20. Environmental experts slam giant screen plans

LONDON: A scheme to broadcast the Beijing Olympics on huge television screens in cities across Britain was yesterday slammed by environmental experts. Permanent screens in Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Swansea and Waltham Forest will be set up to keep the public in touch with action from the Games in China. More than 20 temporary screens will also show the official handover ceremony on August 24 when London Mayor Boris Johnson receives the Olympic flag from the Mayor of Beijing. But the scheme has been criticised by design organisation the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). “Just when we're starting to create well-designed, civilised public space in many English towns, along comes a rash of intrusive neon screens,” CABE Space director Sarah Gaventa said. “Having a fun, relaxed time... [read full story]