Olympics.. Should we bother really ???

bo_drinker

With the way things are should we be even thinking about hosting it. Wouldn't the money come in elsewhere. Looks like they are cutting back, shave a bit here and a bit there. We may well end up a laughing stock and all for what ?? A few poxy medals.

amcluesent

We obviously can't afford it.

The 'olympic village' can be the empty BTLs in Thamesmead, plus army-surplus tents.

All the events should be held at existing venues, Wembley, Emirates Stadium etc.

We're still living up to the absurd idea that we won the war in 1945 and can 'punch above our weight' in all things. We need to get used to the fact the Britain is in the same bankrupt club as Iceland and Ireland.

SGE1

Of course we should bother.

Kez100

Yes, we do have to host it. However, there is a global crunch and the London organisers and the Olympics committee should look at the roots of the competition and work from there. London can, indeed, host a lot of it and I think some of the venues are already built - like Weymouth. However, the stupid cost of the ceremonies, etc must be curtailed.

Its a good opportunity for public spending to be well spent but not on unnecessary venues on infrastructure.

Olympic sport brings out one of the attributes in people that should be celebrated. Working for personal achievement not pure greed which the western world has celebrated rather too much in the recent times.

Davesnave

If it were down to me, I'd make Brown go to the Chinese, hand back the flame and say: "Sorry, my mistake; I just thought you wanted to see our range of London buses and worn out celebrities. UK Plc doesn't do big corporate events nowadays.....so last century."

Generali

Too late. London already won it. It's Black Cabs and Routemasters and Monarchism all the way through 'til 2012 now. I'll pop back in 2013 and you guys can usher me in as glorious leader and the failed democratic experiment will be finished.(!)

BlondeHeadOn

The cynic in me says that the credit crunch is a good thing for the London Olympics, because it doesn't matter how rubbish our opening ceremonies and organisation are compared to Bejing - we can just say "Oh, we had to cut back because of the global financial crisis, don't you know....".

Better still, this means we can blame any problems with London 2012 on America, at the end of the day - because they started the credit crisis, didn't they?

Looks like a win-win situation, to me!

abaxas

How about a 'back to basics' olympics?

One where the tickets are sold to the people who love the sport, not to the corps.

If it's cheap enough, every venue would be packed.

mcroodi

No, I dont think we should - far too much money being spent which should be used for local/community projects which affects "Joe Bloggs" directly.

I think those who want the Olympics should pay if that's what they want and those who dont, dont.

sarkin

Yes fantastic Idea, I have lived in both Sydney and Barcelona, the repeat business from a succesful Olympics is unmeasuarble. Barcelona is still dinning out on it and they held them in 1994. For a Country that will be comming out of recession this will keep the positivity going.

What we dont need is an Atlanta type of Olympics.

sarkin

Its more than hosting the Olympics we get the build up of every country in the world talking about London and the UK.