In honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee last month, a flotilla of boats celebrated with a pageant on the River Thames. The participants included vessels of all kinds, from tall ships to rowed boats, and it got people thinking that the river might offer an alternative to gridlocked London streets for Olympic spectators. After this summer, it seems that traffic on the Thames might stretch beyond rowing regattas.
While London remains in the international spotlight as Olympic anticipation begins, the city has been working to prepare for increased crowds and international attention. One of the major focuses of pre-Olympic coverage has been on traffic and crowds in London.
So, while the British government works on smoothing traffic routes in preparation for the Games, many of London's more affluent residents and visitors are planning to bypass roads entirely, and instead will be traveling by boat to the events. Maritime bodyguards from Protection Services International, a private security firm better known for protecting supertankers from Somali pirates, are offering security to high-profile Olympic spectators in honor of the event, for a price of course.
And with all the excitement on the Thames, extra attention has been brought above it as well. Last month, Emirates, a Dubai-based airline, privately funded a cable car spanning the width of the river. The cable car will connect tourists with the Olympic Village and remain open after the games.
Still, many domestic and international travelers will choose chauffeured transportation as their means for arrival to the games. The increased river traffic will make for interesting viewing for those on London roads at the time of the Olympics, with some of the world's biggest super yachts set to attend. But no matter where you go this summer, Hermes Worldwide can pick you up and provide concierge services to make your trip special.
