Olympic Volunteers Info Board

[caz]

Hi thought I would start this as there seem to be alot of ED Olympic volunteers involved in some way and it would be good to just have one thread where we can make contact.

[Ladygooner]

Although I am an Ambassador (on Oxford St end Aug) I am still waiting to hear if I am a Games Maker too. Was told I would hear by end June by nothing so far - anyone else still waiting to hear?

[Salsaboy]

Not the end of June yet!

[Les]

I only heard at the end of last week that I'd been made an offer, so don't panic yet! Fingers crossed Ladygooner.

[caz]

Anyone going to Dagenham this afternoon?

[Loz]

Are you still at Dagenham? We've been at the stadium for weeks now.

We has an all-dayer today. I am completely cream-crackered. Back tomorrow morning as well. And was there Friday night. But, only 27 days to go...!

[Applespider]

I think the 51s were in Dagenham today rather than the Stadium but are in the Stadium tomorrow.

I don't get to the 1:1 until we start the Closing and Paralympic rehearsals... everything else is stadium.

[caz]

We 51s were at Dagenham yesterday, just setting off for the stadium now .I'm green bib MAR 057 if you want to say hello.

[jab-100]

hello! I was at the stadium yesterday... I am a MED crowd. I am waiting to hear still if I am a games maker..

[Loz]

Great steaming cockup at security today. Seems they decided to randomly change the rules overnight without telling anyone. Loads of people travel in from all sorts of place and stay overnight and were forced to dump all their toiletries, etc at security.

Anyway, they have decided to implement the airport liquids policy, so be warned. Security theatre, of course - it might work on a plane, but entirely useless in a place like the Olympics, for what should be obvious reasons. Why can't we ever get security right in this country?

[caz]

I got a text at 8.15 saying no liquids over 100ml, bit late as we were supposed to start at 8.30 !! One girl had her Chanel perfume taken off her and thrown away. A girl in my group who is a proffesional drummer and who was going on to play a gig straight after rehearsal had her drumsticks taken and was told they would be destoyed !!!! After lengthy talks they weren't but.............

They do need to sort this out as loads of people are travelling in from far flung places, what are they supposed to do with their stuff? At the least they should be able to pick it up on their way out.

[Loz]

It probably won't stop the b**stards, but there is a facebook group to try and stop them publishing leaks about the show.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/323972054357236/

[Applespider]

caz - there is a left luggage facility in Westfield. It's pricey at ?8 a bag but possibly cheaper than chucking stuff away and having to replace. They had given us the 100ml rule a couple of weeks ago mind you but weren't enforcing it at that point.

Loz - I saw that - and Seb Coe tweeted something yesterday to the same effect #savethesecret

[Loz]

Applespider Wrote:

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> caz - there is a left luggage facility in Westfield. It's pricey at ?8 a bag but possibly

> cheaper than chucking stuff away and having to replace.

But, as one of our guys found out, not open until 11am on Sundays. Don't know about other days.

[Applespider]

Ah... forgot you guys started early on Sunday!

[caz]

Thanks for the info on left luggage facility- will let my lot know.

Loz, thanks for the Facebook link,found someone I know but had no idea they were also involved in the OC.

[Loz]

Actually, that's not right - just found the left luggage website http://uk.westfield.com/london/services/concierge/cloakroom-co and the hours are:

Monday 10am-9pm

Tuesday 10am-9pm

Wednesday 10am-9pm

Thursday 10am-10pm

Friday 10am-10pm

Saturday 9am-9pm

Sunday 12pm-8pm

Bank Holidays ? 10am-8pm

[lpool]

Interesting to hear about problems performers having now that security stepped up. I'll drop a line to LOCOG Ceremonies to see if any other arrangements possible.

[caz]

The rehearsal schedule is about to get crazy, from 5 till 10pm and then the compulsarys which at the moment are from 10am to 11.30pm. Alot of people are coming straight from work and for the ones living a long way away, I've met people coming from the Midlands and further, even someone from Cornwall !!! they'll have to stay in London as too late to get home.They'll all have stuff with them, toileteries etc. Even though we have the Oyster card they are paying alot of their own money for their train fares and accomodation, it seems unfare to expect them to pay for left luggage even if the times it's open worked which in most cases it wont. On Sunday I heard people saying they were thinking of pulling out because of this problem which would be awful as we have all worked so hard.

A simple solution would be to have somewhere to leave their stuff on site where they could pick it up on the way out.

[the-e-dealer]

You mean a handy place to leave a bomb?

[caz]

Posted by the-e-dealer Today, 02:05PM

You mean a handy place to leave a bomb?

the-e-dealer .....Obviously security is important, I'm not disputing that in any way, just meant a place to leave your

prohibited items AFTER going through airport restricted item security , which we have to do at every rehearsal, instead of destroying or throwing away volunteers belongings.

[Loz]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

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> You mean a handy place to leave a bomb?

They check for things like bombs first. It's a full airpost scanner and metal detector system. What they are also stopping is things that could, supposedly, be used to injure people or create some sort of explosive if put together in some way. Which, sitting in a locker, would be harmless.

[the-e-dealer]

Bottle of Peroxide in one locker

Fuse in another

Box of Screws in another.

Phone in Another.

Give all three keys to your terrier mate. Simples. I can see exactly why they wont let you store stuff but they should have given a warning.

[RosieH]

I'm not a volunteer, but may have one staying with me for a few weeks.

What's the best route by public transport, and how badly affected is it going to be come actual Olympic time?

[the-e-dealer]

If you are in walking distance of Honor Oak.

Overground then underground