Olympic Stadium

The wooden tower

/ mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

Upwardly woodenThis structure rises above a corner of east London, with the Olympic Stadium in the near distance.

In fact, you’d think that the Strand East Tower is jockeying for position with Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit, which stands outside the stadium, a complicated squiggle of metal.

With its lattice of larch wood and steel supports, this tower is far more elegant and pleasing on the eye, with its handsome curves and upward sweep.

I’d never noticed the tower before, but it’s now become a landmark on my journeys to the eastern parts of the city and beyond.

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After the Olympics

/ mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

The Olympic Games in London are drawing to a close. It’s been a remarkable couple of weeks. Predictions that the city would grind to a halt have not come true, and Great Britain exceeded expectations with some amazing sporting achievements. It was hard to resist its lure and sense there was something special in the air.

Before the games I insisted I wouldn’t get involved, and didn’t even apply for tickets. I didn’t get physically close to the action but wanted my own memories. This included visiting Tower Bridge which became an Olympic beacon, while the buildings beside the River Thames sparkled and shimmered even more than usual. The immense number of tourists taking in the sights was astounding.

And there was Hackney Wick, an area close to the Olympic Stadium which seemed fiercely autonomous in the shadow of the games. Weeks earlier, the massive Olympic rings at St Pancras station were a photographic draw.

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So what are we going to do with ourselves after the games? Will there be a tide of post-Olympics blues? On 29 August, the Paralympics begin in London. Another chance to absorb the sporting spirit and enjoy the city’s weeks in the spotlight.