please empty your brain below
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Having been to the Acquatic Centre cheap seats 3 times (including the first games) and getting lucky every time, I have some sympathy. Each time we had to think "damn lucky we weren't up the other end...." whichever that happened to be. The alternative viewpoint is, best view of the action in the games for a venue that could really have been b-a-a-a-d. Those precipitous steps really do their job.
For the WR front, I think what's happening is that more disabled are now participating and realising that they can. What I've found instructive is comparing the performance of able bodied and disabled WR. For example, Jessica Long's 100m butterfly WR was roughly the same as the able bodied WR from 1960. Likewise runners etc. There must have been a time when able bodied WR were falling just as quickly, it was just not in our living memory.
What worries me slightly is the inevitable backlash when Team GB are unable to sustain the astonishing performance that they have given us, as will inevitably be the case. The athletes will be no less excellent, but it is inevitable that other countries will step up and win more medals.
Ham | Homepage | 07.09.12 - 8:33 a.m. | #
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I was there on Sunday evening, right over at the Diving Pool end (row 8) and pretty high up (although there were still another 20 or so rows behind me).
It really is very steep, the seats were the most uncomfortable of all the venues I've been to, and you get very little leg room. It was also rather weird not being able to see nearly half of the other spectators. It really felt like a totally different building being up at the top than when I went to London Prepares Diving and sat near the front, where the sweeping roof is dominant and the "wings" just rise up into the distance.
However, as the 15,000 seats in the temporary wings are only there the London 2012 Games, I'm guessing they decided that people would rather be squished in with a distant view than not be there at all because there were fewer seats. I have to agree with that logic.
Compare that with the Velodrome, which as a permanent venue with no extra seating wings had far fewer seats, but all of them were fairly comfy and had fantastic views. Amazing for the people that got tickets (and I was lucky enough to be one of them) but there were loads more people who would have given anything just to be there.
Darren | 07.09.12 - 9:09 a.m. | #
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I agree that the forced jollity was rather grating, especially as the same tunes were used again and again, thankfully I wasn't asked to play the bongos!
Mikey C | 07.09.12 - 9:43 a.m. | #
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-- So I'm afraid I'm awarding the vertiginous grandstands of the Aquatic Centre my "worst view of the action at the Games" award.--
You obviously haven't been to Brands Hatch. I think it was chosen from a competitor's perspective because the spectators just get glimpses of action here and there. As for knowing what is going on during the time trials where races overlap and 2 lap races catch up with 3 lap races - no chance.
CAFC | 07.09.12 - 10:32 a.m. | #
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I am sure it will be a lot easier to get to the New Newham Swimming Pool from Stratford Station than it was during the games with the diversions though the Stratford Gate.Someone counted the steps to the top of the aquatic centre stands and it was over 200 (from the bottom of the centre). Good thing they don't tell you that before you get to the top. There was a hint from the games makers at the bottom to get refreshments and use the conveniences before the long climb.
KissenMe | 07.09.12 - 11:55 a.m. | #
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All those records? The Aquatic Centre has special lighter friction fast water.
For my part the only remotely bad view I've had all London 2012 was at the very top and back of Earls Court, which, to be fair, is about 80 years old and certainly was not purpose built for Volleyball.
Although I was surprised how many restricted view seats there were at Excel for powerlifting. Given all the action takes place in a square metre.
will | 07.09.12 - 12:50 p.m. | #
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Re. World Records
I've heard people "on the telly" saying that the pool is supposed to be "faster" than others.
Apparently it is deeper than previous competition pools, and has spare lanes on either side. This means that reflected waves take longer to propagate and are therefore less energetic when they get to the centre two lanes, which is where the fastest swimmers are usually placed in finals.
PeteM | 07.09.12 - 2:59 p.m. | #
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Does the small-print say you'll be ejected if you give the finger to the fancam if it starts abusing you? I'll clap & cheer the athletes and gamesmakers thank you, not fill every second with pointless noise.
On the whole it's been well balanced where I've been, apart from whipping people up only to try to silence them instantly in goalball. And they got a noisy mexican wave going disturbing the blind long jumpers.
There's no way I'm going to allow myself to be bullied after once having to drive home round the North Circular with a completely paralyzed left arm caused by enforced clapping & waving at a TV recording!
martxw | 07.09.12 - 10:29 p.m. | #
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I made 2 visits to the Aquatic Centre during that other sporting thing a few weeks back. Row 59 for the swimming and i was at the diving pool end - like watching ants in a puddle. The next day i had diving and was in Row 59 again.
So despite being in back row of Copper Box, Riverbank Arena, Water Polo and NGA at various times, the Aquatic Centre also wins my worst seat prize.
Matt | Homepage | 08.09.12 - 12:03 a.m. | #
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The Team GB athletes have been brilliant but let’s also acknowledge that some of the smaller countries (with minimal spectator support) have been even more successful if you look at the ratio of medals won per head of population. Just saying...
GAA | 08.09.12 - 12:20 a.m. | #
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I've only had to brave the fan-cam once, in the Basketball Arena. Luckily I had assumed my standard position right at the very top of the emptiest stand, but if it had picked on me then I would definitely have given them the finger. Serves them right!
swirlythingy | Homepage | 08.09.12 - 3:19 a.m. | #
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Wow. We were there at the same time. Havi ng followed this blog for 8 + years now that is the closest we've got (same elevation, but i was lucky and was above the pool) .
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for such an excellent guide to the olympics, and the build up!
I have to say as a seasoned spectator (and historically a competitor) of swimming, it was the best seating/view combination i've ever experienced. If any of the others commenti ng here think those seats were uncomfortable, the n try every other pool in the country. The seats are always the same, but at 30 degrees and 85% humidity.
And considering the numbers of spectators, i will view every event i have to queue at as being shoddy, since i didn't seem to be queueing at all for the whole experience.
Darren | 08.09.12 - 11:39 a.m. | #
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dg, we missed each other by a day! I was there Friday in the Aquatics centre, slightly panicking as our seats were in block 409. However, when we got there, one of the games makers saw that 2 in my party were elderly and 1 other with a stick, she said "nope, no way, 409 is too much of a hike!", instantly swapped our tickets for 308! Then as we were climbing the stairs, another games maker said, come back here, sit here if you like, no-one else has come but if they do eventually turn up you'll have to move". She sat us on the disabled gantry, overlooking the pool, no-one in our way, and we stayed there for the whole session. Loved every single minute of my experience in the park, made all the more brilliant by your park guides, we definately would've missed the water words and the gloriana. Shame its nearly all over really....... x
teepeezee | 08.09.12 - 8:24 p.m. | #
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I was there saturday morning. Wow, it's steep, I stayed resolutely in my seat in the 2nd last row through the session rather than attempt going back down and up again. I found the gap between back of the seats and the next row rather too wide for my liking, especially when people didn't stand up to let us pass. The view was fine, though I wish the lane indicators were a bit bigger so I didn't lose track of who was who.
The plus side to being so high up, you avoid the awful kisscam!
s | 11.09.12 - 10:51 a.m. | #
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@martxw: I just remembered that a young bloke did in fact give 2 Vs (a la Liam Gallagher) to the camera during a wheelchair basketball game at the Arena - he just got admonished by the chirpy presenter and a lot of laughs from everyone else. I don't know if he was taken aside or ejected afterwards though!
s | 11.09.12 - 10:52 a.m. | #
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