Should the UK ditch the Olympics?
Poll: Should the UK ditch the Olympics?
Total Members Polled: 488
Discussion
In recent weeks, once-cheerleading commentators have post-cognitively worked out that this country cannot afford to host the Olympic Games in 2012. They have cited overspending, poor accounting and broken promises.
It is no longer considered off message to admit that spending £9.3 billion on a fleeting festival in the middle of a financial crisis is calamitous, because Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister, has said as much.
Yet it was obvious to any person with his eyes open that this country could not afford to host an Olympic Games, whether the bill totalled nine billion or £9.99. A Government whose NHS can no longer afford to administer life-extending drugs to its citizens did not have the money. A country that sits 22nd of 29 nations in a study of qualifications gained by school-leavers while preaching education, education, education was never in a position to welcome the world.
Beijing 2012, The Sequel. It's got a catchy ring to it, don't you think?
there is no way on this earth that we will ditch the olympics - for starters, the sheer amount of construction work is keeping hundreds of people in employment
backing out now would not only lose those jobs, but the credibilty of the country would be seriouly dented, leading to an unknown level of future potential for not only events like this, but other large-ish scale projects
the money being lost is, in the long run, probably a lot less than what it would be if we "dropped out"
backing out now would not only lose those jobs, but the credibilty of the country would be seriouly dented, leading to an unknown level of future potential for not only events like this, but other large-ish scale projects
the money being lost is, in the long run, probably a lot less than what it would be if we "dropped out"
snorkel sucker said:
there is no way on this earth that we will ditch the olympics - for starters, the sheer amount of construction work is keeping hundreds of people in employment
backing out now would not only lose those jobs, but the credibilty of the country would be seriouly dented, leading to an unknown level of future potential for not only events like this, but other large-ish scale projects
the money being lost is, in the long run, probably a lot less than what it would be if we "dropped out"
Exactly,can't believe anyone could vote to ditch them!backing out now would not only lose those jobs, but the credibilty of the country would be seriouly dented, leading to an unknown level of future potential for not only events like this, but other large-ish scale projects
the money being lost is, in the long run, probably a lot less than what it would be if we "dropped out"
Like everything else the Gov't is involved with , it will be a f
k up and will end up even further over budget then it is already.
We will be paying for this for years after the event at a time when we can least afford to be paying for a load of idiots to run around a field and throw stuff.
And there is also the small matter of security...
k up and will end up even further over budget then it is already.We will be paying for this for years after the event at a time when we can least afford to be paying for a load of idiots to run around a field and throw stuff.
And there is also the small matter of security...
Of course we could host the olympics even in a recession. In fact, done wisely it could help drag us out of the recession.
However, what we should do is admit to ourselves that we dont need to build huge new infrastructure just for three weeks of games. ALL the infrastructure we need is already here. Just admit to ourselves that we dont need to have to most showey stadiums and 'ollympic villages'.
House them all in nissan huts and army barracks whilst our troops are all abroad. Loads of accomodation thats good enough for our armed forces year in year out is good enough for a few thousand bleedin forigners for a couple of weeks.
However, what we should do is admit to ourselves that we dont need to build huge new infrastructure just for three weeks of games. ALL the infrastructure we need is already here. Just admit to ourselves that we dont need to have to most showey stadiums and 'ollympic villages'.
House them all in nissan huts and army barracks whilst our troops are all abroad. Loads of accomodation thats good enough for our armed forces year in year out is good enough for a few thousand bleedin forigners for a couple of weeks.
Tony*T3 said:
Loads of accomodation thats good enough for our armed forces year in year out is good enough for a few thousand bleedin forigners for a couple of weeks.
... actually it probably isn't ... isn't a lot of MoD accomodation sub-standard? Think they only get away with making people live in them because of an exemption for the MoD.Anyway, agree we can't back out now - would be far, far too embarassing
Tony*T3 said:
Of course we could host the olympics even in a recession. In fact, done wisely it could help drag us out of the recession.
However, what we should do is admit to ourselves that we dont need to build huge new infrastructure just for three weeks of games. ALL the infrastructure we need is already here. Just admit to ourselves that we dont need to have to most showey stadiums and 'ollympic villages'.
House them all in nissan huts and army barracks whilst our troops are all abroad. Loads of accomodation thats good enough for our armed forces year in year out is good enough for a few thousand bleedin forigners for a couple of weeks.
Slight prob is that 95% of the athletes wouldn't go near the army accomodation, which would also not be near any stadia.However, what we should do is admit to ourselves that we dont need to build huge new infrastructure just for three weeks of games. ALL the infrastructure we need is already here. Just admit to ourselves that we dont need to have to most showey stadiums and 'ollympic villages'.
House them all in nissan huts and army barracks whilst our troops are all abroad. Loads of accomodation thats good enough for our armed forces year in year out is good enough for a few thousand bleedin forigners for a couple of weeks.
Some venues eg Sailing have already been completed, although they tend to be the ones that have the least to do with the London Olympic team.
Your point about effective versus 'showey' is an important one - contrast the Millennium stadium with Wembley.
Plotloss said:
superlightr said:
can they not stay in hotles? hire a few out for the duration?
Apparently they're putting various dignitaries in the hotels in Central London.But havent actually thought how they are going to get them between Central London and Olympic HQ
The competitors should perhaps be given free accommodation and transport - how about london taxis?
Im being serious
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