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Domino effect across London sets the scene for Olympic countdown
Emma Rowley27 Jul 2009
London prepared for the party of the decade - if not the century - this weekend with a string of events celebrating the countdown to the 2012 Games.
Organisers staged hundreds of sports and arts events across the capital, including the first tour for members of the public to see inside the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
Another highlight of the three-day 2012 Open Weekend was a domino chain of 8,000 concrete blocks running from Mile End Park to the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich - with a connecting block on a boat down the Thames.
In pictures: Olympic Domino chain event
Hundreds of people gathered in Mile End Park yesterday to set up the first of the dominoes and see them fall.
They included Tea Mulabdic, 20, from Croatia, a design student from Goodge Street, who was part of the team which laid the concrete blocks on both sides of the river.
He said: "I thought the project was a great opportunity to connect the boroughs in a physical way. I'm looking forward to the Olympics and I want to get involved then as well. I'm happy the games are in London, so I'll definitely be here when they happen."
Michelle Bloom, 37, a performance artist and administrator from Hoxton, said: "I heard about it on the internet and it sounded like a nice way to spend a Sunday. I thought it was really satisfying and something quite spectacular.
In pictures: Olympic Domino chain event
"I think for the Olympics there will be loads of celebrations and that's what I'm looking forward to. I live and work in east London and there are lot of job opportunities round the Games too."
Hannah Coulton, 27, a physiotherapist from Marble Arch, said: "It will be brilliant to have the Olympics in London. I'm looking forward to the atmosphere after the last Games where the British team did so well. I think a lot of people are getting hyped up already."
Mary Davis, 67, a retired accounts worker from Ilford, set off the blocks in Mile End. She said: "I just love things that happen in London. I applied to go on the Trafalgar Square plinth and I drove a frisky sheep over London Bridge for its fair. I'm going to go down to Greenwich now and catch the end of the dominoes."
The domino chain ended its 15km route at the Royal Naval College, where thousands watched the final part of the rally. Josie Coster, 39, a massage therapist from Newham, said: "I'm from Newham Volunteers. There are 3,000 of us and some of us have come along to help set up the blocks today.
"For us as volunteers, the Olympics are great because we get involved in a lot of events and a lot of us are taking part in marathons. And it's good for the borough, as there are tons of free events and they are starting to get kids involved and promote healthy eating."
Ryan Knight, 19, from Sydney, a gap year student and charity shop volunteer living in Hackney, said: "I figured because I can't work at the moment, I'd volunteer here.
"The Sydney 2000 Olympics were a lot of fun and got everyone involved. There was a lot of pride. I'd say to Londoners, get excited and get into it."
Among the other highlights of the weekend were sports and arts workshops at a string of venues.
At the Barbican, Philip Brook, 47, a driving instructor from Walthamstow, took his twin daughters Thora and Annie, both nine, to the centre's Sandcastle City, an urban beach set up for the weekend.
He said: "There's an anticipation now over the Olympics. For the community, each event like this is starting to build up to three years' time."
Reader views (8)
I was there and it was really lovely. People (from all over east London, Trevor, working hard, joining in and a special atmosphere. I understand that the live event on Sunday was day 1 of a 5 day film shoot which will be screened across the UK.
- Adrian Kent, London, 29/07/2009 08:56
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What a load of nonsense.Suppose the bill for it was handed to the London Olympics.
- Michael Riley, London, 28/07/2009 08:40
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The tumbling dominos was an inspired idea. Every block represents a taxpayer being toppled by mad tax spending on daft rubbish...
- Ben,, London, W1, 27/07/2009 21:00
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I was there at the bitter end - around 80 volunteers, 30 members of the arts great and good, 5 normal punters and 6 hoodies swearing at the stage watching some turgid performance. It was like David Brent doing street theatre. As for connecting all the Olympic boroughs, it managed to link up precisely erm, 2.
- Trevor Smalls, London, UK, 27/07/2009 16:50
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Still three years to go and I don't think I can handle any more hype!
- Steve, London, 27/07/2009 14:53
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I think this is a wonderful piece. Success = a cross section of east london turning up to help out and enjoy an interesting and unusual participatory art project. And of course, all the dominoes being knocked down on time and in order!
Success is rated in quality, not quantity.
- Natalie, London, 27/07/2009 14:03
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Dominoes was a part of the Bank of America CREATE Art AWARD and a part of the CREATE09 festival, bringing together the rich arts communities across the five host boroughs for the Olympics. The £40,000 award is open for submissions for 2010 - to find out more see www.createlondon.org.
- Anna Doyle, London, 27/07/2009 13:44
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Oooh - HUNDREDS gathered at Mile End Park, did they? (mostly tourists apparently!) Let's be kind and assume that's 900 people then, so - exactly 0,1% of the London population? And you call this an overwhelming success???
- Marianne, SW France/London, 27/07/2009 11:46
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