International Capsules: East London transformed for Olympic Games

It's no wonder that for a long time, east London has been all but ignored by tourists who stick to the West End, the home of blockbuster musicals, royal palaces, Harrods and Oxford Street.

This year, those prejudices are likely to change as the Olympics inject huge investments into changing the face of the East End.

Massive redevelopment works in the area have already given it a dramatic makeover. In Stratford, a former marsh and one of the city's poorest areas, a pristine Olympic Stadium, a gigantic new shopping mall and upgraded train links are already in place. In less than six months' time there will be cycle paths, green spaces, and cleaned up riverbanks.

All that will bring new interest to a part of London that, though long neglected, has recently become recognized for growing its own elite fashion, arts and high-tech business communities.

And so, if Brick Lane is the farthest east you have ever ventured, now is the time to visit the city's fastest-changing corner — you will be pleasantly surprised.

What's to see? Start from Brick Lane, but perhaps skip some of the famous but overpriced curry houses. Instead, wander northeast up to the Shoreditch and Dalston areas for their weekend markets, vibrant nightlife, diverse ethnic cuisine and trendy vintage shops.

The area's lower rents have long attracted young artists and musicians — although in recent years gentrification has hiked property prices, drawn in celebrities and hipsters, and pushed struggling artists to seek out warehouse spaces still farther east.

Even so, there is still a bohemian, appealingly scruffy vibe about the place. Unlike in the West End, development in the east has been uneven and spontaneous. A couple of cutting-edge boutiques would turn an unassuming side street quite suddenly into the city's trendiest spot, and high-concept art spaces often sit right next to fried chicken takeaways and dollar stores.

The Olympic Games will definitely bring new tourist traffic to the neighborhood — though many locals weren't sure if they liked the idea.

"Don't care about it," Speedie Gazelle said of the Olympics. Gazelle, who owns a small shop selling what he calls "retro kitsch," wants his area to stay "fashionable, but not touristy," like New York's Lower East Side in the mid-90s.

One of the biggest obstacles to visiting the east used to be the lack of easy public transport connections to central London.

That's not a problem anymore: Along with improvements to the rundown Tube stations and creaky trains all over London, authorities have installed brand-new, comfortable trains that now connect the city center with communities in the East End, with nine transport lines feeding into Stratford, the Olympic hub.

A high-speed train, called the Javelin Shuttle, will link Stratford with St. Pancras, the renovated Eurostar terminal.

East London's canals, long notorious for their murky, shallow waters and all-around shabbiness, will also be cleaned up. The backbone of London's commercial activity before the railways took over, these overlooked waterways used to be a magnet for rubbish and muggers.

With the Olympics, though, they — along with the polluted River Lea, right next to the Stadium — will be in the spotlight. Officials want spectators to walk or cycle to the games site, and the towpaths along the waterways, snaking from the west to east along Victoria Park, are ideal.

A mass volunteer campaign is under way to engage Londoners to tidy up the network, hopefully finishing by July. One charity, Thames21, is trying to recruit 4,000 volunteers, many of them school children, to pick up the litter, remove weeds, and plant flowers to beautify the canals.

That's a work in progress, just like the Olympic Park itself — an impressive sight worth making a trip for, even though it still resembles a giant gray puddle studded with some gleaming, empty new buildings. In a few months, it will transform into what officials called the largest new urban park that Europe has seen in 150 years, a haven complete with "broad sweeping lawns" and wildlife habitats for birds and bees.

For the local residents, all this is just the beginning of an ambitious regeneration plan — and many years of disruption. According to planners, the Olympic building project is expected to continue to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs in the next 25 years.

No one is sure whether the so-called "Olympic legacy" will develop smoothly. Worriers say that Stratford could easily become another Canary Wharf — the affluent skyscraper-studded redevelopment, also in the East End, that's sometimes criticized for its indifference to the poverty in its surrounding community.

In the meantime, one building project has certainly brought more revenue to Stratford. Right across from the games site is the Westfield Stratford City mall, a glossy retail palace said to be the biggest in Europe with 300 shops, a casino and its own faux "streets."

Rising incongruously from a neighborhood of drab brown streets, it has been packed with visitors ever since it opened in October.

For some, it's a tasteless monstrosity, blaring pop music from every corner and flashing dazzling images from multiple giant screens. But for many young locals who have long looked enviously at the West End's shopping conveniences, it's a godsend.

"This place used to be so malnourished," said Cicero Fernando, a 29-year-old trainee doctor walking home with groceries from the mall's upmarket Waitrose food store. "Thank goodness I can now shop in my favorite stores."

That can only be a good sign for the future of east London, he said.

"To be honest the West End is still the attraction, but this is a good start," Fernando said. "It's getting there."

London Olympic travel plan: Be patient, drink beer

Rejecting suggestions of possible transport chaos during the July 27-Aug. 12 games, they unveiled a 8.8 million-pound ($13.3 million) campaign Monday to persuade city residents to change their travel patterns to ease the strain on public transport.

Even as London Mayor Boris Johnson tried to focus attention on the positive, transport officials had to bat back demands by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union for more money. Union officials say subway staff are not being offered enough to compensate them for working more hours and erratic schedules during the Summer Olympics.

The fresh union demands came just moments before London transport officials unveiled posters, signs and banners to make travelers aware of how to handle transport issues during the games. Johnson directed his remarks at what he called "Olympo-skeptics."

"They predict that tumbleweed will be going down Shaftesbury Avenue," Johnson said, referring to a main London thoroughfare. "They are completely wrong and mistaken and missing a huge opportunity to profit."

London transport officials have been at pains in recent weeks to downplay concerns about whether the city's aging transportation system can handle the extra traffic from tourists, spectators and others expected to use the network.

Officials point to a 6.5 billion-pound ($10.2 billion) investment in the transport system. They say train journeys are faster and note that many more trains will run — and that some will even have air conditioning — during the games.

If office workers do things as simple as stopping and have a beer on their way home, it will spread out the rush-hour demands, they assert. No recommendations — alcoholic or otherwise — were made for the morning commute.

Businesses have been asked to consider whether London workers could telecommute or have more flexible working hours.

The trouble is that even on regular days London struggles with constraints on the Tube, an aging system that handles 12 million trips a day. The Olympics is estimated to add 3 million trips on busy days. Keeping the system running smoothly is predicated on the notion that locals will rearrange their schedules, change travel patterns and adjust their lives to accommodate.

Even Johnson acknowledged that travelers on the Jubilee line — one of the key arteries for the games — would not be "short of company."

London wants all of its spectators to arrive by public transport — or foot and bike. Ticket holders to Olympic events will receive day passes for the subway as part of their package. A special train known as the "Javelin" will take spectators directly from central London's St. Pancras train station to the Olympic Park in the East London neighborhood of Stratford.

The "Get Ahead of the Games" campaign that kicked off Monday marks the biggest effort yet to directly reach the public. Featuring cartoonlike posters and directional signs in hot pink and maroon, the campaign tries to let people know about upcoming disruptions and gives suggestions on how to address them.

The campaign, funded as part of the 9.3 billion pounds ($14.6 billion) devoted to staging the Olympics, will run in national newspapers, rail stations and radio stations across the country as well as around Olympic venues.

Souring the big launch was the rail union's announcement that subway train drivers considered a one-time payment of around 500 pounds ($784) inadequate.

"All we are calling for is a fair deal for all the staff involved in delivering the colossal transport challenge that we will be facing this summer and the negotiations to achieve that are ongoing," Union chief Bob Crow said in a statement.

Crow said the union was ready for more talks. Peter Hendy, the Transport for London commissioner, called the union announcement "a tactic," and maintained that everyone at the transit agency is proud of helping out at the games.

Hendy refused to say how much he was prepared to pay to compensate the transport workers, but the pressure comes at a time when Olympic organizers are straining to stay within budget.

The National Audit Office, Britain's spending watchdog, has reported that only 500 million pounds ($785 million) remains unspent for dealing with future Olympics-related costs.

Hendy insisted the money to cover compensation for transport workers would be available once a deal was struck.

-- Danica Kirka

Enjoy London's Olympic spirit without a ticket

LONDON (AP) — No tickets for the 2012 Olympics? Don't despair: You don't need one to enjoy the games and the party atmosphere in London this summer.

Although most sporting events take place in ticketed Olympic venues, there is plenty to see and do elsewhere in the run-up to and during the games.

From live Olympic screenings in Hyde Park to world music performances by the River Thames, a huge list of free and affordable events promises that visitors — sports fans or not — can get a taste of Olympic excitement without spending a fortune.

The festivities kick off months ahead of the July 27 start of the games, as soon as the Olympic torch arrives in Britain from Greece in mid-May. Street parties are expected across the nation to cheer on the torchbearers, who will make a 70-day relay through hundreds of towns before reaching the Olympic Stadium in east London.

The parties will pile on in early June, when Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee with spectacular pageants and a flotilla of hundreds of boats parading on the Thames.

As for watching the sporting events themselves, London offers several ways to take part on the cheap. The Olympic marathons, which take place in early August, and road cycling races do not require a ticket and can be watched in the streets for free — provided you arrive early to find a good vantage point. Both begin and finish on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, a spectacular backdrop that's sure to attract thousands of spectators.

Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Victoria Park are the other key spots to go to find lively crowds to watch the games with. Big screens will be set up with live coverage of all medal events, and live music and other entertainment will be provided for free as well.

One way to set foot in an Olympic venue without a ticket — and even burn some calories — is to visit the Lee Valley White Water Center, which is open for the public to canoe and raft until April and then again after the games.

The structure, located about 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of the Olympic Park, will host the canoe slalom events during the games, but visitors are welcome to ride the Olympic-standard rapids before the athletes arrive to battle for gold. Be warned that it's not exactly a budget option, though — tickets to a session of rafting costs $77 (49 pounds).

If that sounds too extreme, or if you fancy a break from all that adrenaline, tourism officials have planned dozens of free arts and culture events to coincide with the Olympics. The London 2012 Festival — the official arts festival complementing the games — has music, plays, and carnivals galore, and it promises to let 10 million people attend events for free.

One of the highlights of the festival, which opens June 21, is the "River of Music" on July 21-22. It's a weekend of free music performances representing all 205 participating Olympic nations at iconic landmarks along the Thames. Expect to see the Americas represented at the Tower of London, and musicians from Asia taking the stage at Battersea Park.

The other major arts event of the year is the World Shakespeare Festival, which begins on the Bard's birthday, April 23. Its large program features a major exhibition at the British Museum and productions by companies from Brazil to Russia, including an interpretation of "Romeo and Juliet" set in contemporary Iraq. The productions will be shown across the U.K., and some of the tickets are priced at as low as $4.70 (3 pounds).

Special programs aside, visitors on a budget who want to make the most out of their trip to London should consider the many free arts and cultural offerings regularly available in the city.

Most of London's top museums have free permanent collections to suit all interests, while many historic churches around London organize free lunchtime concerts on a weekly basis — try St. Martin-in-the-Fields, next to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

The city's two best-known churches — St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey — don't offer free concerts, but they both welcome visitors to their evensong services. Visiting to worship is free of charge (though donations are welcome), and is an economical way to admire the architecture inside these majestic buildings. Most churches post concert and service schedules on their websites.

West End musicals and plays are generally not cheap, but there are ways to scrimp. The Royal Opera House and some theaters sometimes have standing tickets in the gallery that cost as little as $8 (5 pounds), while most venues also release returned tickets for a steal to people willing to line up just before shows start. Simply visit theaters early on the day of the show and ask about last-minute options.

Rather be outdoors? London is a fine walking city, and visitors often don't realize how easy it is to skip the bus or the Underground and simply walk from one attraction to the next.

Don't miss taking in the south bank of the Thames, which is always bustling with activity in the summer. One of the best ways to enjoy it is to start at the riverside Tate Modern, an art museum housed in an iconic power station.

From there, either walk east along the river toward Tower Bridge, or west toward the National Theatre, which hosts a series of free circus, music and other arts events on its grounds every summer. Both walks are suitable for families and take under 30 minutes.

Finally, there will probably come a point in your trip when you yearn for a moment of quiet away from all the activity. To escape the madding crowd (and save on eating out), pack a picnic and enjoy London's superb green spaces.

Buy lunch at supermarkets or Borough Market, the city's biggest food market, and head to one of London's many centrally located parks. Relax amid the rose gardens, picturesque ponds and manicured gardens of Regent's Park, or venture a little farther out — about half an hour by tube — to north London's vast Hampstead Heath for longer walks, kite-flying or even outdoor swimming in its ponds.

Once at the heath, hike up a gentle slope up to Parliament Hill for a breathtaking view of the entire city. It's possibly the best vantage point for London — and there are no lines or entrance fees.

-- Sylvia Hui

Madrid 2020: Financial crisis won't affect bid

MADRID (AP) — Spain's financial crisis should not affect Madrid's third consecutive Olympic bid and hosting the games could help the country recover from the recession, leaders of the 2020 candidacy said Monday.

Madrid unveiled a colorful bid logo, stepping up its latest campaign after failed attempts for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Spain's economic downturn has left nearly one in four Spaniards unemployed and a youth jobless rate of 45 percent, but organizers believe the Olympics could help Spain emerge from its prolonged downturn.

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's national anti-doping agency will investigate 28 athletes to see whether they received blood transfusions from a doctor at the center of a doping scandal.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union say that transport authorities' offer to give subway train drivers a one-time payment of around 500 pounds ($784) for agreeing to have their normal schedules disrupted during the games is not enough.

The union's leader Bob Crow said he wanted a more generous payment that applied to all London Underground staff.

The famed London Underground plans to run extra trains during the games and keep them running later than usual give Olympic visitors time to see the events and travel around London. The games take place July 27 to Aug. 12.

Ski jumper Ammann aims for 2014 Sochi Olympics

The five-day competition will bring more than 450 athletes and 200 coaches from more than 45 countries to the Palmetto State. It will be the first time the U.S. has hosted the event since 1998, when it was held in Colorado Springs.

The UCI, cycling's world governing body, has already announced that the 2015 world road championships will be held in Richmond, Va., giving the U.S. championships in consecutive years.

"We are honored, as a contributor to worldwide Olympic and Paralympic sport, to continue to host world events on U.S. soil, and especially in Greenville, which has a rich history of hosting successful national cycling races," said Mike Plant, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee board.

The bid was chosen over bids from cities in Columbia, South Africa and the Czech Republic.

"The UCI is delighted to be returning to the United States," UCI president Pat McQuaid said in a statement. "The huge interest in this major international event further confirms the growth of the paracycling movement worldwide."

Paracycling comprises four groups: blind and visually impaired riders, people with cerebral palsy, locomotor disabilities and handcycling. They're further broken down into categories for men and women in all the age categories defined by the UCI.

Los Angeles will host this year's paracycling track world championships next week.

The events in Greenville will include men's and women's road races, men's and women's individual time trials and the handcycling relay.

"I'm honored that the world championships will be here in 2014," said three-time U.S. road champion and Tour de France veteran George Hincapie, who calls Greenville home.

Greenville has become synonymous with the U.S. road national championships. It will again host the national time trials May 26 and the road race competition May 28, helping to showcase athletes who are making a push for the London Olympics.

"The fact that it's adding to Greenville's already long list of cycling events and outdoor, healthy events, it's really promoting Greenville across the nation and across the world."

Oz Sanchez, a five-time world champion and Paralympic gold medalist, said hosting the world championships will also put a spotlight on athletes with disabilities.

Sanchez was serving in the marines and training to become a Navy Seal when he was involved in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident, which resulted in a spinal cord injury. He has since become a successful professional athlete in the adaptive sport of handcycling and triathlon.

"It is a testament to the continued growth of the sport within the U.S. which will inevitably help all involved," Sanchez said. "There is no question in my mind that sports are the best and most effective therapy injured individuals can utilize."

-- Dave Skretta

CAS sets Feb. 6 date for Contador verdict

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it plans to publish its verdict in Alberto Contador's doping case on Feb. 6.

CAS announced the date in a statement on Monday but left open a possibility to still change the day, saying "a confirmation as to the date and time of the publication of the decision will be given by the CAS at the end of this week."

The Spanish cyclist is facing a two-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France. The three-time Tour champion said the clenbuterol came from contaminated beef that he ate during the race.

The International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency challenged a Spanish cycling federation tribunal decision to exonerate Contador.