Hmm still not getting the whole farm theme...

London 2012 Opening Ceremony

Let’s face it - going to Stratford is enough to cause misery anyway.

Have you seen the Olympic site?

Went there earlier on this year whilst helping take a few foreigners around the city. Saw a sorry looking exhibition centre made out of a few transport containers in a vain attempt to ape the look and feel of The Eden Project. The stadium, Anish Kapoor’s tower (he’s done better, you know) were there. To get to said exhibition area, you had to walk along some rather dubious tunnels and walkways which, in less than full daylight, would be rather intimidating. It would not have been somewhere where I would have taken people.

After that, I had to go to Westfield, Stratford. A temple to commercialism, and one of the main entrances to the Olympic site. The phrase “exit through the gift shop” has been taken to an entirely new level of commercial excess. And right across the road from the steps that take you up to Westfield is Stratford itself, in all its glory, untouched by any of the shiny gold that has been sprinkled onto the Olympic site. It has not changed in all the years I have travelled through it (road, rail, rail replacement services) - both before and during the construction of the site. The contrast between the two is very marked, and we can no doubt be thankful that those visiting for the games will never need to leave the comforting bubble.

Stayed in Stratford, about a 10 minute walk from the shopping centre, back in May.
It's nasty, square and concrete with a [LIFTED] shopping centre. There are some interesting bits, but mostly the 1960s happened and are still with us.

It's not the nicest Stratford, that's for sure.

Well I like the look of the staium and Westfields.

Oh, don't misunderstand me - the Stadium is fine. It's just the rest of Stratford that's the mess.

Went to the Westfield there. Hated it and it took nearly an hour to get out of the site.

And there’s your problem. This whole “regenerate the area” nonsense has not extended past the Olympic site. It’s not benefitting local businesses - Westfield is a people trap. No one visiting the place will be leaving that little bubble of international corporate greed.

I like how the stadium lights are in the design of the us dollar all seeing eye pyramid, freemason designers

You shouldn’t be worrying about the stadium lights. You should be clearing out your car before they come back.

The irony of holding the games in Stratford is that lots of spectators will be paying hundreds of pounds to see people wearing leisurewear running very fast.

They could save themselves a lot of money by just travelling to Stratford, and waiting outside JJB Sports or Currys.Digital.