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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: The dumbing down of London Olympics 2012
I'm in shock still.
I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of Lord Coe's mouth last night.
Now I hear more of it today.
The iconic architecture and planning of the games in China is the last big spectacle we will see for an Olympics.
Eh?
Has London thrown the towel in already as far as spectacle, facilities etc is concerned for the biggest international event to occur here for 100 odd years?
So it would seem, according to recent reports. Cutbacks etc, lack of money, lack of space etc etc
Makes me sick.
So for all the tax dollars (sorry pounds) that we are forking out to entertain the world that's the best they can come up with? Excuses 4 years in advance?
And then Mr Coe et al qualify his pathetic statements with the arguement that they want to ensure that future generations will use and benefit from the stadia that will be built.
I guess the 'Bird's nest' will fall into mothballs next year?
Disappointedly yours
LS _________________ Does killing time damage eternity?
LS, I didn't hear/see Lord Coe on this, but I get the gist.
Consider the following:
China is a totalitarian state which can order its people to participate as "volunteers" and can spend as much money as it likes with no comeback becuase it doesn't have an electorate to throw the Government out if money is mis-managed
China is one of the most polluted and polluting countries in the world.
China (allegedly) breaks the Olympics rules for its own glory
UK is, by and large, the opposite.
UK does not have limitless resources or a billion-odd people
It would be foolish to try and compete with China on any level, including the money one - I would much rather my taxpayer's pound be spent on a modest, appropriate and "green" Olympics which focussed on performance, not show.
So maybe that was what Lord Coe was trying to do - pre-empt the inevitable calls for more show at greater expense. I agree, if construction is delayed and estimates are seriously over-run, then that is cause for concern. But do remember that several of the specially constructed Athens facilities are now derelict. Do we want that to happen? I hope not.
On the wider issue, competing with the Chinese for spectacle is not possible. So keep it low key and do something different and imaginative.
I dont even know why the government wanted the 2012 Olympics, having overseen the farce that was the Dome. Everyone know the budget will spiral, despite denials. Typical brown, lets do it on the cheap. We will be left with a few stadium which will hardly ever be used to capacity, once the Olympics is over. Poor Tagalie and Acca will fot the bill in Council tax rises.
I know i sound pesimistic, but on the one hand we are hosting the Olympic games, while local councils are selling off playing fields to builders and closing swimming pools..... Madness Madness Madness. _________________ If at first you dont succeed..then skydiving isnt for you
[a] having lots of white elephant stadia has to be a thing of the past
[b] the facilities built have to be usable by local people for the future
[c] implicity- that stuff like the openingg ceremony spectacular might not be what we spend our money on
it all makes sense to me;- what would we do in the future with a 95000 capacity stadium for athletics in east london? _________________ Geordie_R
"A should of known there mum was buying banana's"
Agree, Alan, the sense of priorities is mad. And we are now heading for (if not actually yet in) a recession which will go on for an unknown period, probably not four years, but it could. I also have no idea why we wanted the Olypmics in the first place, and if it had been put to a referendum would have voted "No". But as we have got it, the next best thing is to try and keep it within reasonable bounds!
Still selling off playing fields after all these years, and closing swimming pools and so on - agreed, madness and nothing will be done because we still spend mountains of money on military stuff we will (I hope) never use. A sixth of the MoD's budget for this year would pay for two Olympics with something left over to invest in more facilities for the future. - but that's another debate!
Well, I don't want to see our money wasted on it. I was against us winning the Games and I haven't changed my mind. The money could be much better spent (including on our athletes).
I'm all in favour of an austerity games. I really dislike the IOC issuing us with threats and will happily stick two fingers up to them.
I really dislike the IOC issuing us with threats and will happily stick two fingers up to them.
I've not seen anything about this - will look up, presume it's in the press or on the web?
Well, threat is a strong word (or at least all I can find on the web now suggests it is!) - I heard it on Five Live and it sounded much more as f we were being told "budget smudget, we don't care if you go bankrupt, we will have fireworks".
Mark Wallace, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said he welcomed the fact that organisers were being strict with budgets.
"We do need to be firm on this. We can't allow the Olympic Delivery Authority, or whoever else involved with the Games, simply to try and hold taxpayers to ransom."
But Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said London still had to deliver as well as China with regard to the quality of the Olympic village, venues and transport.
"The Games are for the athletes, the Games are not for London, the Games are not for Great Britain," he added.
Does Rogge not think that with Lord Coe leading the team the Games will NOT be for the athletes? What on earth is the old fool going on about?
I cannot imagine how the IOC manages to produce such wastes of space. They should give themselves a gold medal for "artistic waste of space diving". And certainly give themselves lots of first class travel and accommodation. What I don't understand is what they actually contribute...
The fact is that the 2012 Olympics is being held in London. It's the Olympics, not the Chertsey U12's athletic finals.
London wanted the Olympics, London have got the Olympics and now London have to deliver. Where has national pride gone? We have a national lottery don't we? Lots of money there.
We have 2 of, if not the best architects in the world - Lord Foster and Lord Rogers. Put them to work - I'm sure they can come up with iconic sustainable designs for the stadia needed.
You guys are so negative.
This is London's chance to shine. Show the world what they can do. Improve the transport infrastructure etc. Put on a spectacle that the world will regard with awe.
It'll be expensive, but it'll be worth it in the end. Otherwise it will cast the UK as down in the mouth misers.
Can't a 90,000 seat athletics stadium be turned into a football stadium? Just locate it in the place that needs one.
Finally, look at the results that have happened since money was pumped into the sports world in the UK - 19 yes 19 gold medals in China. Blimey!
The UK athletes are expecting something special to show off their talents in foe 2012. I would be embarrassed if all we gave them was a few sheds with burger vans outside.
OK I've said my bit.
_________________ Does killing time damage eternity?
It'll be expensive, but it'll be worth it in the end. Otherwise it will cast the UK as down in the mouth misers.
The thing is, it *won't* be worth it. It's only "worth it" if the investment is returned. Very few Olympics make any money.
I really couldn't give a toss if other people think this country is full of misers. We are in an economic situation that demands restraint. Do you think people will care about the Olympics when they're having their utilities cut off, or their houses repossessed? London is the place that will benefit form most of the facilities. Doesn't help me, or probably 70% of the UK.
My national pride is not in the people of this country, it's in the earth and rocks of this country. I don't need an Olympics to make me take pride in that.
If the Olympics is "for the athletes" then they should be proud to represent their countries regardless of the number of fireworks or cute little girls singing.
London is the place that will benefit form most of the facilities. Doesn't help me, or probably 70% of the UK.
London taxpayers will suffer the most, as a large chunk of the cost is due to come via GLC council tax income. Unless you live close to a stadium, most Londoners wont benefit much either. _________________ If at first you dont succeed..then skydiving isnt for you
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