The title may sound a little trite or even disrespectful, but I can assure you that after some teething problems, the Millennium Dome, now renamed as the O2, is a modern landmark of east London. As the name suggests, it was created as a hub in order to celebrate the new millennium. Besides the big party on that particular New Year’s Eve, in which most of the “great and good” were invited by the Tony Blair government, to see the New Year in. The guest list included the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. Whether it was exactly where she and others really wanted to be on that night, is perhaps still open to debate.
So, that is partially why it was originally conceived. The side other was to act as a home to an exhibition which to say the least was eclectic. I visited this exhibition and I have to say I found it to be a little haphazard with no real exhibits to make to stop and gaze in awe at. But that is purely a personal opinion and many others will say the opposite.
This exhibition was designed to last for one year and then it was thought that the Dome might then be dismantled. However, it stayed. But, what to do about it? Already people were calling it a white elephant and there were still those that thought the £789 million it cost to build it was too much and could have been put to better use. It soon became clear that there was no hard and fast plan. So, in the winter of 2004, it was used as a shelter for the homeless. That is good but £789 million would have probably cleared up homelessness for good.
Eventually, a plan was conceived. It was to be turned into a form of theme park for the 21st century. Over the years it has built on this idea and I have to admit that it has done quite well. Today, there is a stadium that hold over 17,000 people. It is used for concerts, sports, including tennis and other events. There is a large food court, a cinema and recently, a long arcade of discounted designer shops. You can even pay to climb to the top of the Dome.
Not bad for a big tent.
John Pullen 