West Ham to take Olympic Stadium in 2016
West Ham United have once again been awarded the right to make the Olympic Stadium in east London their home from the start of the 2016/17 season. The decision, announced earlier, potentially brings to a close the arduous negotiations over the future of the stadium which have rumbled on since the end of the Games. → Read More
London 2012 improves image of Britain overseas
A new study commissioned by VisitBritain and its partners in the GREAT campaign suggests global perceptions of ‘Welcome’, Britain’s ‘Overall Nation Brand’ and the UK’s sporting and cultural credentials have significantly improved thanks to the hosting of the London 2012 Games. The Nations Brands Index research rates 50 of the world’s leading nations around six core categories. → Read More
British image transformed by London 2012
Research by the British Council suggests the UK’s big events of the past year – including the Olympics, Paralympics and Jubilee – have improved the its reputation overseas and created substantial new interest in the country as a place to visit, study and do business. The research was carried out for the British Council by Ipsos MORI among 8,000 adults in 11 key overseas economies – including the US, China, India and Russia. → Read More
World Travel Market: London must do more to boost 2012 Olympic legacy
London 2012 will have a positive impact on future UK tourism but the government still needs to do more to help, said delegates at the latest WTM Meridian Club Think Tank. Senior buyers from WTM Meridian Club involved the hotel sector – hoteliers, wholesalers, inbound operators and Travel Management Companies - met in central London earlier. → Read More
London 2012 organisers pass on knowledge
The International Olympic Committee’s debriefing of the London 2012 Olympic Games has wrapped up in Rio de Janeiro, bringing a close to a week-long transfer of knowledge between organisers of the Games of the XXX Olympiad and future host cities. Representatives from the IOC and the London 2012 Organising Committee shared their best practices and experiences from this summer’s Games with over 500 participants from Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and the 2020 Candidate Cities: Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid. → Read More
Olympics drives down UK visitor numbers
Figures released by VisitBritain reveal arrivals dipped slightly during the Olympic Games. Numbers were down five per cent during the month of August, but this still leaves overall visits for the year to date at the same level as 2011. → Read More
Breaking Travel News investigates: What next for the Olympic Park?
With the Paralympics reaching their conclusion on Sunday, it really will all be over for the Olympic summer in London. But what comes next? What of the 2.5 km2 Olympic Park in the east of the city? Centre of the world’s attention for the past month or more, will it now be left to slide into obscurity? Here Breaking Travel News takes a look at the plans to turn it into one the most popular tourist destinations in the capital. → Read More
Transformation complete ahead of Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
After a spectacular Olympic Games, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has been busy undertaking a huge transitional operation to make the Paralympic Games equally successful. Work has already been completed on many Olympic venues to transform them for the Paralympics ahead of the Opening Ceremony this evening. → Read More
London 2012 organisers awarded Olympic Orders
Key people involved in the organisation of the London 2012 Olympic Games have been awarded Olympic Orders in recognition of their hard work and achievements over the last seven years. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, presented gold Olympic Orders – the highest award of the Olympic Movement – to Seb Coe, chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), and to Paul Deighton, LOCOG chief executive. → Read More
Olympic Flag arrives in Rio ahead of 2016
Rio de Janeiro has received the official Olympic Flag as the city takes over the role of Host City from London. Rio mayor Eduardo Paes, who received the flag from London mayor Boris Johnson at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, waved the flag after stepping off the plane. → Read More
Hunt makes tourism play for Chinese visitors
Jeremy Hunt has launched an £8 million advertising campaign designed to triple the number of Chinese visitors to the United Kingdom over the next three years. The secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport said the initiative was part of a wider drive to “turbo-charge” the tourism sector in the wake of the London 2012 Olympic Games. → Read More
British Airways celebrates Park Live success
Even more people than usual have experienced a British Airways welcome this summer as the airline greeted some 400,000 guests to Park Live presented by British Airways at the Olympic Park. The area was the only place at the Olympic Park where spectators could watch the action on giant screens and see the athletes interviewed on the stage. → Read More
