Saturday, February 24, 2007
Cancel the Olympics 3
So, right then, it seems we shall now have to pay £9 billion for a few weeks of running and jumping in 2012. This compares, not entirely favourably, with the original cost of £2.4 billion. For perspective, we could build 18 major hospitals for the money, even at the inflated prices being paid for such projects under Gordon Brown's insane Private Finance Initiative scheme. I have previously suggested we should pull out now, not only for cost reasons, but also because the Olympics are absurdly bad for the environment and because such events are really only appropriate for undemocratic regimes. The Conservatives have suggested that it might be a good idea if Brown took a look at this fiasco, but, as usual when things get tricky, he is nowhere to be seen. At £1 billion, the Millennium Dome was plainly little more than a dry run for this project. I predict the final cost will be at least £12 billion. This is no longer a joke. The Olympics must be stopped before it is too late.
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A blog about, among other things, imaginary ideas - What ifs? and Imagine thats. What if photographs looked nothing like what we see with our eyes? Imagine that the Berlin Wall had never come down. What if we were the punchline of an interminable joke? All contributions welcome.
But it's a positive bargain conpared to the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe ye should be given a referendum to decide on which of these ventures to support.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, to remind you, Bryan, of Blair's words in that article a while back:
"During the next 2,012 days we have the opportunity to send out a clear message to the world about British values. Staging the Olympic games in London, home to 200 different ethnic groups representing every faith and religion, will send a powerful message about tolerance and cultural understanding.
So the Olympic games are an extraordinary opportunity. We are privileged to have been given this chance and we must now strive together to make the most of it, for the benefit of future generations."
See, it's all good. I have a vague feeling this mirrors his words before the Iraq invasion.
"During the next undecided number of days we have the opportunity to send out a clear message to the world about British values. Bombing the bejasus of out of Iraq will send a powerful message about tolerance and cultural understanding.
So the war-mongering we are currently engaged in is an extraordinary opportunity. We are privileged to have been given this chance and we must now strive together to make the most of it, for the benefit of future generations."
Not sure which would be the bigger national humilation - pulling out and giving it to the French or letting New Labour's mismanaging clowns ruin any lingering reputation Britain has for running anything? To think they want to bid for the World Cup too...Blair's legacy: death and debt
ReplyDeleteImagine if the olympics could actually be held with each comepetitor competing in his own country. Video-conferencing for the events that require judging as well as simultaneous starts all ovber the world with each competitor running alone in their own country. No big stadiums necessary and the £9billion could actually be spent where it is really required.
ReplyDeleteI predict the final cost will be at least £12 billion. This is no longer a joke.
ReplyDeleteI fear it is a joke. The current crop of politicos have a jones for using public funds to buy themselves a presence on the world stage that would do credit to any deranged dictator. What next? Around 73 billion - it could as easily be trillion - to buy ourselves a place at the nuclear top table.
Any chance of an rss feed for your blog, unless I have missed the link? Think of the journos shivering outside the gates of, say, Lord Jeffrey's pad who would now be able to while away the long hours reading up your blog on their mobiles.
Blog has feed, Petreluk
ReplyDeleteAfter the government's successes with the Dome, Wembley, the Scottish Parliament building etc, you can certainly see why the IOC wanted them to organise the 2012 games.
ReplyDeleteOf course these £9 Billion costs don't take into account the damage done to the local economies of the area, by evicted hundreds of businesses which employ people day in and day out and replacing them with Velodromes, track and field stadiums and handball courts which will be used a few days a year and almost never at anything close to capacity they 2012 olympics will strangle the development of the local area.
Dear Humanity,
ReplyDelete(Great) Britain would love to host the Olympics in 2012 but, to be honest, it's going to cost a bloody arm and a leg, and we can't afford it right now. Hope you can find someone else at such short notice. Really, really sorry.
Yours etc.,
Gordon Brown(ed) Off
24 February 2007
ReplyDeleteITS ONLY MONEY – OURS YOU PILLOCKS
How do they get away with it?
Ah yes, of course, Tone decides on a populist eye catcher. One for the legacy - out with the claret and the back of the Villiger packet.
Lets secure the 2012 Olympic Games for London…. For £2.4 Billion (July 2005)…. Oh forgot - need more security £ 3.2 Billion (Feb 2006). Oh forgot - the site clean up costs £ 3.4 Billion ( Feb 2006). Oh forgot – The VAT (Gordon said we won’t have to pay it Doh!) £ 4 Billion (Oct 2006).
Err. Too much claret got the sums wrong… £ 9 Billion (Feb 2007) don’t forget the VAT. £ 10.6 Billion!!
At this rate, £ 0.43 Billion PER MONTH, come 2012 it will cost £ 37 BILLION. Who will pay!! Bloody Londeners with any luck
Olympics
ReplyDeleteComplaining-moaning Brits again even in Glory we feel guilt- The world wishes to live in Britain French moving into Manchester with Germans. We are a country where people want to come to. To get away from Their restrictions. Im 64 and watched Britain since the WAR-ups and very much downs. I have never seen the Country and especially the Cities look so healthy and superbly exciting- All those fed up >Moaners get out and let valuable new blood move into the country-Our tradition
Thankful and appreciative long term residant
Anon, how do you feel about the recent UNICEF a new report released by UNICEF which ranks the Britain 21st out of 21 industrialized countries in what they term "children's well-being," which they claim to be based on matters such as health and safety, their material security, their education and socialization?
ReplyDelete