The London 2012 Olympic Park Experience, a 7.5/10

In the first of a series of Olympics entries, today I cover what was my experience at the Olympic park last Sunday, from security to entertainment, from food to staff or venues and more:

Security Controls: 9/10 - Despite all the worries about the GS4 fiasco, having to call in at the eleventh hour thousands of troops to cope with security, this part of the experience is pretty much painless, quick and straight forward. Just like passing through the security controls at an airport, only that instead of a boarding pass you just need a ticket – ah, and there is no plane waiting for you, just great sporting action! You are allowed to bring in your own food and empty bottles of water to refill inside, which always helps to save money on drinks.

Entrance to the Olympic Park, with plenty of space and easy access

Olympic Park Layout: 8/10 - It is incredibly spacious and all is new and clean, plenty of plants and trees and walking areas, a little river and so on. Directions to venues are all clear with big signs; you can’t get lost but even if you do, there are plenty of stewards who can point you in the right direction.

The distance between one end and the other is about 20 min walk at leisure pace. It is good to keep this in mind if you are going to the Basketball or the Cycling from the (strategically located) Westfield shopping centre main entrance to the Park.

The Olympic Stadium and the eeerrr.., metal thing call the Orbit, from within the Olympic Park

One of the several super size maps to know where you are 

Atmosphere outside the venues: 4.5/10 - This really disappointed me. Unlike many big sporting events where the loudspeakers system plays its own radio station, commentating on the events that are on, on what court and what time, who is winning, who is losing, with live commentary... Here they play commercial music. That’s it. I’ve got my iPod for that, thank you very much.

Having been to the likes of Wimbledon, Formula One, Moto GP and many more high profile events, where you walk around and can still hear what is going on, here you have no opportunity to know what’s going on around the park, or elsewhere for that matter. And this is not just any sporting event. It is the ‘greatest show on Earth’, right?

Well, if it is, I really want to know what’s going on, at all times. I want to be informed. I want to listen to it, to watch it; on small screens placed along the big walking areas – surely Panasonic has a few spare ones?

Well, they do: there are a couple of large screens in some green areas – duly sponsored by Panasonic and British Airways, mind- but they are really quiet and off the main walking sites.

Plenty of space, and colours!

And there is no entertainment, no streets entertainers to play jokes or games with the crowds. Surely from the 10,000+ cast members that took part in the mighty Opening Ceremony on the Friday, some would love to continue to entertain passers by at the Olympic Park or at other venues.

There is a floating great spirit, with so many colourful fans with their faces painted, wearing wigs and their national colours with pride, taking photos and so on. But it just feels all quite flat throughout.

I missed particularly not seeing the Games mascots –what are their names again?- wandering around and having their photos taken with the visitors. Don’t be fooled, this is not Disney World and it seems here the mascots only exist for merchandising sales or on telly.

Commercialization: 7.5/10 – They have found a fine balance between offering essential services that are needed (food, beverages) at reasonably acceptable prices and variety –it is not only McDonalds but there are other British or International food places- and those not-so-necessary products, as the BMW car dealer.

There is a large souvenir shop where you can get everything and anything a London 2012 logo can be placed on. I didn’t stop by as there are thousands of retailers across London where you can buy stuff. And if you are subscribed to the London 2012 newsletter, you are reminded regularly of the many products available too.

The Souvenir shop - an a vigilant eye, protecting us all

Loyal to the promise of no corporate branding at the events themselves, there are some places elsewhere where you see clearly the Visa, Samsung or Coca-Cola logos and products. But it is all quite reasonable given what they invest in this beast called Olympic Games. You cannot escape Visa since that’s the only card accepted when not paying in cash, mind.

I love the “treat corners”, fully branded and supplied with Cadbury’s products. Not a huge menu in offer but the mere concept is highly plausible.

Colour everywhere

Working Staff: 9.5/10 – There are plenty of stewards, so-called “Game Makers”, to help you with virtually any enquiry. From mobility issues to finding the right venue or service or once at the venue to locate your seat and so on. Everyone is really helpful and even when they don’t necessarily know the answer, they try to help or point you in the direction of someone who may.

Game Makers, they do make a difference working so hard - and they deserve a moment to relax

The army staff present is very discreet and other than for their clothing you can barely notice them. I saw more in proportion at the Earl’s Court venue on the Monday where I attended the women’s Volleyball; and again they were all really helpful.

Basketball arena: 8/10 – Being a temporary venue it can be tricky to make them feel like ‘proper’ venues. In this instance it definitely feels good from the start. The access to the seats is quite straightforward; maybe not so much if you are sitting at the very top of the rows, but the view is very good from every seat, no one can really complain. It is not rocket science and does the job nicely though there is nothing mind-blowing about it, simple as.

The Basketball Arena from the outside

The Basketball arena - view from my seat  - yes I see the empty seats too, don't get me started...

Brazil's NBA player Nene flies to the hoop

The entertainment in between matches and at half times is visually good and the cheerleaders are very committed and display some decent tricks, whilst the 'venue host' is constantly engaging with the crowd and via the big screens.

Cheerleaders literally going upside down to please the crowd

Aquatics centre: 6.5/10 – Also a temporary structure when it comes to most of the seats, the climb up to the general admission seats is really a climb. Up the stairs for four floors outside the actual venue, then open the door to enter the middle level of the stands, turn a right and continue to walk up the stairs until you are sitting five rows off the top row, like I was. Despite the height, the view is reasonably good too. With the help of my camera zoom I was able to get a few good pictures and made it all more enjoyable.

View from up high

View with the zoom - one, two, three you move first! 

It was a little too warm when I got there around 2.30pm and throughout, however just at the end, as if by act of magic some breeze started to come through from the outside and it helped cool things down a bit. It was raining cats and dogs too.

The shame though is, because of the roof layout inwards and downwards, from your seat you cannot see the opposite stand, which makes you feel it may be empty there.

Do not expect to be entertained by anything other than the actual competition though, because there is nothing really.

A Chinese fan celebrates the Gold medal

Earl’s Court arena (NOT AT THE OLYMPIC PARK), Volleyball: 6/10 – OK, this is a permanent venue used for multiple purposes during the year. It was built a few decades ago and you can tell. Access through security is fairly quick and sharp but once inside there really isn’t much to do other than go to your seat. The space between the entrance and the arena is like a big hangar with some stands selling food and drinks, some merchandising and toilets. It is poorly lit and you feel you rather be on your couch. 

Earl's Court  - home for Olympic Volleyball

Once you make it to the arena proper, the area of play and surroundings is all very modern-looking and colourful. The seats though at the upper tier have seen some events over the years. Being so old it means there are many pillars around and many seats have to be “killed” or not sold so not to miss the action, which is a shame. Once you are in a proper seat, the view is very good and no one is ever too far or too close.

View from the 2nd level Earls Court

 The non-match entertainment consists of a host similar to the one in the Basketball arena, with young cheerleaders dancing along the perimeter of the court. The unexpected entertainment was to learn that USA mega star Kobe Bryant was present too, cheering for his fellow country women. But given the time and age we live in, one would expect a more compelling all round compelling experience at the venue. So that’s why I give it a 6 out of 10.

Olympic Volleyball action - relentless

Olympic Volleyball - never a dull moment!

Ok, after the spectacle on court I’ll give it an extra point. End of.

And this is it for now. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more Olympic stories in the coming days!

PS One final comment, I can't help myself but seeing so many empty seats really is terrible. LOCOG please do.something.about.it.NOW!

Empty seats at the women's volleyball on the first Monday. Sad.