Olympic trivia

I've always stressed the importance of professional practice, always subscribed to the view that CPD was worthwhile, that learning about architecture was a constantly evolving process which didn't finish with Part 3. Yet I'm learning of aspects I've never previously even considered at my new practice. I give you four examples:

1) 10% of all ambulant toilets in Olympic Park venues must not face Mecca.

2) There must be no green in the internal decorations, and in particular there should be no green tiles or fittings in bathrooms and toilets. The Prophet Mohamed always dressed in a green cloak and it is considered sacrilegious to use green in any connection with sanitary and domestic facilities. (This fact from Lord David James of Blackheath, nonetheless. No wonder the Middle East are so pissed at us - think of the 80s penchant for avocado bathroom suites)

3) Washroom and changing cubicles must be able to carry the weight of a human body, should the athletes choose to use them for chin ups during training.

4) Three dog "spending areas" are required throughout the Olympic park, with benches, watering hoses, 1:1 ratio of hard surface to grass, a slight gradient and wheelchair accessibility.

Every day is a school day.