The Crunch low down on the Olympic Stadium story

After a statement made by IOC President Jacques Rogge muddied the fate of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium this week, we at Crunch attempt to get underneath the skin of the story.

Ever wondered about where the Olympics will be in London, or where the term ‘White Elephant’ comes from?

If so, read on………

2012 Olympic Stadium, Lower Lea Valley, East London

What will the Olympic Stadium look like?

An 80,000 seat athletics stadium will be converted to a venue over two-thirds smaller than that after the games.

Construction work started in May this year.

A half-mile round, 60 foot high collage will drape the façade of the stadium, on which will be images of past Olympic champions and country flags.

The Olympic Stadium will be on an island site, surrounded on three sides by waterways.

After the Games, the temporary seats will be removed, and it will be transformed into a 25,000 capacity venue that will host a variety of sporting and cultural events.

What is the Olympic legacy?

The plan is to develop the Lower Lea Valley area of inner-London, and in doing so create tens of thousands of new jobs and homes.

Situated three miles from Central London it includes parts of a number of boroughs such as Hackney and Tower Hamlets. With an unemployment rate of 35% on some estates, it is an area of just over two square miles in size, characterised by a large amount of derelict land.

To accommodate the population expansion of the coming decades, and to improve the lives of those already in the area, regeneration of the area has become a priority for a number of authorities.

The London Development Agency, Mayor’s office and the Government are all working on the plan.

There is due to be 50,000 new jobs and up to 40,000 new homes, nine thousand of which will be in the Olympic Park area.

Sporting Legacy

Creating the largest green space in London since Victorian times, one the size of Hyde Park, the games will promote family health.

Many new sporting facilities, including the aquatic centre will be left behind, intended to be used by the public.

The organisers hope to cash in on the tourism boom that hit Sydney post-2000. After the millennial Games, that city benefited from £3.5 billion of new visitor and business interest.

Where does the term ‘White Elephant’ come from?

In some far-Eastern lands the albino elephant was considered holy in ancient times, and they were given as a gift by the King to one of his subordinates. Because the elephant was seen as being sacred it was a great honour to receive one.

White, albino Elephant at Bangkok Zoo

But, to keep a white elephant was a financially crippling experience. The owner had to provide the elephant with special food and provide access for people who wanted to worship it.

It was an executable offence to refuse the gift, or fail to treat the animal in a manner befitting its status. It was not appropriate for a sacred animal to work and earn its keep.

Reference to Indian and Thai veneration of the white elephant was made in early 17^th century literature.  In this, it describes how the King would use the bestowed gift to ruin a courtier he no longer valued.

Rather than banish the man from his court, the King chose ease out the subject with more subtlety. On the face of it, the new addition is a valuable possession, but is one which its owner cannot dispose of, and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) exceeds its usefulness.

Stuart Mawer

Crunch Magazine

• Confusion surrounds fate of 2012 Olympic Stadium
  

• Comment with the blog

Olympic photo courtesy of mleroy1986 @ www.flickr.com

Elephant photo courtesy of sftrajan @ www.flickr.com

Confusion surrounds fate of 2012 Olympic Stadium

The fate of the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games has been muddied after a statement given by IOC president Jacques Rogge to the BBC on Thursday.

3D impression of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium

Olympics boss Rogge fuelled further debate, and again exposed old disagreements, with his comment that the games should not leave behind a “white elephant” of a stadium.

In the contract to put on the Olympics, London’s organisers stated that the stadium at Stratford would have athletics at the heart of its post-Games plans.

One of the main factors in London winning the bid was its commitment to provide a legacy for sport and sustainable re-generation in the east of the city. It has been envisaged that long-term tenants will be secured to fill the stadium on a regular basis.

Looking to avoid the ‘legacy’ problems that have been reported with the Athens 2004 games, so far it has been difficult to reconcile the two strands of thought.

Football and rugby teams are the most likely to fill the stadium, but chairman of the football club closest to the site, Barry Hearn seems to sum up a depth of feeling that is across the board. “Leyton Orient……

……will not be going to an Olympic Stadium that has got an athletics track around the middle.”

The presence of the track seems to be the main sticking point, as previous talks with West Ham and Tottenham have broken down. The implications of the proposed athletics legacy have been concerning various organisations since the award of the games three years ago.

Old disagreements

Boris Johnson is said to be in favour of this new thinking from the International Olympic Committee. In a June interview with the London Evening Standard, the new Mayor claimed there was no “convincing” long-term future for the main stadium as a home for athletics.

But according to John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Development Agency, it is really too late for a Premier League club to move to the stadium.

Responsible for building the Games, he told the BBC “you would have to completely redesign it [the stadium] and I think we have gone past that point.”

The plan of the London organising committee (LOCOG) is to reduce by well over two-thirds its capacity; from 80,000 to a designed-for 25,000.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of LOCOG, and a former Olympic 800m champion, has maintained that the £525m complex would be a “stadium with track and field as its primary legacy”.

Working towards a solution

A respondent for LOCOG was robust in the face of the Rogge comments. Reported in Thursday’s Daily Telegraph, the spokeswoman said “we have always said we would not build white elephants and we are all working towards making the stadium financially viable”

“We are committed however to a multi-sport facility with athletics as a key part of the mix.”

The London Development Agency (LDA), charged with finding a legacy use for the stadium, has already been asked by Mayor Johnson to re-examine available options for the site.

According to Friday’s Guardian though, the LDA are continuing their search for an athletics solution.

Stuart Mawer

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photo courtesy of mleroy1986 @ www.flickr.com

The Crunch low-down on the Beckham move story

After David Beckham all-but moved to AC Milan to safeguard his England squad place, we at Crunch attempt to get underneath the skin of the story.

Do you wonder how this really affects his chances in the England team, and if this is just another Brand Beckham marketing ploy?

If so, read on……….

David Beckham's soon-to-be new club, AC Milan, Italy

Could he join AC Milan permanently?

It seems not.

Beckham’s agent Simon Oliveira and MLS commissioner Don Garber both stressed any move would only be for two months.

“Nothing is confirmed yet, but the intention is to go to AC Milan on loan for January and February,” Oliveira said.

“He would be going there with the view to keeping fit and being available for selection for England. The idea is he then goes back to the Galaxy to join up with their pre-season in March.

“He will not be joining AC Milan permanently. He had a five-year contract with the Galaxy and has three years left and every intention of fulfilling that.”

How long is he gone for?

The loan will see Beckham join Milan after Serie A’s winter break, and was undertaken because the 33-year-old was told by Fabio Capello that he would not be considered for England’s friendlies against Spain and Slovakia at the start of next year if he was not playing competitive football.

In theory he will be back at LA Galaxy by the time of World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine in April, and Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.

Then, too, MLS is putting together its 2009 schedule and is considering opening its season in mid-March, which means Beckham would have to be back by then.

The Associated Press reported today that Beckham “would join the Serie A club in January and remain there until the end of the season.”

Since the Italian season runs through the middle of May, that would mean Beckham would miss the first two months of the MLS season, which is unlikely unless the loan is really just cover for a trade in the works.

A report on Gazzetta dello Sport’s website said that Beckham would be available during the MLS off-season, not beyond.

Will he get in the team?

Milan have welcomed a possible loan deal and yesterday their manager Carlo Ancelotti suggested Beckham could cover Italy’s Andrea Pirlo as a deep midfield playmaker.

“David can cover all the positions in midfield,” Ancelotti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He could also play in Pirlo’s position.”

Does this really help his England place?

As Kevin McCarra writes in Thursday’s Guardian:

Beckham trained with Arsenal at the start of this year but that sort of arrangement is not good enough for the England manager. The player was informed that he could not be considered for the squad to face Spain unless he was engaged in competitive football at the time.

Is it just a marketing ploy?

Capello and Franco Baldini, the England general manager, put their case to the chief executive of the Serie A club, Adriano Galliani. Capello, given his distinguished place in Milan’s history, can exert great influence. He was keen to ensure that Galliani was not simply attracted to Beckham because of his value in marketing terms.

“We’ll sign him for a few months, and then he’ll go back,” Mr Galliani told a hastily-assembled press conference. “Beckham has chosen Milan. Our team is very competitive and will remain as is but Beckham is something different and intriguing… He will bring more fans.”

Stuart Mawer

Crunch Magazine

• Beckham moves to save England place

• Comment with the blog

photo courtesy of majksner @ www.flickr.com

Beckham moves to save England place

David Beckham has sought to stake his place in England’s burgeoning World Cup qualifying campaign by negotiating a whirlwind loan spell at seven-time European Champions AC Milan.

AC Milan's colours - A new badge for David Beckham to kiss?

Coach Fabio Capello told the former captain that he would not be considered for England’s build-up friendlies in February and March if he was not playing competitive, regular first-team football.

The loan should see Beckham join Milan in January for two months, after the Italian league’s winter break.  This according to Thursday’s Guardian will make him eligible to face Euro 2008 winners Spain in February and Slovakia at Wembley in March.

Beckham’s management, Simon Oliveira, confirmed the plans: “talks are taking place with Milan with regard to a short term loan move,” he said. “David’s intention is to maintain his fitness and keep himself eligible for England’s selection”.

Getting in the team

Milan have not started in distinguished form this season, and according to seasoned Serie A observers, Beckham could find a niche for himself in the team.

According to the Independent’s Frank Dunne David Beckham’s arrival could be timely for Milan. An injury to playmaker Andrea Pirlo has shown deficiencies in a squad full of midfield ball-winners.

Pirlo should be back by the time Beckham would be due to arrive, but since his thigh injury last month, the team has struggled to maintain consistency. Clarence Seedorf, has done his best to fill in what is a makeshift position, but shouldn’t be expected to act as creative cover.

If, on return, Pirlo fails to recapture his pre-injury form Milan will have the cover to retain possession – with Gattuso, Ambrosini, Emerson and Flamini as options – but will not be as capable to unlock tight Italian defences as a Beckham should be.

Milan’s coach sees a place for Beckham in his plans: “David can cover all the positions in midfield”, Carlo Ancelotti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He could also play in Pirlo’s position”. Beckham is “a serious athlete and a great professional”.

A commercial decision

When discussing the deal, Capello and his assistant Franco Baldini advised the Italian club. Capello is a legendary figure at Milan, and knows the current management very well. The England pair was, according to journalist Kevin McCarra, keen to impress the footballing reasons for the move.

A deal involving Beckham would never be seen in purely sporting terms, but does follow a recent trend in Milanese football thinking. In the past season, the club have brought in “stars on the wane” Ronaldo, Shevchenko and Ronaldinho.

Gabriele Marcotti, Britain’s most omnipresent Italian football journalist added:

And now enter Beckham, at 33 another superstar whose best days are behind him, but who is still capable of packing a commercial punch. Milan’s strategy is simple: they see it as a win-win situation. If he contributes on the pitch, great. If he doesn’t, no problem. There is plenty of depth in midfield already.

For Beckham, the commercial opportunities seem not to be the motivation. If he earns millions of pounds from his stay in Milan, but doesn’t progress in the England team, his Italian sojourn will be worth no more than a postcard home.

Stuart Mawer

Interested further?

• The Crunch low-down on the Beckham move story

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The Crunch low-down on the Cricket Umpire story

After it was decided this week that the England team would take part in video evidence trial that would over-rule the on-pitch umpire, we at Crunch attempt to get underneath the skin of the story.

Do you wonder how the appeal system works, why we have it in the first place, and what is this ‘Hawk-Eye’?

If so, read on…….

Kevin Pietersen, England cricket captain

How does the appeal system work?

The batsman in receipt of the umpire’s original decision or the captain of the fielding side must make a “T” sign with the shape of his body.

The umpire will then refer his decision to the third umpire, who can use slow-motion replays, and Hawk-Eye to track the path of the ball up until the point of impact with the batsman’s pads.

The television official cannot use the predictive element of the Hawk-Eye software, Hot Spot or the Snicko-meter.

The rules of the trial allow each team to ask for an unlimited review of decisions, although they may make no more than three unsuccessful requests per innings.

After originally passing up an opportunity to use the technology, this embrace of the system seems to be an about-turn by the England team. Peter Moores, the Head Coach, may have been cajoled into accepting the system.

Before this past summer’s home series against South Africa, Moores said: “We support referrals but didn’t want the players doing the referring……. In a team sport like this, the decisions should be taken on by the umpires.”

What exactly is Hawk-Eye?

Hawk-Eye was first used in TV cricket broadcasting by Channel 4 in 2001.

Using six cameras placed around the ground, the technology predicts the path of the ball as it comes out of the bounce, thus determining whether the ball would have hit the stumps.

The makers, of which Paul Hawkins is the inventor, believe that the system is accurate to within 5mm of perfection. The doubt remains in whether the cameras installed are fixed in exactly the correct positions every time.

The technology is used by broadcasters to resolve LBW shouts.

Hawk-Eye has been used in many domestic competitions throughout the world, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 and at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Why did the trial first begin?

The introduction of the trial has been driven by the Indian cricket authorities (BCCI) since the tumult of January’s second Test between themselves and Australia in Sydney.

In that game there were a number of incorrect umpiring decisions that were seen by the television, but not by the on-pitch officials. These effectively turned the match in the Australians’ favour.

Andrew Symonds, racially abused by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, was the fortuitous recipient of three calls whilst on his way to a Test-best score of 162 not out. Two not outs before the Queenslander reached his fifty, and one decision as he zeroed-in on his 150.

To prove that the technology is only as good as the television umpire reviewing it, one decisive camera angle showed Symonds out, when given not-out by the official.

Australia won the game with nine minutes remaining, and this ultimately proved the difference between the two sides. The series was won by the home side 2-1.

Harbhajan was banned for three games for his calling Symonds a “monkey”.

When is it also being trialled?

There are three other trials in addition to the West Indies – England series:

• New Zealand v West Indies two Tests December

• India v Pakistan three Tests January/February

• South Africa v Australia three Tests February/March

All the test playing nations bar Bangladesh would have been involved in these ICC video referral trials since they began in July.

The idea of the further trials is to involve as many cricketers and umpires in the system as is possible ahead of an ICC meeting in the spring of 2009.

This Cricket Committee could decide on a permanent solution that would include the forthcoming summer’s England home series against the Australians.

Stuart Mawer

Crunch Magazine

• England’s cricketers can now over-rule the Umpire

• Comment with the blog

photo courtesy of Peter Meade @ www.flickr.com

England’s cricketers can now over-rule the Umpire

England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen, could be given out on the basis of video evidence once described as ‘half way house’, the International Cricket Council decided on Tuesday.

England captain, Kevin Pietersen

For the first time, England players will have the opportunity to question the on-pitch umpires’ decision and ask for it to be referred to the ‘television’ third umpire, who will make the final judgement.

After rejecting a chance to use it in the home series against South Africa in the summer, the side to tour the West Indies in February and March will be the first England team subjected to the new system.

The third umpire will have access to new evidence, such as super-slow motion replays and use of ‘Hawk-Eye’, the ball-tracking software that has been used in televised cricket coverage for a number of years.

‘Half way house’

The plan of the ICC is to use ‘Hawk-Eye’ only partially, using the system to track whether the ball will hit the stumps in relation to lbw appeals.

This decision has been branded ‘half-way house’ by the world-leading Cricinfo website in the way it uses Hawk-Eye only up to the ball’s point of impact with the batsman. Andrew McGlashan, the article’s writer, added that it “highlights the mistakes made by the umpire” when replayed fully on television.

The ICC have not fully trialled the ‘Hawk-Eye technology and will only use it sparingly.

Trials were meant to be conducted in April and May of this year, but were washed out by the weather. Martin Crowe, Kiwi ex-test batsman, and also a representative of Sky television, says this of Hawk-Eye: “it can only ever be a visual representation of what might happen. Therefore umpires should never use it”.

But Dave Richardson, the ICC’s cricket operations manager is satisfied with its use in this year’s Sri Lanka-India test series in July. “I know some Indian players were not happy with the system…. but we were satisfied with the referral system and found out that it led to 98% correct decisions being given,” he said.

Ashes 2009

If deemed successful, the umpire review trial could be made permanent law in time for this summer’s forthcoming Ashes series. A debate on its introduction could be heard at the ICC’s cricket committee in April and May of next year.

Stuart Mawer

Interested further?

• The Crunch lowdown on the Umpire story

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photo courtesy of Peter Meade @ www.flickr.com

The Crunch low-down on the Charlton story

After Charlton Athletic football club confirm an initial takeover bid from an Arab consortium this week, we at Crunch attempt to get underneath the skin of the story.

Ever wondered where Dubai is, and still don’t understand the business jargon?

If so, read on………

Charlton's home - The Valley, South London

Directors from Charlton Athletic will advise the club’s shareholders to accept an ‘indicative’ takeover offer from an Arab consortium, a statement on the club’s website has confirmed.

Zabeel Investments, from Dubai, are now looking deeply at the club’s accounts before they decide to proceed with a formal offer. As reported in Saturday’s Times, the club has a value of £20-£30 million.

Who are Charlton Athletic?

Based in South London, the closest club to the Millennium Dome (now the O2 arena), and in borough of Greenwich, they garner their support from nearby Bexley, Bromley and North-west Kent.

Seen as a bit of a ‘yo-yo’ club, they were relegated from the Premier League in 2006-07 and have been in its feeder league, The Championship, ever since. They won the FA Cup in 1947, and their best league season was in 1937, when they finished as runner-up in the top league.

Great players from the club history all come from those halcyon days, long-serving goalkeeper Sam Bartram, Cup-winning captain Don Welsh and South African centre forward, Stuart Leary.

On the board of directors is Michael Grade, once Chairman of the BBC, and currently Executive Chairman of ITV.

Relegated from the Premier League in 2007, they owe according to Saturday’s Daily Mirror, £20 million. The average debt of Premier League clubs is £78.5 million, and at Everton it is £65 million.

Who are Zabeel?

Zabeel Investments claim to have around £3 billion of assets in many areas like luxury hotels, construction and the media, both in Dubai and the United States.

The company was set up two years ago and is controlled by the al-Maktoum’s, Dubai’s ruling family. The al-Maktoum’s own the Godolphin horse stables, home to Frankie Dettori, and host the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup.

As a part of the Dubai International Capital consortium, Zabeel were on the verge of buying Liverpool for £156m in 2007.

Where is Dubai?

Dubai is one of the states of the United Arab Emirates. The main metropolis is Dubai City, a major centre for global commerce. The key regional port, it has developed over the last 40 years as a free-trade zone for manufacturing and services. One of the more tolerant Arab states, it’s population is based mainly around the expatriate community.

Map courtesy of Al-Hiba, a trademark & patent registration company based in Dubai. A clickable map of the Middle East, with zoom, shows Dubai to the right of Saudi Arabia.

More about Dubai can be found at the Lonely Planet website.

What is due diligence?

This is one of the final, key processes in the purchase of a company.

According to businesslink, a government-funded organisation, initial sale terms are first agreed (part of the indicative offer) and then the due diligence process is entered into. Over a negotiable period, typically three weeks, Zabeel can review the full financial state of Charlton Athletic – things like the value of player contracts, the stadium and training ground, and a forecast of the club’s future growth.

What happens after that?

Again, paraphrasing businesslink, a successful due diligence process ends and the finalising of a sales agreement begins. The exact details of the sale will be included in this final document.

Stuart Mawer

Crunch Magazine

• Charlton Athletic in Arab takeover bid

photo courtesy of Ewan-M @ flickr.com

Charlton Athletic in Arab takeover bid

Directors from Charlton Athletic will advise the club’s shareholders to accept an ‘indicative’ takeover offer from an Arab consortium, a statement on the club’s website has confirmed.

Charlton's home - The Valley

Zabeel Investments, from Dubai, are now looking deeply at the club’s accounts before they decide to proceed with a formal offer. As reported in Saturday’s Times, the club has a value of £20-£30 million.

According to standard business practice, this would mean that a written offer has been tabled for the club, and that a time for completing the deal by has been proposed. The cash deal terms referred to in this case would seem to indicate fewer complications with the purchase.

On the surface of it, a final sale agreement could be reached towards the end of the current ‘due diligence’ process. This may be concluded in as little as three weeks.

This is not the first club that Zabeel Investments have been interested in, as talks with Mike Ashley’s Newcastle, and Liverpool, prior to the American takeover, broke down over price issues.

A strange choice

With Charlton not a Premier League club, this deal would seem a strange option for the Emiratis. However, Zubeel, an organisation with a reputed £3 million in assets, do not see a move for a more ready-made club, like Everton, as more attractive.

The club statement added: “In spite of being approached by various English football clubs as well as a number of well-known clubs in Europe and South America, Zabeel Investments believes Charlton is the right club for them.”

The foundations at Charlton do look solid. The South Londoners own the freehold on their stadium and training ground and have a comparatively low debt of £20 million. With a number of new homes earmarked for neighbouring North Kent, the fan base has considerable growth potential.

Manager of Charlton, Alan Pardew is aware of the deal and has been reassured by the club’s board, and prospective new owners, that his job is safe. Furthermore, understands Saturday’s Independent, he will receive funds for buying players in the January transfer window.

The move by the Dubai group seems not as strange in light of the takeover of QPR in September of last year.

Also a Championship club, the West Londoners were bought by Formula One pair Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore with similar motives in mind.

Commenting on the potential deal, the executive chairman of Zabeel, Mohammed al-Hashimi said “We feel now is the right time to make a strategic, long-term investment in Charlton and get CAFC back to the English Premier League where they belong”.

Positive vibes

Fans, talking positively on BBC Sport’s 606 website forum, have a presence on the football club Board at Charlton.

Supporters Director Ben Hayes seemed to sum up their views “We’ve known for a long time that the club was looking for extra investment…….. [that will] make the ground even bigger, to a 40,000 capacity and that could be filled every week in the Premier League………

………but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Stuart Mawer

Interested further?

•    the Crunch lowdown on the Charlton story

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photo courtesy of Ewan-M @ flickr.com