London Olympics Again

[olddutch]

Following on from an earlier question about the 2012 London Olympics, if in less than 2 years the budget for the Olympics has quadrupled to � 9 BILLION what do a'bers think the final cost will be in another 5/6 years? Could it quadruple once, twice, or three times again in that period ? Anyone care to hazard a guess as to the final figure ?

[flip-flop]

I appreciate this is all 'ifs and buts'......but for the sake of the argument, and as it has almost quadrupled in less than two years, if in 5/6 years the budget has increased to, say, �20bn or more, are there people on this site who still think it is worth it?

To answer your Q olddutch, it strikes me that the Olympics is becoming a new Dome where the cost just keeps on creeping up and up and up, so I am going to hazard a guess that this time next year the budget will have risen to �12bn, the year after that �15bn and so on.

Are we really that desparate for a velodrome in the East End? Wouldn't the billions be better off elsewhere? What about trying to prop up pensions? I'm sure in 2020 the little old lady in Dalston will be pleased she's living on next to nothing and freezing so that she could have a velodrome just down the road!

[olddutch]

Here here, flip-flop! What a colossal waste by the vain decisions makers who are all financially well insulated from their folly ! Would Seb Coe et al have been so committed to the cause had their personal millions been at risk on any Olympic budget overrun ? But these Politicians and celebrities are more than willing to compel the generally hard up common man to finance their folly !

[coco pops]

I think the total budget will be sky high . Maybe no one has a max figure in sight.. I don't think this country is in a financial position at the moment to have taken on such a burden. You only have to look at the state of schools , hospitals and roads
to see we can't afford it.

[Famous5]

Saddest day when Olympics were given to London. If they'd gone to Paris then the problems wouldf be for the French,

It would also be cheaper and easier for Brits to get there (budget airlines vs UK railfares)