London Olympics in 2012: The Race is On

The Beijing Olympics spawned a lot of controversies. Aside from the political brouhaha over its claims on Tibet, China also had to answer to allegations of the fake opening ceremony singer and fireworks. Despite all these, though, one must admit that the over-all handling of the Olympics was well-organized, and the first one to echo this sentiment was Sebastian Coe, chairman for London’s Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012.

This has always been the case when one ceremony precedes another. Pretty much like a movie series like, say, Harry Potter. The next installment of the movie franchise has to outdo the previous one, if possible, in all aspects. The same is the case with the Olympics. Officials for the next Olympics, to be held in London in 2012, expressed their satisfaction over how the Chinese organizers handled the Games. They even took note of how the Chinese worked on a detailed plan which ensured the success of the event.

It will be fun to speculate what spectacular performances and highlights the London Olympic committee will prepare. Who will sing the opening song? How long will the fireworks last? Will the Queen be there?

No matter what people may be thinking, the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2012 is quick to point out that there really is no pressure for them. They, however, admitted that they learned a lot from how the Chinese organized the event.

London has allotted quite a substantial budget for the 2012 Olympics, a big part of which was used in the construction of 10 separate train lines coming to the Olympic Park from different parts of London. Representatives from London openly admired how the Chinese smoothly transported the athletes, especially those who competed in the track and field events. The British hope to continue what the Chinese started.

With an estimated ticket sales of 9 million, the London Olympic Games will be another spectacular event the world should await. The world will have to wait for 4 years to find out just how spectacular the next Olympic opening ceremony will be. Four more years before we find out how many more world records will be set and broken. Four more years until we witness the coming together of nations. Four more years for London to prepare and try to outdo the marvelous work done by the Chinese.

Go for gold, London!
http://www.china.org.cn/olympics/news/2008-08/22/content_16305416.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/olympics/news/2008-08/23/content_16308282.htm