OlymPics Off Track

OFF TRACK report on the London Olympics 2012

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The Mall, 12.08.12 - Men's Marathon

Trying again to catch how the people of London were involved in the Games. The vibe was really emotional, even the dog is so proud!!

PH: Diego Mayon

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I’ve been struggling a little bit to make a decision on the photos for this Saturday. It was such an epic London day. My sister was in town (she lives in Lisbon) and she really wanted to get close to the Olympics, so I took her on the route I’d stalked the Dutch folk on. We took some cold cans and some bites with us and sat on Hackney Marsh while listening to the noise from the stadium. It got so loud that I looked on the BBC app on my iPhone, and it was only then that we realised Mo Farah was right at that moment putting his name in the history books. The roars getting louder with every lap of the 5,000 metres. Not a dry eye on the marsh!

After that we got back on the bikes, met one of the nicest blokes in the world (more on Roschan another time) on the canal and went to the Stour Gallery in Hackney Wick where they served amazing tapas and mind blowing mojitos. They had a pontoon on the canal where we sat while Usain Bolt & the Jamaica boys set the world on fire in the 4x100 meteres just over the other side of the water. We watched through the window on the big screen TV while we heard them break the world record. To top it all off Diego was round the corner and came and joined us for drinks. Amazing. 

Sorry for the large amount of text - I could have written much more!

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Projection Show on Westminster

Can be seen nightly between 9.30pm and midnight during the Olympics and Paralympics from the Lambeth side of the Thames. The show lasts 15 mins with audio history of the Olympic heroes.

PH: Diego Mayon

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10.08.12 - Team Pursuit

I was sitting in De Beauvoir Square this evening, drinking a beer and reading my book. Then I saw a throng of orange cyclists peddle past. Gotta love the Dutch. I decided to pursue them - so necked my beer, unlocked my bike and set off. Then I realised I left my phone (which these were all taken with) in the square so had to speed back. My prey were pretty easy to track back down. Whoever was leading them knew exactly where they were going. It was amazing. We (they) cycled through London Fields and even the cool crew clapped and cheered them through. Everyone loved them, and it was such a beautiful evening. I followed them all the way through Victoria Park, through Homerton, over Hackney Marsh into the Eton Manor transport hub where they parked their bikes and went onto the Olympic Park. I then sat in the park and I could hear the roars and screams from the stadium as I read my book some more. 

Photos by Stephen Howse

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ExCeL Arena

ExCeL Arena again: i'm not anymore wondering why it is so called...everything looked so square. By the way, is Daniel Tammet the last guy? If so, i think i caught him with the best possible background, he's a math genius!

PH: Diego Mayon

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Hackney BMX Track, Goldsmiths Row, 07.08.12 - BMX

Today was the start of the BMX competition at the Olympics, and Access Sport are working with Hackney BMX on the legacy project. Paulo from Brasil is part of the Hackney BMX team and he was teaching his impressive bike skills to some local kids from Hackney Quest.  

Paulo came to London 10 years ago for a few months to learn English. He now speaks excellent English (!), is an awesome BMX'er and is a great teacher to young people in Hackney.  Obrigado Paulo!

Links :

http://hackneybmx.com

http://www.accesssport.org.uk

http://www.hackneyquest.org.uk

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ExCeL Arena

All day long, wishing a lovely day!

iVideo: Diego Mayon

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Hyde Park, 07.08.12 - Men's Triathlon

Team GB supporter's backs, ended up celebrating BRO's victory!!!

PH: Diego Mayon

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06.08.12 - Basketball

Photos by Stephen Howse

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St Michael's Church, Chester Square

I've found out this church close to Victoria stations. They're broadcasting the Olympic Games live on Big Screen everyday from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

PH: Diego Mayon

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The Velodrome, 06.08.12, London 2012 Olympic Park

It's hard not to take an obvious shot sometimes. This is a bit of an obvious shot, but I am a bit obsessed with this building. Jason Kenny won sprint gold today, beating the massive Gregory Bauge from France 2-0. 

Photo by Stephen Howse

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Brixton, 05.08.12 - Men's 100m final

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jamaican indipendence, Usain Bolt has given the best gift.

PH: Diego Mayon

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Cornhill, 05.08.12 - Women's Marathon

This was Caitriona Jennings from the Republic of Ireland. She was the last finisher of todays race and everyone still supporting gave her a huge cheer. It was emotional!

All of the country's water stations she was running past had been packed up and she was being followed by a motorcycle and marshall's van. She finished in a time of 3:22:11

Photo by Stephen Howse

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Victoria Park

London's oldest public park is set to show the Olympics and to entertain with every kind of games, even extreme ones.

PH: Diego Mayon

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Hackney Bureau, 03.08.12 - Australian Man

There seems to be a lot of these around Hackney. This one is called Liam Dillon. He works at Hackney Bureau and makes really good coffee and has very amusing chat.

Photo by Stephen Howse

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Stretham Hill - Olympic Bet

Christopher outside Paddy Power and Jamal outside William Hill.

PH: Diego Mayon

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Mare Street, 02.08.12 - Polish Supporters

These guys were belting out a song in Polish to the tune of "I love you baby" at the bus stop. They quietened down a bit when I asked if I could take their photo, shame.