Can Abao Naysayers Officially Stop Whinning Now?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/23434844
Should this, coupled with the news that we are 12bn up indirectly, put this one to bed?

[emmie]

i had my doubts, primarily because of the cost and also the amount of people coming, not to mention those who predicted traffic chaos. It wasn't like it, having attended the Paralympics it was a wonderful day.
I would say though i don't see the real legacy that this is supposed to have been for the people of London, and more importantly for the people who live near the Olympic park

[emmie]

isn't it whining...

[jno]

the Olympics were mostly great. But it shouldn't be forgotten that the booking procedure was rubbish, with constant computer crashes (mind you, that was the only way I got a ticket), and the G4S security plan was a disaster - they should never be allowed near a public contract again. The actual athletics were fine, though.

[jno]

give the legacy time, emmie, nobody ever said it could be instant, but the first homes are opening

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/first-of-30000-olympic-park-residents-move-in-next-month-8733271.html

[emmie]

the soldiers on duty were wonderful, helpful and very on the ball. The same for most of the volunteers, i didn't see any of the G4 security people, perhaps they were keeping a low profile, or not there at all.

[ToraToraTora]

we could have an olympics every week for what we spend on benefits, no one seems to moan about that, we have the olympics once since 1948 and people are talking about the cost. Total chicken feed in the scheme of things.

[jno]

I think they lost the contract at the last minute, didn't they, and were replaced by the military, because they'd cocked it up so badly

[emmie]

jno, there are plenty of residents in the area, and those apartment are private aren't they?? one chap was interviewed last evening, and was asked if he or others on the estate had benefited from the legacy, his answer was unequivocal no.

[emmie]

i forget but the army stepped in and did a very good job.

[ToraToraTora]

I agree we should have had the army in the first place. G4S/Group4 are the most amazing company in the world. It amazes me how such a useless shower are still doing business, I wouldn't trust them to take out the garbage!

[emmie]

they shouldn't be using the armed forces to to the security for a sporting event. That contract with GS4 for a shed load of money should have been water tight, i think there was some grievances on both sides, the management of GS4 underestimating numbers and the Olympic committee not getting their remit right... still it was a great games. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic park stadium is stunning, and if West Ham are going there, then they are blessed.

[jno]

oh, they get by somehow, TTT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jul/11/g4s-investigated-overcharging-millions-pounds

Must be their high-quality staff

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/25/g4s-worker-david-beadnell-gareth-myatt_n_3652962.html

or their rigorous systems

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jul/21/g4s-contractor-failures-eviction-claims

[emmie]

didn't the boss quit but with a hefty payout.

[New Judge]

Without getting too bogged down in the detail (which in some respect is very debateable) it just strikes me that virtually every Olympiad since the War - and particularly those in more recent times - has left the host city with enormous debts. The UK, however (not particularly adept at getting value for what, in this case, is predominantly taxpayers' money) manages to turn in 130% profit in just a year. I think these numbers may well be "subject to revision" in the fullness of time.

[emmie]

though i knew that it wouldn't be the case, i had hoped that all the athletes accommodation that has been turned into homes would be affordable social housing, so desperately needed, some will be, but i wonder that the further buildings works will be private.

[jno]

I don't know about debt, NJ - Montreal certainly did, but I think since the LA games contros have been reasonably stringent. The main problem seems to be what to do with the leftover stadia - even Sydney's isn't getting much use, I'm told - but London's seem to be being disposed of pretty much according to plan.

[emmie]

i think several factors have played their part, first off the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations, they must have pulled in lots of visitors, not to mention spondoolicks, then various other celebrations on her behalf, the concert and so forth, it was an extraordinarily busy year.

[ToraToraTora]

Ignoring Moscow, in 1980 the last games to cost anything where Montreal. LA in 1984 was in profit before it even started.

[jno]

I imagine Beijing cost lots but the government will just soak it up and we'll never know.

[emmie]

lots and lots

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jul/28/olympicgames2008.china1