I know it is on a different scale, but when Manchester won the right to stage the Commonwealth Games, there were many people who shouted waste of money, worried about the cost, and predicted all kinds of dire consequences.
The reality was in fact a lot of investment and regeneration in the city. New facilities such as The City of Manchester Stadium one of the best Premiership grounds in the country, the velodrome and swimming pool which still stage international competions and keep Manchester on the map. In all, a very good job was done in Manchester, and similar things but on a bigger scale is what is expected of the 2012 Londaon Games.