Of all the ideas that secured the 2012 Olympics for London, the scheme to sail an ocean-going clipper around the world, crewed by "young people, artists, philosophers and students," seemed particularly novel. Beginning in Beijing after the 2008 games and "setting sail on a journey of hope," it was described to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as "a journey of discovery, carrying a cargo emblematic of the UK's cultural riches."
At voyage's end, it was said, the ship would make a "triumphant entrance up the river Thames," formally proclaiming "the renaissance of east London."
But on Wednesday it seemed more likely that the whole idea will disappear over the horizon.
Sixteen months after the successful bid, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has revealed that the eye-catching initiative is being reconsidered by the chairman of the 2012 organizing committee, Sebastian Coe, and his officials, who are charged with delivering the Games.
Pressed by Green party activists, Livingstone said: "The sentiment behind the original FriendShip proposal is still very much alive. The London Olympic Games Organising Committee are investigating how best to meet the stated aims of promoting friendship and intercultural exchange between young people."
But he added: "This review includes considering whether a physical ship is the best way to meet these objectives."
It is thought that one option would be to press ahead with plans for a "virtual vessel," which would have "sailed" the Internet in parallel with the real ship, forming the basis of a four-year education program.
The apparent downgrading of the FriendShip project is being highlighted by activists determined to stop the organizing committee and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) straying too far from the promises upon which the bid was won.
The campaign is being led by environmental activists who claim that "green" elements of the bid are already being eroded. Their accusations are denied by organizers, who say commitment to the principles of the bid -- most notably the promise to produce the greenest-ever Olympics -- is cast-iron.
Jenny Jones, a Green party member of the London assembly, said: "It could be that dropping the FriendShip idea is sensible, but it does leave us asking whether other commitments may go the same way. Will costs mean the more radical environmental and social promises of the bid become decidedly shaky? There is no point having an Olympics that reneges on promises made to the country and the IOC."
Greens already claim that the project may be blighted by low environmental standards, and that promises to build an energy self-sufficient athletes' village have been broken.
They claim that renewable technologies will not be used in the aquatic center and have criticized the role of McDonald's as official sponsor. They have railed against the number of car parking spaces to be provided and the consequent loss of open space and allotments.
Those claims are all hotly contested by officials, who say that the green commitments will be "met and surpassed." The athletes' village will meet renewable energy targets and the aquatics center will feature renewables, they say.
The organizers play down the involvement of McDonald's, saying that other food will be prominent. They also continue to promise the "first 100 percent public transport games."
A committee spokeswoman said: "The ODA is publishing its sustainable development strategy in the next few weeks, which will set robust performance measures for the Olympic park, including the venues and the Olympic village. These measures will ensure we meet the commitments we made in the bid and deliver high standards of sustainability across the project."
"Sustainable development lies at the heart of London 2012's commitment to leave a legacy of sustainable community benefits from the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games," she said.
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