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Wow factor wanted to keep London legacy of 2012 alive
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor21.08.08
Boris Johnson pledged to inject the "wow factor" into the Olympics Park site as he set out his legacy plans for the 2012 Games today.
The Mayor called on businesses and innovators from around the world to submit "ground-breaking ideas" for the future of the east London site.
Launching the London Calling appeal he said his working group was looking for "a mix of imagination and realism" which could result in an event, tourist attraction or development.
Mr Johnson, at the Beijing Olympics, put renewed emphasis on the legacy of the 500-acre site, which many feel has been neglected.
"We are looking for ideas of how London's Olympic Park can become not just a great place to live, work and visit, but a place that retains a flavour of the extraordinary, a place with the wow factor," he said.
Work has already started on the site and about £5 billion of the £9.3 billion budget is earmarked for site construction and infrastructure.
The Mayor is concerned London Olympics chiefs have not looked at all the options for the site and has called for them to "get their skates on" developing a masterplan.
Mr Johnson has singled out the main stadium and the aquatics, equestrian and media centres as being of particular concern and has raised the prospect of transforming them into visitor attractions after 2012.
Reader views (2)
I was very disappointed by London's efforts at the closing ceremony. My overseas friends told me they thought that London "has a long way to go" to match the polish of China. Let's use the 4 years we have to do something London can be proud of!
Although it is very laudable (and cost effective) to use students for creative purposes, the artistic content needs to reflect a positive image of London, rather than the image of too many people rushing to catch a bus and failing to get on! London (and the rest of the UK) has a wealth of culture and heritage that can be used to provide interesting themes for artistic interpretation, and we should try to present a coherent image rather than a messy pastiche which is trying too hard to be "right on" or "cool".
I also hope that Boris can find a jacket that fits in time for 2012 so rather than looking as if he is permanently auditioning for Grange Hill, he will be a global ambassador for a stylish London.
- Sarah, South Kensington, London
I really hope that if we tell a story like China did, instead of Britain making a fool of itself and it's people with the over promotion of popstars and football players of today, that the wow factor should partly come from showing Britain's contributions to the world over history. Immigration policy, the people are very sympathetic to charities, the world's first NHS, the home of Queen Elizabeth II, invention and pioneering use of trains, Isaac Newton (and God knows how many other British/English Mathematicians and scientists who help shape the world today).
I hope all of it is included. If I only see hypocritical 'modern' connotations to Simon Cowell, David Beckham, red buses and red post boxes (which is actually traditional) etc. I'm going to disown Britain and live somewhere that appreciates itself for what it really is.
- Ben, Watford
