2012 Olympic Budget and promise?

Question

Is he talking rubbish or not?

London Mayor Boris Johnson has insisted that the city's 2012 Olympics will come in under budget and still be as impressive as the lavish, and much more expensive, show laid on in Beijing.

I think it will go wildly over budget, look at Wembley costs, the fact is labour is not cheap in the UK, China have cheap labour, cheaper cost of goods and a willingness, how can he think we can possibly top it with a predicted budget that is 50% of China's at the moment, then again it will probably top the budget spent by China by the time all is said and done...

Answer 1

We should not compare what we do with what has gone on before. The Chinese had their own agenda and what they spent is their business. As for us, many thought we should not have made a bid for it as we cannot afford it. Now the reality of what it involves has dawned and we know we cannot afford to put on a proper show. So we are trying to make a virtue out of a sow's ear. Substitute 'intimate' for 'small' or 'cramped'; 'innovative' for 'weird but banal'; 'extraordinary' for 'piffle'; etc. Boris' performance overseas is so cringe-worthy that British officials could be seen burying their faces in their hands. Wonder what the Greeks thought about his claim that Britain invited sports and it's coming home in 2012! Well, it's all whiff-wham rubbish from him.

Answer 2

The guy's a idiot, no way will London beat the Beijing olympics with only half the budget, i don't think london will even set up a good show

Answer 3

Well he's not a labour party member, so he might be telling the truth but to be fair to him, he didn't say anything about it being as impressive as the display put on in Beijing.

Answer 4

Don't matter what he says I think the opening of these games is getting to be outrageously expensive,  you would do a lot better to spend it on a few world class hospitals and have some thought about all those people

living under the stars in poverty, even in London!

Ok, I'll admit it to be a spectacular event when the Olympics are on and won't ever deny people deserve medals for performances.

And sure, you'll have a lot of venue's afterward to be enjoyed for years by the sports people and admittedly the advance of infrastructure does come into it.

But will it do anything for the poor and the sick?   Not likely!

Answer 5

The £9.3 billion could be better spent in my opinion. We have higher priorities in Britain than another spectacular party for the IOC members &  the world's politicians and elite sports stars and rock stars.

Answer 6

I find it very unlikely it will come under budget.

Answer 7

Boris Johnson invariably talks rubbish... Although I can't help loving the guy.

personally I can't wait for it to start though lets hope it doesn't become a black hole which money vanishes into.

I don't think we can provide a big a show as the chinese... but lets do what us brits do best...

Pomp and ceremony.

Answer 8

London will not follow the luxury style of Beijing Olympic but it will be in a style of simple but elegant.

For example, cleaning up those ground and placed some flexible steel structure. That is good enough for most purpose and it can be fix within no time.

This can also save the culture of "better late than never".

For more complicated plan, even though it would be within budget but the project time will force the London Olympic to be run in year 2013 at least.

Answer 9

China spent ~$43Billion

London is now around £9.3billion, so $17billion (guess).

It will probably spiral over, but then there is talk of this being the first 'sustainable' games, so hopefully they'll manage to repurpose everything (stadia, swimming pools etc) for public use and not leave a load of empty buildings. I'd say its not a bad time to invest in property in the area :) - Though, providing you can get a mortgage.

I'd say we'll end up spending £15billion on it. 3 times the original plan, and +50% of the revised figure.