When London was announced as the host city of the 2012
Olympic Games, there were a great many people who felt the event would be more
about failure than success. The traditional British cynicism came to the fore,
with a number of so-called experts rushing to predict a disastrous scenario in
which stadiums wouldn’t be ready on time and organisers would be exposed as
bumbling fools.
We all know now, of course, that the London Olympic Games
was a triumph from start to finish, and it showed the globe just how well the
British could run such a mammoth undertaking. When the eyes of the world were
watching, the UK in general, and London in particular, really shone. The whole
event made the country look like a wonderful place to visit.
The construction of various new venues, and the
refurbishment of several existing ones, was completed on time, thanks to
excellent workmanship, efficient management and many modern techniques.
Processes such as those that utilise friction welding machines have come into their own
in recent years, and we should all be grateful for that. Anything that takes
the pressure off those in charge simply has to be taken seriously these days.
Saving time with friction welding machines
The more familiar venues such as the Olympic Stadium in
Stratford and Lord’s Cricket Ground, which hosted the archery events, featured
prominently in reports about the Olympics. There were some venues, however,
which were only to be temporary. These included the stadium built in Horse Guards Parade for the beach volleyball tournament, and the iconic Greenwich
Park venue for the equestrian events.
Friction welding machines may not have been used in every
venue, but it’s yet another example of how good engineers make use of the very
latest techniques to provide the service we need at a cost and timescale that
matches our requirements. No wonder London 2012 was seen by the rest of the
world as a complete success, and will now be used as a yardstick for future
Olympic events.
One of the best things about the main Olympic Stadium in
East London is that it will continue to be used for many years to come. In
2016, it will become the home of West Ham United Football Club, and will also be the home of British athletics. It’s
reassuring to know that this wonderful arena, which bore witness to legendary
performances by the likes of Usain Bolt and Jessica Ennis, will still be a part
of the UK’s sporting folklore.
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