Prince Khalid bin Salman and US counterpart discuss over phone prospects for defense cooperation    Saudi Arabia highlights long standing relationship with UNESCO during Executive Board meeting    Princess Haifa: Sporting events draw 14 million tourists with SR22 billion spending in 2024    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 78.8 years    Hajj Ministry sets April 29 as last date for departure of Umrah pilgrims    TASI recoups losses, records highest close since December 2024    Dar wa Emaar hosts annual Eid Al Fitr community celebration with residents at Saraya Al Narjis in Riyadh    6.8 million people travel via four Saudi airports during 2025 Umrah season    Ithra to showcase its art collection at Riyadh Art Week    Israeli protesters urge Netanyahu to secure hostage deal during meeting with Trump    Palestinian teen died in Israeli prison after suffering 'likely prolonged malnutrition', autopsy finds    Saudi U-17s qualify for 2025 FIFA World Cup after win over Thailand    Saudi Arabia imposes SR100,000 fine on Hajj and Umrah firms for not reporting visa overstays    US defends tariffs on remote island of penguins and seals    The Seven Dogs wraps filming in Riyadh with a budget exceeding $40 million    Trump's crackdown on university protests is casting a long shadow    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Orbit looms large over Games — but what is it?
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 26 - 07 - 2012

LONDON — It's been dubbed the Eyeful Tower, and the world's going to be seeing a whole lot of it from Friday.
Looming large over the Olympic Stadium, the contorted mass of steel spiraling 115 meters (380 feet) up into the London skies is dividing opinions before the Games have even begun.
The Orbit Tower was conceived as London's answer to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, having already beaten out the French capital to host the 2012 Olympics.
But to what purpose this crushed, swirling rollercoaster design by sculptors Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond? Ay, there's the rub.
An observation deck? Maybe a mysterious monument to the Olympics, a la the Sphinx to ancient Egypt? Or just a piece of modern art?
From afar, the 2,000-ton structure resembles the heart of a theme park. But this is Olympic Park — and Britain's biggest-ever piece of public art is, to some, just a complex platform providing vistas of the capital.
“People who see it from a distance see it as a rollercoaster and a ride,” said Oliver Wainwright of Building Design magazine. “I've heard kids saying they want to ride the Olympic rollercoaster. It promises to be fun, but you go up in a lift and down in a staircase.”
It is more than twice the height of London's Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square and 72 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
London Mayor Boris Johnson pitched the idea of a tower to steel baron Lakshmi Mittal after the two men met at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in 2009.
“After the effort put into creating the most efficient, leanest structures for an Olympics, the Orbit Tower is 2,000 tons of steel knotted and tangled into a gigantic totem pole for the richest man in the UK and the ego of our Mayor Boris Johnson,” Wainwright said.
But has the public just not seen its true purpose?
It seems perfect to hold the Olympic cauldron. Mittal, whose company donated the steel and is funding most of the 22.7 million-pound ($36.5 million) project, maintains there is no place for the ceremonial flame atop the tower.
But the Associated Press was told it could not access the looping structure this week because Games organizers are preparing it for Friday's opening ceremony and are trying to keep parts hidden from the public.
“It's strange if there are no ties to the Olympic cauldron, to make sure when the flame was lit for the entirety it could be seen all around from an open area,” Anna-Maria Sponaski, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, said Tuesday as she peered up at the tower.
“The Eiffel Tower is awe-inspiring. You couldn't say that about this. How much does it have to do with the Olympic movement? Could they have done something to do with the rings?”
The tower has also taken some of the focus off the Olympic Stadium, which was designed by architect Rod Sheard.
And Sheard takes a more measured view.
“There is no doubt that the park benefits from having a focal point, a visually dominant statement positioned for everyone to see. It helps build memories and aids orientation,” Sheard said in an email. “I love Anish Kapoor's work and I think he will be remembered for this piece for many years to come.”
The Orbit's purpose after the Games is less clear, although its restaurant could become a reason to visit.
“It looked more suited to a theme park,” said Londoner Noelle Skivgton. “I don't think it's got that extra appeal that people will come here just to see this.”
Whatever it is, it's undeniably an attention-getter. Jed Kayode is one Londoner who won't be climbing the tower, if only because he's afraid of heights, but he's impressed.
“If you look at other stuff here, this is unique and colorful,” Kayode said, scanning the Olympic Park. “It's fascinating.”
The world won't be able to avoid it, either, since the tower forms the backdrop of global television coverage.
And as Oscar Wilde said: “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.