Prior to 2012 Britain hadn't hosted the Olympic Games for over sixty years. During that period British athletes have been the guests of all the other countries that have gone to great lengths and expense to put on the games in their respective countries.
Yes, it cost money, although there is every chance that ultimately, the UK will be a net gainer and the people of East London have certainly benefited from the regeneration of the area.
But viewed as something that we are only called on to do every half a century or more, how can anyone whinge about the cost? That's it now for several more decades and our athletes will now continue to enjoy the hospitality of many other countries, most of which are much smaller and less wealthy than the U.K. Isn't it right that GB should share the burden twice a century?
Why is it I wonder that countries vie to win the games? Surely we all remember how hard France tried and the huge disappointment that they felt when Britain won?
And as for it being all about London, that's simply not true. For weeks athletes from all over the world trained at venues in various parts of Britain. The Olympic Torch travelled the length and breadth of the country and was seen by millions who turned out in all weathers and at all hours of the day.
I have to say that it found it very irritating reading derogatory comments about the games before they'd even started. Some people couldn't wait to belittle and criticise the whole thing and, has been said many times, they are now all gold-medal winners at the 'Wiping The Egg Off Your Face' event.
Most of the "doubters" and "haters" never actually said that the athletes wouldnt do well. I dont think we shouldve spent so much, but I am proud of ALL nations athletes, who gave their best and behaved impecably. But as I have said the cost was too high, we didnt NEED to spend so much on venues, and we didnt NEED to spend so much on opening and closing ceremonies.
The Olympics "spectacle" should be about the Athletes, not about who can spend the most on fireworks.
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
Quote: Originally posted by cbreddie on 16/9/2012Yes it was a great show, but my point is that it could have been done cheaper. Unfortunately all countries who want to stage the Olympics want to outdo the last one, and that means BIG money.
How could it have been done cheaper? When Britain first started to put the bid together we were not in recession. When we won the bid we were not in recession.
After we won the bid, contracts were accepted and work started. The we went into a recession, although Britain is still one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
So what would you have done? Reduced the number of events and not allow certain sports to compete? Athletes who have spent years preparing for 2012 would love that!
Perhaps we shouldn't have built the village, left that part of the East End in squalor and put everyone up in boarding house miles from the stadium?
So how would you have reduced the cost? And it would have been great for Britain's image, exports and tourism. Just imagine the headlines: 'Britain hosts Poverty Olympics', 'Britain reneges on construction agreements, thousand of people out of work.'
Yep, that's the answer, reduce the costs. I wonder why no one else thought of that? Easy really!
Still, we don't have to do it for another sixty years so we can save up for that.
£29 million for one opening ceremony....you don't seriously believe that a but couldn't have been shaved of and it still had some wow factor? As others have said, it's the sport that matters, not George Michael
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 16/9/2012
£29 million for one opening ceremony....you don't seriously believe that a but couldn't have been shaved of and it still had some wow factor? As others have said, it's the sport that matters, not George Michael
+1
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 16/9/2012
£29 million for one opening ceremony....you don't seriously believe that a but couldn't have been shaved of and it still had some wow factor? As others have said, it's the sport that matters, not George Michael
But as I said, contracts and draft plans would have been in place well before the recession.
But let's go along with your argument and cancel the entire opening and closing ceremonies. That would have saved - now are you ready for this - five percent of one percent of the entire budget.
Amazing savings! And if as you suggest they had just been trimmed the savings would have been say two percent of one percent of the entire budget.
But the opening and closing were the highlights of the entire games and set the tone for the massive success that the games became.
But do you know that the games could end up costing nothing? Try doing some Googling on what hosting the Olympics did for Barcelona and Sydney.
Anyway, what other massive savings could we have made?
If you want to put into perspective how much was spent on the games look into how much is being spent on all our current wars and conflicts.Do we see a return on invading other countries ?
Oh yes more migrancy putting more strain on our already overstretched resources.
The olympics seems cheap in comparison,we spend 11 billion on overseas aid every year !
It's true, we could have shaved a bit of by not having George Michael. That saving of one pound would have made a huge difference I suppose.
All the performers gave their time for nothing but because of some legal technicality they had to be contracted and paid, which is another of these things that was done years in advance. They were all paid £1.00.
Just think, if we'd scrapped that brilliant spoof by Sir Simon Rattle and Rowan Atkinson we'd have saved two quid!
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 16/9/2012£29 million for one opening ceremony....you don't seriously believe that a but couldn't have been shaved of and it still had some wow factor? As others have said, it's the sport that matters, not George Michael
But as I said, contracts and draft plans would have been in place well before the recession.
But let's go along with your argument and cancel the entire opening and closing ceremonies. That would have saved - now are you ready for this - five percent of one percent of the entire budget.
Amazing savings! And if as you suggest they had just been trimmed the savings would have been say two percent of one percent of the entire budget.
But the opening and closing were the highlights of the entire games and set the tone for the massive success that the games became.
But do you know that the games could end up costing nothing? Try doing some Googling on what hosting the Olympics did for Barcelona and Sydney.
Anyway, what other massive savings could we have made?
You do know that this is a discussion forum and others have different views to yours? You don't have to prove yourself to be right because on a subject like this there is no "right".
I don't want to spoil your monologue but I of course didn't suggest cancelling any of the opening/closing ceremonies, I simply suggested that, IMO, £29 million was a lot of money to spend on one evening's entertainment. You may of course disagree.
To me, it doesn't matter when contracts were signed, anyone spending public money is duty bound to get the best value for that money and to weigh up whether each pound is a good use of it.
I've seen some of the Locog wastage in action post games and some of it is absolutely mind numbing in scale so I suspect we won't agree and to be honest I don't feel the need to, I have my own views.
I am concerned that in many places around the country we will not have the ability to create any Olympic legacy or to "inspire a generation" as we have no facilities, we have no coaches and we have no resources to provide them. In many of these communities volunteer resources are already over stretched and just a tiny bit of cash would be used to make a real difference to people. There doesn't appear to be any funding around though to try to put the good intentions into place.
I also think that the cost for the opening and closing ceremony was way too much. The trouble is now that who takes the games on spend more than the previouse games and try to out do the others. Some one has to be brave and say we will do the games but cut all the high cost for the ceremonys.
Rgarding the figure that has been said (29 million pounds) could be better spent on helping local organisers and get the people that is being said who want to get involved in the sport of thier choice. Even one of the TV presenters said her daughter can't get into a place localy.
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 16/9/2012I am concerned that in many places around the country we will not have the ability to create any Olympic legacy or to "inspire a generation" as we have no facilities, we have no coaches and we have no resources to provide them.
But don't you live in Dorest that benefited from new roads, super-fast fibre-optic broadband and an improved national sailing base?
Just looked at your councils website, it lists the following benefits to Dorset so far
Relief Road and new transport infrastructure
New artist designed footbridges
Transport and promotion links with Bristol Airport
Expansion of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy - winning new events
New marina and marine workshops
Accredited new sailing school
Royal Yachting Association permanent training centre built
On shore athletes accommodation underway
Enhanced publicity for Dorset and Weymouth & Portland across all media
Visit Britain to promote Dorset and Weymouth & Portland abroad
Spirit of the Sea Festival - additional visitors and income
Increased marine based development at Osprey Quay
Removal of 'Tank Farm' - which will be used for employment after 2012 - plus improved entrance to Portland
Cultural Olympiad events inspire community activity
£1m+ Investment by Arts Council and English Heritage in Weymouth Seafront Regeneration
Potential 2012 Sponsors Investment ...being pursued
Marine and Coastal access improvements
'Access to Nature' Lottery Funded Project £550,000
Free Promotion of Weymouth & Portland and Dorset on South West Train Stations
Chesil Beach Centre Expansion £1.1m scheme, with £550,000 Heritage Lottery Grant
Quote: Originally posted by Simontodd on 17/9/2012
16/9/2012
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 16/9/2012I am concerned that in many places around the country we will not have the ability to create any Olympic legacy or to "inspire a generation" as we have no facilities, we have no coaches and we have no resources to provide them.
But don't you live in Dorest that benefited from new roads, super-fast fibre-optic broadband and an improved national sailing base?
Just looked at your councils website, it lists the following benefits to Dorset so far
Relief Road and new transport infrastructure
New artist designed footbridges
Transport and promotion links with Bristol Airport
Expansion of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy - winning new events
New marina and marine workshops
Accredited new sailing school
Royal Yachting Association permanent training centre built
On shore athletes accommodation underway
Enhanced publicity for Dorset and Weymouth & Portland across all media
Visit Britain to promote Dorset and Weymouth & Portland abroad
Spirit of the Sea Festival - additional visitors and income
Increased marine based development at Osprey Quay
Removal of 'Tank Farm' - which will be used for employment after 2012 - plus improved entrance to Portland
Cultural Olympiad events inspire community activity
£1m+ Investment by Arts Council and English Heritage in Weymouth Seafront Regeneration
Potential 2012 Sponsors Investment ...being pursued
Marine and Coastal access improvements
'Access to Nature' Lottery Funded Project £550,000
Free Promotion of Weymouth & Portland and Dorset on South West Train Stations
Chesil Beach Centre Expansion £1.1m scheme, with £550,000 Heritage Lottery Grant
Your point now is?
Simon
That's lovely unless you live at the other end of the County where the standard response from the District Council is that there is no money for anything as the Olympic projects have taken all of the funding. We're 30 miles from Weymouth and to those with little income and limited opportunities, it might as well be 100 miles.
We have had no Olympic money at our end of the County, I wish we did, we are putting together a number of volunteer led Olympic Legacy projects but without funding we will struggle to succeed with them. Also, if your interested, some of the details under the headlines you quote are less attractive - for instance the promised high speed broadband hasn't materialised.
The tourist trade took a dip along our coast during the Olympics, most traders are reporting a drop of c. 25% in trade, this has already had a very real knock on effect in terms of employment - we may well see an balancing effect in previous years if people want to come and see where the sailing took place but we will have to wait and see.
I suspect you'll find similar if you look at the detail of Stratford - regeneration is great unless the effect of it is that locals are priced out of the area - I have no idea whether that's happening there but that is often what happens when significant regeneration is carried out.
Ok, just a question, how much Olympic money has been spent in Greater Manchester? I havent heard of any new initiatives or sporting grants in my area. Sports facilities are largely underfunded and only available to those who have expendable income to use them. For most of us around this area, sporting activities are out of reach.
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
I must admit I had my doubts about getting these events off the ground but hey we did it despite a few issues before the event. It has cost money though and in these times we live in when we are trying to pay back the national debt but that said it also brought money to Britain to, 2012 has been an event packed year that's for sure.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: doubters - eat your words
