he looked wonderful, with coloured dreadlocks and teeth patched all over with gold, so his mouth sparkled and twinkled as he spoke.

Yes, he said, it was to do with the Olympics. No, he didn't know what it was, although someone had told him it was connected with an American supermarket chain called Target. We agreed we couldn't imagine what an American supermarket chain might be promoting in the London Olympics. He added "Actually I think this thing is a tribute to Dr. Dre's headphones."

Well, I'll probably find out next time I pass, but it might not be as good as Dr. Dre.

There were lots of police mingling with the crowds, and quite a few "Olympic Ambassadors." This group were having fun, chatting and laughing together. The Ambassador idea is very inclusive, and old, young, disabled or able bodied have all applied.


There was a great atmosphere on the South Bank, and I hope the Games are just as much fun, and that the sun continues to shine. After all the rain we have been having, you won't catch me complaining even if it is, actually, a bit too hot.


52 comments:

  1. I can't wait for the Olympics to over. I have no interest in competitive sport either, unfortunately the rest of my family don't feel the same.

    Great photos!

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  2. I can tell you that Target is a retail chain that began in Minneapolis, Minnesota many years ago. It recently began carrying groceries, some of which are organic. They have also very recently decided to open slightly smaller "markets" in urban areas. Several are opening in major U.S. cities soon. Too Much information? :)

    Anyway, I also find the mascot a little odd. I'm afraid I'm not into the sports spectacular, but it does seem to bring people from all over the world together with a commonality, which is good.

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  3. I suppose it's a good thing you're getting something out of it that isn't directly games-y but I'm thoroughly bored with the whole thing up here in the East Midlands. I wish everyone would just shut up about it. TV, radio, advertising, overheard conversations in the street - it's like nothing else is going on in the world!

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  4. Thanks for showing this more quirky side of the Olympics. Personally I’ll be glad when it’s all over.That mascot is deeply unsettling, but apparently children like it!

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  5. Thanks for the info on Target, Teresa. I had seen it I think but none of the names really mean much to me cause I don't use them regularly. I sometimes think children like ANYTHING horrible and tasteless, Nell ! Thanks, Lynne, I now think hosting the games will be fun, now I can actually see some signs of it in front of my nose. Mind you I didn't get up at 5.30 AM to see the torch come to Camden, there ARE limits. AJ and Joe, seems like Mitt Romney has been noticing this very lack of enthusiasm - what did he say now? something about Anglo Saxons not being prepared to support the London games... oh no... was it that the games weren't Anglo Saxon enough to become popular ... or ... um, was it just that he wanted to forget good relations between our two countries - I mean, "forge" them...uh..oh..um :D

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  6. hi,Jenny.
    The most exciting event in the world will be soon!
    I am wondering about how I should manage to have enough sleep during the Olympic games.I see the beautiful lit power bridge with five rings on TV news every morning and evening these days, and I remember you.
    Tomoko

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  7. That mascot is creepy for sure!
    I'm sure the 'Target' sign is in preparation for an epic commercial. Yea, that company does things like that. As for the Olympics, I won't be watching them but many who live in my house will including hubby. From now until it's over, he'll have one of the tv's turned onto the games to watch. I think he'll make up the time that I don't watch....

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  8. You are right, Jenny, nobody should be complaining about too much sun these days!! The bright red painted area reminds me of a music video clip that was out in the 1980s, by Duran Duran.
    And the prize certainly sounds like something worth entering this particular contest for! I'm just a bit too far away from the South Bank :-)
    I like it how you talk about the Olympics from your perspective - without all the sporty stuff.

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  9. Even not being a fan of sports, it's so much fun to see the transformations taking place on the streets of London! Thanks for the views we don't see here.

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  10. I love the South Bank....each time I go to London I go there with friends to enjoy the atmosphere.
    As for Wenlock...which perverted idiot thought that up and which perverted idiots adopted it...?

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  11. Guess what I had never even heard of Wenlock until I read this post!

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  12. It sounds pretty exciting. I agree with you that Wenlock looks pretty creepy

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  13. The fun, warmth and camaraderie of nations and the local community is sure to increase as time goes on. In BC, during the Winter Olympics of 2010 we had awesome warm weather … the rain suddenly stopped and it wasn’t feeling at all wintry on the Lower Mainland. It made everyone cheerful and the goodwill spilled out onto the streets. It will be similar in England. Also, similar are the mascots … can’t understand the choices that were made in BC either. :)

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  14. Jenny, It seems the Olympic mascots get a little stranger each time the games come around. I am not for sure what that is all about. I once loved to watch the games, but now that so many of the competitors are "professionals" it seems to taint it just a bit. I will still watch some of it I am sure. I hope this proves to be good for London's economy. And yes I would recognize Target's logo anywhere. I most definitely think you should enter the "Thomas Cook" adventure. Bonnie

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  15. The mascot is definitely strange, not something you'd want to cuddle up with. I like sports, but the Olympics is so hyped it just leaves me cold.

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  16. Haha, Olympic mascots are always controversial... In Barcelona 20 years ago many people did not like Cobi at all..
    In this case, I agree with you about the one-eye but I like the colors and the pattern :)

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  17. I agree Wenlock is definitely kind of scary! It must be fun to be in london and watch it all happening around you. I'd love to get some photos of the event and reaction to it. But it is terrible to try to get in or out at the moment, and so, we are hiding in our quiet burrow in the countryside until it is over. So you will have to tell us all! x

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  18. Where i live, Target is the big competition to Wal-Mart. They are probably looking to go international, which is why they are there.

    The Ambassador idea is very cool, and i hope you get wonderful weather for the games.

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  19. The mascot reminds me of a character from Monsters Inc. There might be copyright infringements. LOL
    It must be wonderful to have everything transformed into something new. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  20. Thanks for providing us with some very interesting pre-Olympic atmosphere. I certainly agree with you - - that is the creepiest, most bizarre mascot I've ever seen.

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  21. hahahahahaha... the minute I saw the red and white circles, I said what is Target or as we like to call it "la tarjey" doing in London?
    When my children where younger I shopped there all the time.
    When my daughter-in law comes from Japan the first place she wants to go is Target.
    I am a big mascot fan and I looked up the London ones. I loved Vancouver's mascots.
    I know you have two one for the Olympics and one for the Paralympic. I read the background about the idea behind them which is interesting but when I was working (10,000 years ago) in advertising if you had to explain the idea then you lost the consumer. I think iris, the creative agency who designed them, over thought it.
    I rather like them but they are very strange.

    cheers, parsnip

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  22. I was in London yesterday, caught a glimpse of all the excitement - it's all great fun. And I'm not hugely into sport - but can see that this is a great opportunity to involve our young people in being more active, and in generally finding an excuse to have a party.

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  23. Interesting! I agree, it is all very exciting as events are happening-I ove the feeling of it all. And I also agree about Wenlock! I was looking at merchandise in Sainsbury's yesterday, and wondering how much of it will be left over after the games.

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  24. I agree the mascot is a little strange looking and borderline scary! I had to laugh about the red & white thing--I thought of the Target bulls-eye symbol right away! I do enjoy watching some of the Olympics on TV, but in general am not a big sports fan either.

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  25. It is fun to see some insider glimpses at the goings on around the Olympics! Thank you for taking us along. Okay, about Wenlock, I think he's a bit ridiculous rather than creepy...just what one would expect a committee to come up with. Hope I'm not stepping on anybody's toes...and yes, I recognized Target's logo right away. I even shop there now and then.

    We are really looking forward to the opening ceremonies here at my house. The hubby will be watching some of the sports...I might watch the gymnastics.

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  26. Olympiada environment, as I remember those days of the year 1992 in Barcelona. Regards and enjoy it.

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  27. Love your blog (I've just popped over from mine to say hi!). Great hearing about London being all "buzzy". I know it well, having worked for years in Central London. So it's nice to see it "from a distance". I'm not interested in the sport either - great for the athletes but please - can we talk about something else now - LOL!

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  28. If I knew about the Olympic mascot I had forgotten so thank you for reminding me. Here in Cheshire London could be on another planet!

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  29. I've never been a real big sports fan either, unless it's been my children or those other family members, but I just really enjoy all the stuff going on there, and I'm just excited to open your posts each time for more fun photos of it all! Thanks for all that you share with us!

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  30. I'm not too interested in the Olympics but they usually include stories about the host country and I'm looking forward to those. And the great photo shots of England in general and London in particular.

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  31. Here in the Outer Hebrides we believe that London at the moment IS on another planet - and thank heaven for that. If I had to go to London now I think I should feel suicidal. Thank heaven too that this blog will be an Olympic-free zone. I could not have told you that that very strange 'thing' is the Olympic Mascot. Hopefully it is singular. I don't think I could cope if there were to be two. One might escape and make its way North.

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  32. Hi Jenny, The city must be hopping right now. I hope it all goes well for everyone. We could all use a bit of a boost. It was good to see they are hosting some of the events in other cities too.
    It does look a bit Target..ish. Maybe they are in the process of an M&S buy out.......

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  33. I guess I'm way too exposed to anume characters but I found the mascot cute. One eye and all. ;p

    Great Olympic atmosphere that you showed us, hope it isn't too hot that everyone needs to run for cover during the day! :)

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  34. Thank you for this post. I could have a glimpse of the city amid of the Olynmpic games. I enjoyed football game last night and the day before yesterday on TV from far east, so I'm sleepy this morning.

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  35. how interesting! i can just imagine the buzz!! my kids cannot wait to watch.

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  36. Hi,Jenny.
    Sorry for my mistake. power bridge....tower bridge.
    Tomoko

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  37. I remember as a kid, we only had one tv in the house. One year when the Olympics were on, my father took control of the tv and watched nothing else from start to finish!

    I've never had much interest in competitive sports either. I do sometimes like to watch the skating and the gymnastics, but don't care much about the rest. It's interesting to see what it's like there from your perspective.

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  38. Well, Jenny Woolf, you popped up on my blog and left a comment, and I've no idea how you found me. Just to return the favor, I'd like to leave a comment saying I'm not sure why so many people are disturbed by a one-eyed monster as a mascot.

    I've cuddled a few one-eyed monsters in my day, and found the experience quite exhilarating!

    *NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK*

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  39. He (it) certainly is an odd looking mascot! I recognised the Target logo immediately and wondered...what on earth? Oh dear all that RED! Your pics are always entertaining Jenny.

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  40. The mascot is like so much else at the Olympics, absurd!
    The ambassadors looks a good job, I wish I had tried for that........
    There again maybe my tactful nature may not have helped international relations......

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  41. We're a little bit remote from the games here in the Midlands although we are providing facilities for some of the sports. I find the whole thing quite exciting and it certainly brings the people together. Football fanatics are thrilled to see some BIG American names among the spectators watching the match. I hadn't heard of Wenlock before... the name won't leave me since I walk up Wenlock Road quite often.

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  42. I can't wait for the Olympics! I am so excited! You see, I have never been and I like London's festive mood. It is contagious!

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  43. Part of me wants to be in London to sample just what the atmosphere is like and how the Games are transforming the city, and part of me is glad that I am up here in the North, well away from the crowds and the queues.

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  44. Good to have someone writing well and writing sense of the games - even if not sporty. Perhaps because?

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  45. Lovely photos Jenny and it must be exciting to be in London at this time.

    I am not interested in competative sport either and will not watch the Olympics on TV. I guess I'm not interested in sport at all... it might be due to laziness (I'm sure indolence is written into my genes...)

    Anna :o]

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  46. Perfect weather for Olympics....maybe not. Thanks for the update on Olympic gathering places. We had Winter Olympics, 2002...What a happy, hype fill city. I thought it was very fun.

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  47. i have been surprised to see how warm it is there--while watching this week on the "today show"---i don't get into the olympics very much--i wish i did :)

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  48. Enjoyed your sidelights. I'd actually managed until now to remain totally ignorant of Wenlock.

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  49. Ha ha, Jenny Woolf, you really should ask your American followers about Target. It is a very popular store here and not every expensive but quite nice. Some people like to say "Tar-jhay" in a fake French accent, to make it sound classier!

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  50. Totally agreed - those mascots are super-creepy! I'm not sure they add a lot to the Games.

    That red and white Target thing looks rather like a deconstructed shot-gun shell, although I'm a bit baffled as to why one might be lying around near Southwark Cathedral...

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  51. That would be..filled city.. Thank you for coming to see my bird pics...I need to learn something more about making a clip...ugh. Sorry. That owl is so magnificent.

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