In message
able.rogers.com,
David Fairthorne writes

According to the London Development Agency (see
http://www.lda.gov.uk/mediaoffice/pr...8.asp?print=1),
an "Olympic Zone" is to be developed in the Lower Lea Valley, extending from
the Thames to Stratford.

But a large number of events are also expected to take place outside
that area (Beach Volley Ball on Horse Guards Parade is one that takes my
breath away).

But the proposed East London Line extension would
not pass anywhere near the River Lea. Nor would it pass near any other
sports facilities that would be used for the Olympic Games.

I thought the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace (ELL) was likely
to be a major Olympics venue, at least for training purposes?

Also, events such as Sailing (probably Weymouth), Rowing (Eton),
Shooting (Bisley) and Tennis (Wimbledon) can all be reached from Clapham
Junction (ELL) - the ELLE making the east-west journey possible without
crossing central London.

Of course, the mystery is how well the ELLE might serve Stratford - the
Jubilee exchange at Canada Water is a cheap and cheerful answer, but I
suspect there was always a lingering hope of an eastward extension at
Dalstan for the games.

But the real mystery goes much deeper - Stratford will almost surely
become an "international transport hub", but nobody seems very clear how
the Lea Valley, should it become the "Olympics Zone", will connect with
that international hub.

In such a context, the ELLE does start to seem rather small fry!
--
Paul Terry