Uniting the world

After four years since its mark in Beijing in 2008, the time has come once again to celebrate one of the most anticipated and biggest events in the world, the Olympics, a platform that unites the world with games of sports.

It is time for torchbearers to sprint yet again as he/she cradles the significant flaming torch and protects its glowing embers till it reaches its final destination, the cauldron. The end of the relay signals the beginning of the two and half weeks of adrenaline-pumping activities and spectacle wonder.

The Olympic Games will be held across various venues in London, which is now the first city to host the Olympic Games three times. London was previously a host for the Olympics in 1908 and 1948. All eyes will be on the city as sportsmen and enthusiasts gather to watch the battle of the best in about 26 different sports and 39 disciplines ranging from archery and cycling to swimming and taekwondo.

The traditional Olympics torch relay started on May 19 and saw about 8,000 people of different ages and different walks of life carry the historical symbol of the Olympics over a period of 70 days across heritage sites, areas with significance in sports and green spaces, among others.

Competitions featuring a spectrum of sports will run for about two and a half weeks with the closing ceremony scheduled for August 12.

The opening ceremony titled “The Isles of Wonder” on July 27 marks the start of a fortnight-long season packed with artists and renowned figures. The city of London has been divided into three main zones where the activities are planned to take place, that is, the Olympic Zone, River Zone and the Central Zone.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), exclusively created in 2005 for the Olympic Games, will oversee all the activities related to the event and aims to encourage people to be actively involved in sports. It has also drawn up an environment policy due to the potential impact resulting from crowds of people generating rubbish. Apart from featuring renewable energy to drive most of the sites, food available at the respective venues will be packed in biodegradable plastics to ensure safe disposal.

As London is expecting a host of spectators from all around the world, authorities have suggested people to resort to public transport, cycle or walk for convenient access to designated areas.

In preparation, the city’s public transport has also undergone modifications and seen additions of new lines that will convey people to various locations of sporting events, guaranteeing convenience and easy access. Among these is the Olympic Javelin, a shuttle service expected to run between stations. Aside from the official Olympic Games, a host of music artists are lined up to play up the hype and keep the crowd entertained throughout the season. A music programme titled “Rock the Games” will see performances from renowned acts. Marching bands and dancers including the National Ballet will be a part of the festivities.

As the LOCOG’s main aim is to encourage sports among the masses, radio broadcasts and other media will feature detailed information about the categories that are part of this year’s Olympics. Details of the sports will be explained in an innovative and informative format to raise interest among the public, especially young ones.

Those who are not able to watch the live action can catch it in the comfort of their homes, as each event will be broadcasted in high-definition all over the world to capture every moment of the history in the making.

farhana@khaleejtimes.com