The Olympic Torch makes a world tour, why not an Olympic stadium?
The Guardian is reporting that organizers of the London 2012 Olympics are planning to build a so-called flatpack stadium, which could be partly dismantled and shipped to another location.
According to the Guardian, London organizers have spoken about the proposal with planners for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.
The paper quoted Chicago organizer Doug Arnott as saying: “If we could box it up and ship it to the next games, that’s something that could benefit the Olympic movement. This is to do with the responsible use of materials and trying to avoid leaving infrastructure that will burden a city.”
The Guardian posits that such re-use of materials could open up the possibility of developing nations hosting future Olympic Games.
But another spokesman for Chicago’s 2016 bid discounted the Guardian’s report.
“We have not had discussions with them about purchasing seats or moving any seats over at this point,” Patrick Sandusky told the Chicago Tribune.
The Tribune also quoted Arnott as saying: “Seats don’t make a lot of sense. They are readily available and readily disposable.”
–Will Crain/Newsdesk.org
Sources:
“For sale: flatpack stadium suitable for Olympic Games. One careful owner …”
The Guardian, May 27, 2008
“London-to-Chicago stadium shift unlikely”
Chicago Tribune, May 28, 2008