Gilbert was recently on Flemish TV (VRT).
Tom Van de Weghe made another interview with me on the legacy of some of the major Olympic venues. I feel sad how the Bird’s Nest – the project I helped to launch – has lost its original vision as a major sports and event arena. Officials are mostly to blame due to their interference. Important to stress here that it is NOT a “government” project – it is a project financed in part by the private sector under a Public Private Partnership scheme.
Now it is becoming an embarrassment as it stands there just for visits – planned events are months away and few. No soccer as nobody wants to play there and the owners are not interested either: maintenance costs to host a few soccer games are way to high.
All that happens when officials do not listen to good advice, think they don’t need foreign expertise (e.g. international operators) and mess it up.
The story of this architectural master piece is not yet at the end. Just wait. So sad for the architect Pierre de Meuron who had a correct vision.
In the video: Dieter Depypere (videos), Gilbert Van Kerckhove, Tom Tobback.
“Six months ago the world’s eyes were focused on China, when the Beijing Olympic Games kicked off spectacularly. Now that the spotlights are out, what’s happening with the Olympic infrastructure, and what’s the legacy of these Games for the Chinese? A report for Sportweekend.” So says Tom.
You can watch it on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?video/video.php&v=53484921485&aref=17524202
Well done Tom!