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—GW
learn about historic German
links to the city.
But the project goes beyond
educating about the past. In line
with London’s bid, which focused
on anOlympic legacy for the city,
which in turnwon it the chance
to host the Games this year, the
Germany Olympic Committee is
also contributing to the future
success of the area’s one and only
museum.
‘Obviously transforming
themuseum intoDeutsches
Haus is a commercial deal, which
is very important,’ says Robbins.
‘While these Games aren’t quite
the austerity Olympics of 1948,
these are tough times and free
museums like theMuseumof
LondonDocklands have to be
increasingly entrepreneurial and
findways of making ends meet.
Just keeping themuseumgoing
and keeping it free is absolutely
essential and at the heart of the
Deutsches Haus plan. Museum
of LondonDocklands is a 200-
year old, Grade 2-listed building
and is expensive tomaintain. The
legacy of Deutsches Haus will be
taking care of the fabric of the
building and improving the
essential services. It alsomeans
the Olympic Committee will
preserve the linkGermany has
with the area.’
Leaving a legacy is some-
thing the Olympic Committee is
particularly proud of. ‘It is a
partnership and there are
advantages for both sides,’ says
Klaue. ‘If the museum takes a
legacy out of us being there,
that’s perfect, and we will try
everything to make that happen.’
The impact the Germany
Olympic Committee will have in
the area extends well beyond the
Museum of London Docklands.
case of convenience; Germany
has strong historical links to
the area. ‘The German
community was one of the first
and most significant
communities in the Docklands
area,’ explains Antony Robbins,
head of communications at the
museum. ‘During the late-18th
and 19th centuries a lot of
Germans made parts of East
London like Poplar, Limehouse
and Wapping their home
because they were at the centre
of the sugar-baking industry –
the making of sweets – which
was a common German trade.
It’s a contribution to the area
that most Londoners have
forgotten about, and it seems
right for the German House to
be in the area, and in particular
in the Museum of London
Docklands, which is a former
sugar warehouse.’
The Olympic Committee
has ensured that visitors to
Deutsches Haus will be aware of
the role German workers played
throughout the history of not
just the Docklands area but
London as a whole.
‘The museumhas been asked
to prepare a lot of literature on
the history of the Docklands
area, the museum and the story
of the German community in
London,’ says Robbins. ‘And we
are not just focusing on East
London but also the mass
migration of people to the
capital from areas like Saxony
because of sword-making,
which was also a very popular
German trade.’
So along with cheering on
your favourite athletes in their
quest for gold, a trip to London’s
Docklands during the Olympics
also offers the opportunity to
‘The Canary Wharf skyline will provide
an iconic backdrop to the German
House and German Ship’
O L Y M P I C S
Tickets for the Deutsches Haus
Fan Fest are available from the
box office at Deutsches Haus or in
advance from Dertour, the ticket
partner of the German Olympic Team
More Olympic Houses
During the Olympics Alexandra
Palace will become
HEINEKEN
HOUSE
, where thousands of
Dutchwill turn north London
orange. The
SWISS
teamwill
make themselves comfortable at
Glaziers Hall, one of the finest
City Livery halls, and the
surrounding area will be
transformed into a Swiss village
with catering by chef Anton
Mosimann. Francophiles should
head toOld Billingsgate on the
Thames for a taste of la belle vie
at
CLUB FRANCE
. For a portion
of moules frites washed down
with Belgian beer, head to the
14th-century Inner Temple in
Holborn and
BELGIUM HOUSE
.
TrinityHouse, in the shadow of
the Tower of London, will play
host to
AUSTRIA HOUSE
, while
the Association of National
Olympic Committees of Africa
has used its combined forces to
create
AFRICA VILLAGE
in the
heart of KensingtonGardens,
showcasing art, culture and sport
fromacross the continent.
All the income generated from
the
Deutschland
’s mooring
charges will be reinvested in
maintaining the 2,000-mile
network of inland waterways
run by BritishWaterways. For
the German Olympic team, it is
money very well spent.
‘The CanaryWharf skyline
will provide an iconic backdrop
to the German House and
German Ship,’ says Michael
Vesper, director general of the
German Olympic Sports
Confederation. ‘London
Docklands is a great location:
close to the Olympic Park and
Olympic venues such as the O2
and Greenwich Park. It has great
transport connections and an
interesting heritage.’
Heritage and sport –
everything the Olympic Games
stands for.
Das Museum of London Docklands,
ein 200 Jahre altes Lagerhaus
Museum of London Docklands will
house the London 2012 Deutsches Haus