E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSReuters photographer Stefan Wermuth set out this month to talk to a cross-section of Londoners to gauge their feelings about the Olympic Games coming to their city this summer.
Wandering the streets of Balham, Westminster, The City, Brixton, Wandsworth, Shoreditch, Battersea, Lambeth and Chelsea with his camera and a basic voice recorder, he met all kinds of different people and encountered a diverse range of opinions.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Charley Osborne, a 75 year-old ex-serviceman who has lived in London for fifteen years, stands outside a pub in central London. When asked what he felt about London hosting the Olympics, Osborne said "It's good for London and good for Londoners. I'm not worried about security. We have the best security in the world."
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Deborah Blackstock, a 34 year-old mother who has lived all her life in London, poses for a picture in Shoreditch. Asked about the city hosting the Games, Blackstock said "It's a brilliant idea but I'm worried about the traffic."
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
"It's very nice. Business will be up," said Sadiq Mohammad, a 69 year-old stallholder in Brixton who has lived in the city for eight years.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Karina Zamarska, a 23 year-old actress who has lived in London for five years, was more skeptical. "For London it's obviously not good because so many people will be here" she said. "The tourists will be asking me questions all the time."
Related content:
- See more of Stefan Wermuth's pictures on the Reuters Photographers Blog
- Brits revel in gloom ahead of Olympics, but don't believe the gripe
- Video: Countdown to the Olympic Games
- Slideshow: When the Olympics is your neighbor
- Full Olympic coverage on NBCOlympics.com
Leave a Comment:
Oh my! Traffic and questions from tourists! However will they cope?
It will be great. Everyone should go.
Politics instead of sports!
Dow Chemicals is one of the sponsors. They can gas some more like in Bhopal, India.
Jonathan-1982062.
Well said young John, Bhopal was a Union Carbide Murder, not much different from a British Company,they were there for the profits,and of course,, S$%# the locals.
Now it is Pay Back time for the Brits and those horrible years of misery for the indigenous peoples of their raped countries, God Bless Betty Windsor,,,,,,,,,and all that will sink with her.
Hoo Roo, as we say in OZ
Some thing so cool, and all they can worry about is traffic and tourists, must be nice to have tourists every so often, in America they are her permenitly!
Something so cool, and they are worried about traffic and tourists, must be nice to have them every now and again, In America, there are tourist her permenitly
Um... I'm thinking the weird-looking woman holding a bloodied, severed hand won't be bothered by too many people asking her questions...
Anticipate London will be in total chaos during the Olympic Games period. London infrastructure will not be able to cope with the large influx of tourists and Brits are not known to be good orgainiser and coordinator.
What happens when It's ALL OVER, It's ALL OVER for THEM,the place is stuffed.
So Henrich what do you base these ascertions on? From your other posts you appear to be one of those posters who love to make sweeping comments about other nations, but fail to back them up with any hard evidence.
Still, nice to have something to do, eh?
About 2 weeks ago it was reported that Heathrow Airport was in a state of chaos and inbound passengers needed to spend more than 2 hrs before getting through the entry formalities. This was even before the huge influx of sports fans. This is a clear indication of what lies ahead of London during Olympic Game.
"We have the best security in the world."
They had London tube bombings and there are certain "no go" areas even in London.
Olympics and hosting of games are more politics, show and hoax than real games!
I come from London, but now I live in Florida, and that's quite close enough thankyou very much!
London security is too intimidating, I hope tourists will not be humiliated to be declaring their immigratiion status?
Am wooride about the intimidating police in London, I hope tourists will not be accosted and be asked to declare their immigration status?
With all the bombings they have suffered through the years, they have managed not to stoop that low. Only in Arizona USA.
I was in London last month and riding the tube at rush hour was a mess, had to wait for 3 trains sometimes just to get a place to stand. Add 2 million people to London, start walking or pay the cabs.