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UPS Develops Logistics Strategies for the 2012 Games

Video Highlights

Behind the scenes glimpses of the UPS London 2012 Logistics operations team in action
Planning and practice are key to delivering a successful Games

The Logistics Behind the London Prepares Test Events

As the official logistics and express delivery supporter of the London 2012 Games, UPS wants to ensure that all Olympic and Paralympic events run smoothly. To do so, the company put its key strategic operations to the test a year before the London 2012 Games, during the London Prepares series of test events. The series included world class sporting events, like Sailing at the Weymouth & Portland International Regatta, the Greenwich Park Equestrian Event, and Road Cycling.

Each event came with its own unique demands and difficulties, giving UPS the opportunity to analyse and adjust the strategies they had customised for the Games. For example, the Sailing Event came with a massive challenge: UPS had to safely ground and unload 25 shipping containers carrying the fragile equipment of each competitor. What’s more, it had to be completed in one day so the sailors would have enough time to practice before their qualifying event.

Similarly, the Greenwich Park Equestrian Event also had to be coordinated around operational restrictions. UPS had to strictly adhere to the Royal Park’s protocol while minimising any negative impact on its 183 acres of lush greenery.

The Road Cycling Event presented its own distinct complexities. The race required a fully mobile logistics team to deploy essential items along the 130km route in a relay fashion. Once the race was underway, the team had to follow behind, clearing the roads after the cyclists had passed. UPS literally provided logistics at every point along the route.

UPS spent hundreds of hours (more time than the events lasted) strategically preparing, customising and implementing logistics solutions for each venue. The company’s hard work paid off. Each test event was successfully delivered on plan and on time – all safely within the strict confines of controls and procedures.

The UPS logistics teams proved that a wealth of experience, dedicated experts and passion for developing custom action plans is vital to smoothly run operations. It is also a great indication of what’s to come at the London Games in 2012.