One of my projects at work over the last few months has been Olympic planning!
Looking at how we as a business might be affected and how we can ensure the continued smooth running or our Head Office and that our staff are safe as they travel around. After much discussion, a number of meetings and attending briefings by various organisations linked to travel in London and groups within the location of our office we have a plan.
So for the main 2 weeks of the Olympics I will be working 7:30am to 3:30pm! After dragging myself out of bed this morning at 7:30am I am not too sure how up for this I really am.
London Bridge Station staged an Olympics travel "rehearsal" this morning and I assume it will be in place this afternoon also. As one who uses the station regularly I found that all the people with their recorded megaphones pointing in random directions and those shouting out directions a little confusing. The station was busy as usual, and as most of us knew where we needed to go it was chaotic but OK. However add in a million people from the rest of world, I am not too sure it will be the same story.
When I arrived at work, I was talking with my deaf colleague about his experience at London Bridge this morning. He said it was very confusing, with people pointing etc.. I am aware that TFL are employing people who speak various different languages to be at stations all over London to help the tourists, but are they providing signers for our deaf colleagues and friends?
I am intrigued to see how things play out this afternoon, as from what I can work out you need to know which platform your train is leaving from to know where you need to queue.
Great Britain better win a whole lot of gold medals to make all this mayhem and madness worthwhile!
Roll on September...