Reflections

Winter in an Olympic Wonderland

Being quite busy Not Views hadn't visited the Olympic Wonderland

for awhile.

So, two days after Christmas

we put on our hiking boots,

swiped our Oyster cards

and headed back,

and found that 

the Olympic Wonderland

had become

a Winter Wonderland

Olympic sponsor

We found evidence of the Olympics,

New sports facilities

and the Olympic legacy.

Alternative Olympic Park

Non-sporting activity

We didn't find any joggers...

But we did find someone who needed

help

to get to the shops.

So,

we helped him

get there

and back.

The End

Vox Pop (Pre Olympics)

In May, Not Views hopped on the tube to Stratford to ask locals one very simple question..

What do you think of the Olympics?

Here are a few answers..

Dennis who's a lawyer and helps the market traders

'They said to me it's a done deal, the market's moving. 

You can't defeat the Olympics'.

Alan who sells bits and bobs

'Nightmare. Complete tragic nightmare. 

Absolute nightmare from start to finish. Tragic.'

Ezeciah who's an evangelist

'Who's going to profit?

Ain't it the business people?

They will surely profit a lot.'

Abdul who sells shoes

'Well, I'm hoping that it will affect us in a positive sense.

That's the hope...'

Sarah, Yasmin and Sheila who were standing on the steps of Westfield Shopping Centre

'As in benefit us? Young people? Personally, not really...
I think it only benefits people that get jobs and stuff, what do we have, we can't get jobs.' (Yasmin)

'But, it will improve facilities though'. (Sheila)

Alexander and Ruben

who were sitting on the steps of Westfield Shopping Centre

'It might be good for the tourism, but other than that...' 

(Ruben)

'If of course the Olympics helps to bring in some money to open up some other leisure centres or youth clubs here and there, then yeah, then we'll see change'. 

(Alexander)

We'll be back to ask the same questions once the Olympics has finished.

(These questions and answers will be up in our July post)

9th June 2013

Where is happiness to be found?

Where is happiness to be found? (1)

Stratford, recognised as one of London’s most deprived areas, has had a huge amount of money pumped into it, but will this money actually benefit local people? Or, will the inevitable price rises lock them out?

Where is happiness to be found? (2)

A security guard is dwarfed by a god-like figure at Westfield shopping centre, Stratford.

One heartbeat away

Estimates for the cost of the Games, a two-week sporting event, are as high as £10 billion. How will this affect people’s lives in a recession?

Way to Salvation

With their bags of shopping people leave Stratford, the new consumer paradise.

Stratford to the Porto Olímpico

Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Beginning,

Olympic Stadium, Stratford

completed.

Bus in Stratford


Belief in Sky,

Eu Quero é Deus - I want God
Construction workers' helmets at the Maracanã


belief in God.

Stratford station

Towards the Olympic Park,

Elevated motorway


towards the Porto Olímpico. 

From Stratford station


The need to be known

From the underpass, Rio de Janeiro


is universal.

Wanderings in an Olympic Wonderland (Part 2)

This is a good question to ask,

and one that people often ask themselves.

On our wanders around Stratford we also asked this question.

Specifically in relation to the people who live in the borough.

How will the Olympics affect the people in the area?

Will it be positive? Beneficial?

Or, will it be negative?

Will the new construction of flats and a shopping centre make the area better for locals?

Or, with a rise in the cost of living,

will it force people out

and split the community?