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Next stop 2012 Olympics: Hornby's model bus with a £30 ticket
Miranda Bryant13 Aug 2009
The first 2012 Olympics toy was unveiled today, a five-inch replica of the "Beijing bus" that brought British athletes home from China.
At £30 each and bearing the 2012 logo, the limited edition toy buses are the first in a line of 31 Olympic "collectables" that will be in shops soon.
The model red London 2012 bus is copied from the vehicle driven around the "Bird's Nest" stadium in Beijing last year at the Olympics' closing ceremony. The 1:76 die-cast replica will be sold in London 2012-branded packaging from November.
Hornby was the first manufacturer to win a contract from 2012 organising committee Locog to make a range of themed Games toys. The firm says it has been "overwhelmed with interest" from retailers and expects sales to run into millions.
Next year, London 2012-branded British Transport models will be in shops at about £8 as well as a "collect them all" series as a countdown to the Games.
There will be an Airfix replica of the stadium at Stratford, costing around £25, a Hornby model high-speed Olympic Javelin train and Airfix versions of the main venues.
Hornby chief executive Frank Martin said: "The team has been flat out so we will be able to meet demand and have the first of our products in stores by November."
A London 2012 spokesman said: "A year ago we welcomed the world to 2012 with our 'next stop London' bus in Beijing, so it is fitting that this will be the first toy in the Hornby series."
Reader views (7)
£30 and made in China. What a great time will be had by all and all sold in shops paying the minimum wage. A friend recently brought a leather briefcase back from Pakistan, it proudly included a leaflet describing how to work the lock which was made in Switzerland. If the bus cost £35 and was made in the UK it would be worth buying as a souvenir.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 03/09/2009 10:16
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In response to James of London:
Please don't believe this BIG LIE that the Olympics will bring long term investment, tourism and rejuvenate London's poor East end. It's been proved time and again that the Olympics are a financial burden on the host city. The Canadians nicknamed their stadium in Montreal the "Big Owe", because they owed so much money on it, it took 30 years to pay off the debt. I fear London will be in a similar position come 2013.
Please also bear in mind that I, for one, am not a sports enthusiast and find sport as thrilling as watching paint dry!
- Cally G, Essex, UK, 17/08/2009 16:55
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£ 30 !! And so the rip off begins ....
- Joanna Carling, london, 14/08/2009 10:06
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In response to P. Staker
The revenue the Olympics will bring to Great Britain, not to mention the improvement to the City of London transport & Facilities mean that everyone should embrace the Olympics for the great honour that it is. Currently London as one of the most important cities in the world is a joke compared to many major capital cities. The games will update the city. Not to mention reinstate so British Pride in our athletes, city and country. After the games all the spare sports equipment will be shared out around the country. Bring on 2012 team GB for Gold
- James, London, 13/08/2009 15:32
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As an unwilling investor in this Olympic project I wonder if the profits will be returned to all of us investors via licensing fees?
- Bob, Cheam, 13/08/2009 12:30
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Boris wont like it as it has not got an open platform to fall off!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 13/08/2009 12:25
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Best thing is for most Londoners to boycott the whole circus of events.
Most londoners didn't want this, and certainly didn't want to have to part fund it through council tax.
A hospital could have been built or schools etc.
- P Staker, London, 13/08/2009 10:18
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