Forum Topic

Olympic opening Ceremony

Very spectacular, and I'm afraid way beyond what London could do I fear. Carol, I saw your piece regarding this on Hammersmith, and your right.All this to my mind is for the benefit of the Great and the Good, to rub shoulders and to be 'seen'. London by contrast should have something modest, understated, maybe focusing on the City, but bringing back into focus what the Olympic Games is supposed to be all about. Love of sport rising above petty political differences, and linking the more humble among us, in gentle contempt for our Political Leaders! I fear this will not be so as our friends in Government, BBC etc have already spent £7million of taxpayers money on junketing there.

Colin Vaughan ● 6098d6 Comments

Lina, the Arch was located on The North Side of the Uxbridge Road, a hundred yards or so East of Shepherds Bush Underground Station.It is where the Uxbridge Road converges with the road on the South side of The Green, that is leading to Goldhawk Road. There was a Tram Terminus at that point, where the Tram Services to Hounslow (57)met the service to Uxbridge(7).The arch was still there when the Trolleybuses took over.However it was damged in an air-raid early in WW2, which destroyed Uxbridge Road Station, itself on a line coming from Kensington Olympia, and joining the Metropolitan Line farther on. The Arch was as a result demolished.I have a picture of it in a Transport book that I have.

Colin Vaughan ● 6093d

Has anybody been to the exhibition on the 1908 Olympics at Fulham Palace because I can thoroughly recommend it. They've got some fantastic pictures of how White City looked a century ago including one of an archway on Uxbridge Road which led to the exhibition and which survived for many years afterwards. Does anybody remember it or know where exactly it stood?

Lina Leaman ● 6095d

And the shooting range can be held in any part of London!

Carol Burge ● 6096d

Girls beach volleyball in Horseguards parade apparently - tennis in Winmbledon (dur!)

Sara Nathan ● 6096d

Having watched the road race over the weekend, hoorah we got a gold, I am now curious as to where in London some of these events will take place.  Yes I know there are things being built but I am assuming that for some races there are certain criteria, ie the cyclists have to go up hills and down dales, not to mention it being hundreds of miles long!  So where in London is this going to be able to take place?

Carol Burge ● 6096d

I was impressed by the opening ceremony. Beijing's efforts make it a very hard act to follow.I felt for those hundreds of happy young chorus dancers who seemed to be strutting and clapping for about four hours non stop.  Their feet and hands must be raw bless 'em!

Gerry A. Tan ● 6098d