Metropol

I'm just quite interested in peoples opinion of the Olympics. I would personally like it to go ahead seeing as Stratford (London E15) is in dire need of regenoration. Some buildings their have been empty since WWII

Thanks to however it was who clicked couldn't give a shit

i don't care either. i think these sorts of things are a terrible waste of money, and, if the millenium dome is anything to go by, i fully expect it to be a total debacle going massively over budget.

I clicked 'Couldn't Give a Shit' last night, I did this as the Olympics just doesn't interest me, didn't watch it this year, I didn't watch it in 2000 either. Plus it's only in London, how is it supposed to benefit the rest of the UK?!?

Though as nice as it would be to host the Olympics, it's only in one city and will cost Millions, probably Billions of Pounds and only benefits a few.

Couldn't give a shit if London gets it or not, either.

nwtv2003 wrote:I clicked 'Couldn't Give a Shit' last night, I did this as the Olympics just doesn't interest me, didn't watch it this year, I didn't watch it in 2000 either. Plus it's only in London, how is it supposed to benefit the rest of the UK?!?

Though as nice as it would be to host the Olympics, it's only in one city and will cost Millions, probably Billions of Pounds and only benefits a few.

This is the same as in the other Olympics however. Athens 2004, Sydney 2000, etc.

nwtv2003 wrote:I clicked 'Couldn't Give a Shit' last night, I did this as the Olympics just doesn't interest me, didn't watch it this year, I didn't watch it in 2000 either. Plus it's only in London, how is it supposed to benefit the rest of the UK?!?

Though as nice as it would be to host the Olympics, it's only in one city and will cost Millions, probably Billions of Pounds and only benefits a few.

That is where you're wrong.

Just because it's called 'London 2012', doesn't mean everything is happening there.

For e.g. The sailing events will take place in Weymouth and Portland, on the south Coast.

The football tournaments will be held all over the UK, making it accessable to anyonwe who wishes to view: Hampden Park, St James' Park, Old Trafford, Villa Park and the Millenium Stadium.

Get your facts right first!

jay wrote: The football tournaments will be held all over the UK, making it accessable to anyonwe who wishes to view: Hampden Park, St James' Park, Old Trafford, Villa Park and the Millenium Stadium.

Well there's a wide selection. If I've got this right, there will be 2 played in the North. Wow! What a wide selection. Hardly London centred at all is it...

Fireboy wrote:

jay wrote: The football tournaments will be held all over the UK, making it accessable to anyonwe who wishes to view: Hampden Park, St James' Park, Old Trafford, Villa Park and the Millenium Stadium.

Well there's a wide selection. If I've got this right, there will be 2 played in the North. Wow! What a wide selection. Hardly London centred at all is it...

That's right. 2 in the North, 2 in the Midlands and 2 down South (counting Wembley Stadium for the Final). They can't do it at every single bloody club in the country now can they?
Of course it's London centered, and why not? That is our capital city - they rightful place to host the Olympics in the UK. As much as I'd like to see 'Nottingham 2012' - it hardly has the same ring to it does it.

The overwhelming "yes" vote does say a lot about this country

I appreciate that if the olympics DO make it here it will be a good source of revenue, albeit a horrific capital waste of money.

However, if we don't, then so much money will have been wasted on this propaganda.

Can't the government / councils be a little more careful with their money? Lambeth council has more problems than I can count, yet it still insists on building huge bus shelters in the middle of a junction.

Off topic, but what the hell -- I think a large problem these days is the common man's vote. I think people should "earn" their vote, as there are so many idiots in this country whose vote is worth the same to that of someone who carefully considers for which party they plan to vote. I'm afraid this is the kind of thing which entirely removes my incentive to vote.

In fact I think I'll jump out of a window right nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Not only will the Olympics actually come out in profit (£100 million is the predicted sum) the legacy left to the lower Lea Valley, London and the UK will be impressive.

First the funding. A lot of people talk about the fact that Montreal, which hosted the Games in 1976, is still paying back the money it spent on stadia etc. True enough, but this is for two reasons: a) they financed the Games entirely through public money and b) commercial, sponsorship and TV rights then counted for only a small proportion of potential revenue. The TV revenue for 2012 will be £1 billion.

The Games themselves will cost £2.37 billion. With £1 billion of this already paid for, £500 million will come direct from Central Government through existing commitments (involving no direct tax increases). About £220 million will be raised by GLA precept on London's council taxes, amounting to about £20 per year for each Londoner for ten years, just under the price of a packet of crisps a week. The rest will come from private industry, which is champing at the bit to get in on the regeneration projects, which include a new enterprise zone for central Stratford.

The legacy: After the Games, four of the stadia will be dismantled and reassembled in other locations around the country immediately. The Olympic Village will be turned into several thousand affordable housing units. East London will be left with the largest urban park built in the capital for 150 years.

And work on the bid has already sped up Crossrail construction, which (although it won't be ready for 2012) will be complete about two years earlier than originally planned. And it is providing a spur for the development of the Cross River Tram and Woolwich/Thamesmead guided bus/light rail project.

Participation in sports is being encouraged through a wide variety of grassroots initiatives led by local authorities to identify and train those people - currently at primary and secondary school - who will compete in the Games, benefiting them and all schoolchildren with (although it pains me to say it) better PE and sports provision.

Opportunities will also be available to the rest of the UK - in terms of construction and preparation leading up the Games, the Games themselves and the legacy afterwards. And, of course, the only people paying will be those in London who will obviously get the most benefit. Nobody else will be taxed any more than they are now.

Sorry. I've been working for the council too long.