London 2012 EffectSince we won the bid back in 2005, there has been a great deal of speculation about the 'legacy' of London 2012. What will be the Games' lasting impact on the host nation?
There is no doubt that this summer the eyes of the world were on London with a spectacular display of nail-biting sporting and cultural events. But the impact of the Games reached further than simply our TV screens and Olympic venues - it provided a platform to not only showcase British sporting triumph but also the best of business, tourism and industry.
Nearly two months on, we can now begin to take stock of the economic and reputational impact that London 2012 has had, and will continue to have both on British businesses and
brand Britain abroad.
We recently conducted a joint study with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), questioning a selection of senior executives at major multinational companies around the world on their trading intentions with the UK following the Games, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
More than four-fifths of these international business leaders said that London 2012 was an excellent showcase of the UK's contribution to the world, as well as its business capabilities, while the vast majority of those already
trading British went on to say that they are now more inclined to source UK exports as a result of London 2012. It is predicted that the 'Olympic boost' could drive up to £21 billion in additional demand for British goods and services over the next 5 years.
But, the story doesn't end here. Responsibility now lies with entrepreneurs and industry leaders to capitalise on this heightened display of international goodwill towards British business. Despite the tough global trading environment, UK firms have been given a priceless springboard from which to launch into the international export market.
Encouragingly, this is already starting to happen. In a separate study, recently conducted by UPS and Cebr, four-fifths of British exporters said that London 2012 had encouraged them to look overseas for further export opportunities, with the same proportion expecting to a rise in turnover as a result.
It is imperative for British businesses to boldly seek out and grasp export opportunities with both hands, particularly in emerging markets where UK firms often tread cautiously. With sufficient cash flow and dependable supply chains in place, businesses can minimise export risks and maximise their returns on these ever-flourishing opportunities.
Export NationA growing middle class in countries like India and China is creating a generation of consumers with more discretionary income than ever before. For many UK businesses, this shift in demand presents new opportunities to expand exports overseas. But, are UK companies taking advantage of this trend?
We set out to answer that question by conducting a joint study with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), exploring export trends across the nation.
We're releasing the full study in a whitepaper in November, but our initial findings make for intriguing reading.
Among the 1,200 business decision makers we surveyed, we found a huge appetite for offshore trading, particularly in emerging economies.
However, we also discovered that UK exporters are still heavily dependent on the UK's traditional top five export destinations: the U.S., Germany, Netherlands, France and Ireland. Moreover, the research shows UK export growth lags significantly behind demand in the two fastest growing BRIC export markets - Brazil and Russia.
Despite this, exporters and non-exporters alike who took our survey were in agreement that future growth can only be achieved through export. They feel that it's not only critical to the growth and success of their individual businesses, but also to a wider economic recovery in the UK.
It is clear that many businesses understand the opportunities available to them but are wary about moving out of their geographic comfort zone.
UPS helps UK businesses reach global markets every day, so we understand why companies who have never exported before may feel cautious about making the leap into new territories - but we also know how these barriers can be overcome.
If you are a business owner looking to expand abroad, the first thing you need to do is familiarise yourself with the common business practices of your target markets. These often aren't as intimidating or as complicated as the uninitiated may fear, and once you've learnt what to do, it makes growing your business in that market relatively easy.
The list of agencies, companies and websites devoted to international trade is almost endless, but a great place to start is ups.com/tradeability, which has a wealth of information about how to grow your business through exporting.
Many business owners also assume competition will be more fierce abroad. But many overseas markets are actually underserved, making it easier for UK businesses to establish a niche.
This is especially true for small businesses. We often speak to business owners who fear that, because they are not a large corporation, they won't be able to compete on the international market. In fact, small companies are often more flexible and adaptable to navigate through the challenges that all companies must face when doing business beyond their domestic borders, especially when they engage with UPS as their logistics provider. UPS Global Freight and UPS Worldwide Express services help businesses of all sizes expand their reach to seize these opportunities.
With current growth in many domestic markets still stunted, there has never been a stronger case for business owners to open up their horizons to the many benefits that can be gained by "going global." .
The athletes have returned home, media are winding down their post-Games reviews and the London 2012 Games are now a part of sporting history. But, for us at UPS, critical stages of our operations still remain. We are now in the process of reversing all our operations prior to the London Games; a process that began more than nine months ago as millions of items including furniture, sports, IT and medical equipment were placed into venues. The crucial difference this time is that we have just three months to accomplish this.
Since the end of the Games, our logistics teams have already processed more than 13,000 pallets and 585 inbound truckloads into our two dedicated London 2012 warehouses. Much of the inventory is now due to be sold on - an important stream of revenue for the Organising Committee - and it's up to us to ensure all items remain in pristine condition before they are sent to their new homes.
Over the next three months, items including 70,000 lockers, 15,000 computers, and 4,000 whistles will need to be removed from venues. We always knew reversing the Games would be a challenge, but it's something we've been preparing and planning for the past three years.
Despite the next few months being among the busiest operationally speaking, we've still had time to reflect on what we've achieved thus far. We are incredibly proud to have played such an integral part in delivering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The success of the Games has enabled us to showcase UPS's expertise in building complex temporary supply chains, and while we have of course had a number of challenges along the way, the experience has been an incredible opportunity, one I am confident will be remembered by the business and employees alike long after 2012.
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) set a goal of making the 2012 Games the most sustainable ever and the post-Games operations will play a huge part in bringing this vision to life. At UPS we created a host of sustainability initiatives including introducing new alternative fuel vehicles into our fleet, trialling new modes of transportation around the city, and mitigating our carbon footprint through carbon offsets. We also used existing warehouse premises, rather than building a warehouse and incurring the CO2 footprint to match. We're using sustainability initiatives in our reverse operations too, with every piece of packaging being stored either at one of our warehouses or the venues themselves, so that they can be reused during this process.
The legacy of the Games will no doubt continue to inspire future generations to participate in sport however, at a more granular level, the legacies from the Games are much wider reaching - helping to revive some of the capitals more deprived areas. In Tilbury for example, the location for one of our 2012 warehouses, we employed almost exclusively from the local community. Through the Games, we invested in a group of people who can now walk away from this project with fantastic experience under their belt and skills which will no doubt aid them as their continue their professional journeys.
While we have taken away some vital professional lessons, most importantly our teams will take away long lasting memories from being involved in a once-in-a-lifetime project. As we watched the athletes compete, we were in the unique position of watching items which we had seen and handled for months in our Tilbury andStevenagewarehouse, suddenly come alive. It really brought home just how integral our role was in the success of the world's largest sporting competitions. Everyone working on the project, irrespective of their role, has priceless Olympic memories which they can and I am sure will, regale their friends and family with for years to come.
The London 2012 Olympic Games were truly fantastic, and something the whole country can be proud of. Likewise, the Paralympic Games are proving to be every bit as exhilarating and the grandest to date in terms of competition venues, spectator numbers, media coverage and logistics. As the second largest peacetime logistical operation in the world, after the Olympic Games, UPS is busy behind the scenes to ensure everything is delivered without a hitch.
Each sport and indeed each venue has its own unique challenges -many are home to multiple sports during the Games and a number require sport changeovers in a matter of hours. We are working around the clock, 24 hours a day, to ensure that venues are ready for competition. The Basketball Arena is just one example of a venue which needs to be converted from Wheelchair Basketball to Wheelchair Rugby in just ten hours!
But our work didn't just start there - from the moment the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony ended, we were busy making sure the transition between the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was seamless. All inventory being stored at our dedicated London 2012 warehouses for the Paralympics needed to be moved to all of the 20 competition venues; everything from 280 court dividers for Boccia, to 75 starting blocks for the track athletes, to 4,850 eye patches for Goalball. Nothing was too big or too small for our dedicated logistics team.
And this was excluding the work that needed to be done to the venues themselves. Flooring at the Copper Box, previously used for Modern Pentathlon Fencing, needed to be replaced with the Goalball field of play; workrooms needed to be relocated, and all in a very short space of time. Even athletes' transport coaches required changes as 3,000 seats were removed to accommodate extra space for wheelchair users. UPS has stored them in such a way so that each and every one can be returned to the very same coach and back to the very same position after the Games.
But perhaps one of our most rewarding tasks was the delivery of the official team kits to the ParalympicsGB team. It's such a poignant moment for an athlete - receiving their team colours and competition wear, a truly special part of their journey to the Games. UPS first delivered each athlete's kit to their home or sport headquarters up and down the country. Then, once tried, tested, and in some cases adapted by each athlete, UPS collected all the kit bags again and delivered them directly into each team member's room in the Paralympic village making that last part of the journey to the Games all the more easy.
For us, this has been one of the most logistically challenging 'set changes' possible. The true stars however have been the athletes themselves who have all shown us what can be achieved with hard work, expert planning and determination, values close to our hearts at UPS. We are extremely proud to have been there to support them and their endeavours along the way.
As soon as the last medal has been awarded, and while the teams are still celebrating their tremendous achievements, we will move into one of the busiest periods of operations we've been tasked with, by moving millions of items out of all of the venues and back into our dedicated warehouses. Essentially, we will be reversing our complex nine month delivery operation in just 3 months - no mean feat, but we are ready for the challenge.
With the Closing Ceremony for the Olympic Games just around the corner and a fantastic fortnight of sport behind us, it seems an appropriate moment in time to reflect on the enormous undertaking UPS was tasked with - the logistics for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the largest peacetime logistical operation ever. It would be easy to think that the scale of our task simply amounted to the vast amount of athletic and sporting equipment needed for the athletes to compete, but there is one vital piece of the puzzle we are forgetting - the 21,000 media strong operation broadcasting the Games to the world.
Let's face it, without the media, these athletes' and their incredible achievements would not get the global recognition they deserve, which is why UPS's delivery of the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and Main Press Centre (MPC) complex, is so important.
The IBC and MPC complex is where the world's media have gathered during the Games to bring all the frontline action to homes around the world. With the IBC itself being large enough to fit 5 UPS 747 jets wing-to-wing, part of UPS's role has been to ensure that all the international broadcast and press teams are equipped with the tools they need to deliver all the latest news to television sets across the globe - what we in the trade refer to as 'Broadcast Logistics'.
And, with around 4 billion people expected to tune in and watch the London 2012 Games, it's a huge undertaking. The centres contain more than 400 tons of television broadcast equipment, 60,000 different pieces of broadcast equipment and 560,000 metres of cables, and it has been up to UPS to store and ship each piece, from source to situ in the IBC and MPC complex. It has been no mean feat ensuring that everything is in place and on time. But, as ever, we have risen to and relished the challenge, and on 26th July we made our final delivery to the IBC and MPC complex, leaving it Games ready for the 21,000 accredited members of the media who will be going through its doors during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Both centres are the only 24-hour spaces inside the Olympic Park. Between them runs a high street with a café, dry cleaners, and London 2012 shop with official merchandise to help cater to journalists' every need. Media will also be welcomed with an official UPS Relay Room store, where they'll be able to send and receive parcels from colleagues and loved ones all around the world. Once the Games finish, these spaces will all become available for commercial purchase, leaving behind a fantastic legacy for east London and a practical use for this section of the Olympic Park, something the London 2012 Games has strived to achieve from the very beginning.
It is extraordinary to think that this first section of the Games is now drawing to a close, and just as we at UPS have had to practice and fine-tune our operations to ensure success, so have our athletes, taking centre stage after years of training - we are so proud to have watched all their hard work in action, thanks to all those media reporting from the IBC and MPC. But there is no respite for us at UPS, as we prepare the stadia for the second biggest sporting event in just another couple of weeks - the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
So with the closing ceremony about to commence and the world's media at the ready, it's lights, camera, action!
When I have had time to sit back and reflect on what happened last week, though, I'm pretty sure I will rank this gold as the best of my four. Under the circumstances I think it was probably the greatest victory of my entire career.
The medal race in Sydney, when I went mano a mano with Robert Scheidt, is perhaps the only thing which could run it close. But as an overall achievement, this was better. It took everything I had, physically and mentally, to turn it around. The pressure on me in the build-up was intense. For months - years - I kept getting told I was going to win. No matter how many times.
I said it wasn't a foregone conclusion, people kept building me up. That begins to have an effect on you no matter how focused you try to remain.
Then there was my back. I had surgery on it earlier this year and although it felt okay in the build-up, I was in a pretty bad way during the early part of the regatta.
I don't want to make a big issue of this as it was not as bad as Paul Goodison's problem, which really hampered him. But I wasn't lying on TV after the medal race when I said this Finn sailing was killing me. I was on some pretty heavy-duty painkillers throughout the week and at one stage we even had a helicopter on standby to take me to Great Missenden for a spinal epidural. Thankfully, that wasn't needed in the end.
Our team physios did a great job of patching me up, particularly on the lay day on Wednesday.
By that stage, of course, I was six races down to Jonas Hogh-Christensen and the burden of expectation was beginning to feel heavier than ever. I'm proud of the way I turned it around from there. I came out on Thursday, won the first race and then there was the "incident" with Jonas and 'PJ' Postma in the second. That really was a key moment.
I didn't read the coverage but I hear something along the lines of "now I'm angry and they don't want to make me angry" was widely reported. Well, it worked. I needed something at that point. Things had to change. And that for me was something which I could get hold of and use to my advantage. I would stress that I was genuinely unhappy about the situation. I wasn't just saying those things to get myself worked up.
But again, I don't want to make a big deal out of it. The important thing is that it got my head in the right place. From then on I was more like how I should have been from the start; resolute, determined. Saturday, the day before the medal race, felt like it went on forever but watching those performances at the Olympic stadium from Jess Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford was hugely inspiring.
I went to sleep wanting to play my part in these Games and was confident that I could. With just two points between me and Jonas, my fate was in my own hands. Or so I thought. The Nothe Course is so shifty and while I was able to keep Jonas behind me, PJ moved up through the field and made things pretty hairy for me at the end.
Thankfully, it all worked out but the cruel fate suffered by Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson in the Star medal race, losing their title on the line, goes to show how fine these margins are. I was gutted for them. They sailed incredibly well all week.
Since then, as I say, it has been flat out. I only had a short spell of time with my parents on Sunday evening and had to break off from interviews to give my sister, Fleur, and my niece and nephew, the briefest of hugs.
On Sunday night we had a team dinner with the Princess Royal, a great supporter of British sailing, on board THV Patricia, the flagship of Trinity House.
Then there were a few jars consumed at a party in Weymouth with friends, team mates and rivals, including Jonas, the man who put me through such hell last week.
Yesterday afternoon I was on the Nothe, where I was able to sit on the grass and watch some of the sailing surrounded by the fans who made the experience so special and so emotional for me. And then it was back to the National Sailing Academy for the Duchess of Cambridge's tour. I don't think my small talk was great. I'm walking around like a zombie at the moment. But I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Hopefully, it will come off my waistline too. Instead of stuffing my face to bulk up for the Finn, I can slim down for my new adventure in the America's Cup with Ben Ainslie Racing. We head out to San Francisco on Aug 17.
I'd like to end by thanking my team mates, an amazing bunch of sailors, and everyone who has supported me down the years.
There are far too many to mention but to everyone, from my Mum and Dad, to all my coaches, to my sponsors, to my manager, to the children who have taken the time to write to me, I'm sorry I put you all through the wringer.
I'm just so happy I was able to deliver in the end.
Ben
Hi guys,
It still doesn't feel real but we did it! I cannot thank you enough for all the support. The amount of encouragement I've received from all across the country has just been unbelievable and definitely helped me get that medal. We worked so hard to get here and I'm so happy that I could do everyone proud.
All the kind words from young gymnasts (and their parents) have been especially inspiring. Knowing that I've helped encourage their love of the sport is so important to me.
Lastly, I'd just like to thank my mum for being there through it all. She was even more nervous than I was in the weeks before the Games started. I didn't envy the guys sitting next to her while I was competing, I'm sure they felt her shaking! Her support has been a constant throughout my career and something I have never taken for granted. Getting up there and being able to win a medal for her makes me unbelievably happy.
Thanks again, everyone!
Now... It's party time.
Louis
On Thursday 29th March, I was invited to attend and host an interactive UPS employee engagement day. The activity was purposefully held in areas outside of London in order to bring the message of London 2012 to the wider team.
The aim of the activity was to illustrate and celebrate how the little things that the team do, all contribute to the bigger picture - in this case, an unforgettable and successful Olympic Games.
As an athlete, I too competed and participated within the framework of a team. Using a few of my experiences as examples, I tried to highlight the personal value of teamwork and collaboration, explaining how contributing to something gives us infinitely more back.
With the help of Steve Rider, I then presented a short-film to the drivers, which hopefully helped them realise that they were far more than drivers and warehouse employees - they are the industrial athletes behind London 2012. Like all the Olympic athletes preparing for London 2012, they too needed a good warm-up! So we then jumped up, jogged around a bit and got the guys revved about the day ahead!
I've mentioned it before, but the UPS team dynamic is unlike anything I've encountered before. I know I was there to help inspire them, but they left me feeling equally excited.
If that wasn't heart-warming enough, two of the drivers then told me that they're thinking of organising a group warm-up every day before they hit the road. Now that is the true meaning of legacy!
Speak to you soon,
Other than the opportunity to perfect my routine and compete for an Olympic medal in front of a home crowd, I'm excited for the London 2012 Olympic Games for a number of reasons. The number one reason is the attention and focus it has brought to the world of gymnastics.
In my last blog I told you how I "stumbled" into gymnastics. Most 6 year olds want to be world-famous footballers; you won't find many who say they want to be professional gymnasts. The first time I saw my face on a poster in the Underground, it was a bit weird. But then I realised something... That gymnastics in this country needs a face. Everyone's obsessed with football, and I admit it is a great sport, but people love gymnastics, they love watching us on TV. We hear it all the time. So it's our responsibility to use the spotlight of London 2012 to influence and inspire a new generation of gymnasts and gymnastic fans!
Other than an Olympic medal, my goal is to help revolutionise gymnastics in Britain and get more kids to give it a try. And because it's part of the National Curriculum at many schools, they can! The gyms and facilities are there; we just have to show them that it's just as fun and cool as other popular sports. And in a world of unhealthy food and too much telly, it's our job to get kids moving again. Don't get me wrong, I love my video games but it's about creating a balance.
The London 2012 Olympic Games are a great platform for the lesser known sports to gain the attention and recognition they need to help grow and nurture their athletes. Football, cricket and rugby players receive endless support and financial backing, it's important for athletes like me to receive the endorsements we need to represent our country and do what we love.
So now when I see my face on a billboard, I don't feel shy anymore, I feel really proud. And if it can get one hyperactive 6 year old to give gymnastics a go - I've done good. That for me is as good as winning Gold.
Speak to you soon,
Louis
Last time I chatted to you guys about sailing at Weymouth and Portland and how much the area means to me. People often ask what it's like sailing all over the world
and how the conditions compare to venues around the UK. From Sydney to Bermuda to the UK, the conditions are worlds apart (literally and figuratively)!
When you think about it, the water is my office. My career has taken me to so many
incredible places, I feel very honoured to have seen so much of the world. If I had to choose one favourite, it would have to be Sydney. It's by far the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. With 240km of shoreline, there are so many places to sail and explore. On a warm sunny day, the harbour is vibrant blue; dotted with hundreds of sailboats, cruise boats and ferries. Sydney has a special energy about it... Sailing is in the blood over there and it's amazing to be around people who love and live for the water.
My second favourite place to sail is probably San Francisco. Like Sydney, it's a
beautiful natural harbour with a special something. Sailing is a San Francisco pastime; it's also home to the 2013 America's Cup Finals and the Louis Vuitton Cup,
America's Cup Challenger Series, and very much on the sailing "map" for the
next few years.
But there's one place that I haven't managed to get to yet... Somewhere natural, pristine and breathtakingly beautiful... but very, very cold! Somewhere that makes
Weymouth feel balmy and tropical... Have you guessed where yet? I'm talking about Greenland... With no roads, boats are a way of life in Greenland and sailing through its icy blue waters and glaciers would be a dream come true for me.
I have a very busy year ahead of me with the London 2012 Olympic Games etc. But I hope I can find some time and get to Greenland soon.
Speak to you soon,
Ben
One of the reasons why I was keen to partner with UPS for the London 2012 Olympic Games was their commitment to helping deliver the greenest Games in history. As the Official Logistics Provider for London 2012, UPS is responsible for offsetting the emissions of all logistics operations supporting the Games.
Let's face it; the convergence of thirty million items could leave a dreadful carbon footprint. Luckily it won't. The first step in solving any problem is to quantify it, so UPS will measure the carbon footprint from all its logistical operations for London 2012.
UPS has been certified by The CarbonNeutral Company and their process follows the CarbonNeutral Protocol, the global standard for ensuring the integrity of carbon neutral certification programmes.
It's much less complicated than it sounds. In a nice clean nutshell - CarbonNeutral will help work out a credible, comprehensive and certifiable number and then UPS will take concrete steps to manage and mitigate it. Environmental Karma, if you will.
Now for the interesting par... To help offset their Games Time footprint, UPS has developed a few key environmental tricks. They'll be using a fleet of electric vehicles as well as state-of-the-art biomethane tractor-trailers. But how these vehicles are powered is only part of the story. They've also developed fancy vehicle telematics, a wireless technology that helps plan the most efficient routes, reducing idle time and fuel emissions.
But it's about the smaller, simpler things too. To avoid adding to London 2012
traffic woes, UPS will be trialling bicycle deliveries in London during the
Games. With initiatives like this, we're well on our way to the greenest Games
ever.
On the 27th July, London will open its arms to the world for the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For us at UPS who have been busy planning and preparing since mid-2009, the final sprint to the finish line has begun
Preparations at the Copper Box, or the Handball Arena as it was known in its previous guise, got into full swing at the end of last year with completion of competition logistics for the Handball and Goalball test events which took place as part of the London Prepares Series in December. Both events were delivered without a glitch and offered an invaluable opportunity for us to fine tune each stage of our logistical operations ready for Games time, where we will be tasked with the set up and delivery of more than 6000 items over a period of 40 days into this venue alone. As Venue Logistics Manager, my role includes everything from scoping of materials and materials handling, all the way through to planning the crew that would allow me to meet the venue operational needs.
The fascinating thing about delivering an event of this scale is that each venue has its own unique set of logistical challenges. Come July, the competition stages for the Handball event will take place at the Copper Box, while the finals which take place a day later will take place at the Basketball Arena. As a team, we will have less than 12 hours changeover time to transform the venue from a Basketball to Handball competition space; everything from specialist equipment to competition flooring is required to change in order within a matter of hours. But we are prepared. We have been planning every aspect of set up and breakdown for nearly three years and I have every confidence in the team that Games time operations will run as smoothly as they did during the London Prepares Series.
For me, the road to London 2012 has not only been an incredible opportunity professionally, witnessing the Games being built from scratch right in front of my eyes, but also personally it has given me the opportunity to be part of something incredibly unique. When I came to the UK from Bulgaria and joined UPS in 2008 as part of their work-study programme with Anglia Ruskin University, working my way up the ranks as a package delivery driver, and then a sorter in our largest hub in Tamworth, I never imagined that today I would be instrumental in delivering the London 2012 Games.
In 2009, I was chosen to be part of UPS's District Olympics Team inLondonto work inside LOCOG to support on UPS's Olympic journey as Official Logistics and Express Delivery Supporter of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games and I have never looked back. The experience of being part of London 2012 is something that I am sure will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Our journey to London 2012 has been a marathon rather than a sprint but with so little distance left to cover, our activity has ramped up as we get ever closer to July. We will be approaching the finish line in no time at all and I couldn't be prouder!
Hi guys,
It's been a while since I've been in touch and told you all my news, so here goes! On the 11th of April, I had the opportunity to get together with Ben Ainslie, Louis Smith and Steve Rider (the three other UPS London 2012 Olympic Games brand ambassadors), for a packed day of filming and press interviews before the Games kick off. Because of our busy schedules and Louis and Ben's intense Games preparation, we've hardly had a chance to catch up, do some work and have a bit of fun of course!
We had loads to get through on the day... Press interviews, photography shoot and round table Q&A session, not to mention a poignant film shoot in front of a green screen - a bit tricky with Louis cracking us all up every two minutes!
For the Q&A component, the UPS team asked us to bring something small that meant a great deal to each. I decided on a set of tiny screw-in training spikes, the little thingabobs that I attached to my shoes to give them grip during training and competition. For something so small, they were absolutely vital to my performance on the day... Sometimes the smallest things really do mean the most.
The other ambassadors brought in some fantastic things too. Steve brought his very first official Olympic Games press pass! From the photo you'd never guess that it was from Moscow Games way back in 1980... He looks exactly the same! Ben brought the Union Jack flag he flew with pride after winning Olympic Gold for sailing in Beijing in 2008. Louis also brought a special memento from Beijing- his prized Olympic Bronze medal that he won in the Gymnastics pommel horse event.
Ben and Louis told us about all the ways they're training and preparing for the upcoming Games, which are just a few short months away now. Listening to them explain how excited (and nervous) they were made me think back to how I felt pre-Sydney in 2000 and how proud I felt to represent my country doing what I loved.
The good news is that I get to do it all over again at London 2012. With one difference... Instead of competing, I'll be trackside presenting! The hype in London is slowly and surely building and I can't wait for it all to unfold.
Chat to you soon,
Denise
UPS is making 30 million deliveries to London 2012. We are moving 1 million pieces of sporting equipment from A to B. When you stop and think about all the effort required behind the scenes to make this happen, you realise the level of responsibility we have to not only deliver the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but to do so in a responsible manner. To make good on the promise of hosting a truly sustainable London 2012, we are pulling out all the stops and bringing new technologies, processes and protocols to the UK.
An Olympic and Paralympic Games are the largest logistical peacetime operations in the world, and just as it is for the athletes, for UPS it's a huge undertaking which requires dedication, strength, skill and determination. We have been committed to sustainable logistics for a long time (with our first alternative fuel vehicle dating back 70 years, when we first used electric delivery vehicles in New York!) and we are now applying everything we have learned and the initiatives and products we have already put into practice to the logistics of the Games.
To do this we are using every possible delivery channel - bicycles, barges, and even walkers - to meet our logistical commitments. These are particularly effective methods of delivery in urban areas of congestion, and they reduce road use, city noise, and carbon emissions all in one!
When driving is the most efficient way to deliver items, we are driving eco-friendly; we are adding 10 biomethane diesel vehicles to our already 2,500-strong global fleet of alternative fuel vehicles, and these will be used to serve the Games. The Olympic and Paralympic Games mark the global launch of these biomethane diesel vehicles, which run on renewable energy produced from organic waste. This reduces the need for fossil fuels, as well as the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Nearly all our Games vehicles will also be fitted with what we call telematics technology. This clever piece of tech uses sensors to capture information about the vehicle, its route and speed. This allows us to optimise and improve on routes, reducing fuel consumption and therefore greenhouse gas emissions.
These are the main ways we are managing and reducing the impact of our London 2012 logistical operations. However where we can't manage it, we will mitigate by purchasing Gold Standard Carbon offsets in partnership with the CarbonNeutral Company. These offsets follow rigorous protocols and standards, and will results in UPS's carbon neutral delivery of millions of London 2012 items that we deliver.
London 2012 has accelerated the implementation of a range of new technologies across the UK, and these new vehicles and technologies will also remain in use long after the closing ceremony. Where sustainability is concerned, UPS are playing the long game, and these innovations will be a part of a valuable legacy for London and the UK in 2012 and beyond.
In early January 2012, the team participated in the London Prepares test event at North Greenwich Arena. And we did good! I'm so proud to say that we qualified as a full team for London 2012 for the first time since Barcelona 1992. Get in! And my teammate, Dan Purvis and I managed to win individual gold medals at the test event too.
It was definitely one of my cleanest routines to date and I was really happy with my performance. I think I've learnt and grown a lot over the last couple of years and I'm starting to feel the difference when I compete. It was an amazing experience competing at the North Greenwich Arena too. It made things feel very real. It was great to be able to do my routine under that kind of pressure knowing that London 2012 is going to be here in just six months!
Being at North Greenwich felt like being on a football pitch, everyone was cheering for us. It was great. That kind of support is going to mean the world to me, come London 2012. Everyone knows that football teams perform better when they play at home, why shouldn't we?
What made the test event even better was that I knew my mates at UPS helped prepare the venue for us. It's the first time I've had the opportunity to see and appreciate what they do. It was very cool. We could just focus on our performance and get on with it. Everything was in its place and you could feel that it was really well organised. It immediately relaxes you. It looked totally different too; it didn't feel like the same venue that usually hosts those massive concerts.
All in all, it was a brilliant event and it made the six months that lie between the Games feel very short. I can't wait to be there for the real show.
Speak to you soon,
Louis
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