London 2012 Olympic ceremonies budget doubled

[mattx]

London 2012 Olympic ceremonies budget doubled - but it's ok folks because there are still schools up and down the country falling down !!

And people are taking pay cuts and having to work longer - but don't fear because the govenment [ who remember says we are all in this together ] is # wasting money # on an opening ceremony !!

Something is seriously wrong with this country.

 

BBC News - London 2012 Olympic ceremonies budget doubled

Edited December 6, 2011 by TheScarfedOne
Moderated by TheScarfedOne

[tech_guy]

I'm incandescent with rage over this. What a waste of money. And how much do you want to bet the money will be awarded to companies owned by Cameron's snout-in-trough chums?

[mattx]

I'm incandescent with rage over this. What a waste of money. And how much do you want to bet the money will be awarded to companies owned by Cameron's snout-in-trough chums?

 

I bet you 40 Million. [ Of money we don't have remember because we are all in this together ]

[SteseD]

Unfortunatley, this shows that they are all no better than each other... Cameron wasn't in power when we won the bid way back when... IIRC correctly, Mr Brown was... i'm sure they knew the budget would go out the window on the first day... but they'll hope we'll all forget this, when it comes to re-election time!

[localzuk]

Not *really* sure what your arguments are here - the money was already earmarked for the games, they're just moving stuff around, so that the ceremonies have more funds, and other areas of the olympic budget get cut.

 

Its not like they decided to take the money out of the education budget to buy more fireworks.

[Theblacksheep]

The entire games are a waste of money.

[Pottsey]

How much money do they expact the olympics to bring in? I assume local business will be packed and selling a lot which should I guess bring in a lot of extra tax. But is it enough?

[localzuk]

One thing I don't get is what 81million quid buys for opening and closing ceremonies.

 

Choreographers, performers, lighting, sound riggging, computer gear to run stuff, fireworks, etc... How do you spend £81m on that?!

[Pottsey]

Staff wages perhaps? 1000’s of people on 15k or 20k or whatever it is soon adds up.

[localzuk]

Staff wages perhaps? 1000’s of people on 15k or 20k or whatever it is soon adds up.

 

20k for a half an hour ceremony? Ok, fine, they have to rehearse etc... but still...

[tommej]

Oh right because they haven't been preparing for this for years.

[localzuk]

Oh right because they haven't been preparing for this for years.

 

The opening ceremony? Seriously, you reckon 1000s of people have been working full time on the ceremony?

[Earthling]

London 2012 Olympic ceremonies budget doubled - but it's ok folks because there are still schools up and down the country falling down !!

And people are taking pay cuts and having to work longer - but don't fear because the govenment [ who remember says we are all in this together ] is # wasting money # on an opening ceremony !!

Something is seriously wrong with this country.

 

BBC News - London 2012 Olympic ceremonies budget doubled

 

Very seriously wrong.

 

[Pottsey]

This really is just guess work by me but surly people who provide the food have to work for weeks if not months before hand. Surly most of the staff will not be just for the opening ceremony.

 

Lighting, rigging, computer networking on that scale would takes months to setup wouldnt it? then practice then the opening. It’s not just half an hour opening many will be used throughout the whole Olympics I would have thought. There must be a better breakdown somewhere around the web.

[nicholab]

The most annoying thing is why can't the IOC officials use Boris bike/Public transport instead of special car lanes!!!?

[localzuk]

This really is just guess work by me but surly people who provide the food have to work for weeks if not months before hand. Surly most of the staff will not be just for the opening ceremony.

 

Lighting, rigging, computer networking on that scale would takes months to setup wouldnt it? then practice then the opening. It’s not just half an hour opening many will be used throughout the whole Olympics I would have thought. There must be a better breakdown somewhere around the web.

 

Even with all that, I can't see £81m worth.

[mattx]

Not *really* sure what your arguments are here - the money was already earmarked for the games, they're just moving stuff around, so that the ceremonies have more funds, and other areas of the olympic budget get cut.

 

Its not like they decided to take the money out of the education budget to buy more fireworks.

 

Well if you can't see it then no wonder this country is going down the crapper.

[localzuk]

Well if you can't see it then no wonder this country is going down the crapper.

 

Nice response... Really clarifies your annoyance over it.

[X-13]

Not *really* sure what your arguments are here - the money was already earmarked for the games, they're just moving stuff around, so that the ceremonies have more funds, and other areas of the olympic budget get cut.

 

Its not like they decided to take the money out of the education budget to buy more fireworks.

 

 

I think the arguement is less "they've taken more money" and more "they're spending money we have a more important use for."

 

 

That £81million could go to a much better use. It could also keep quite a few people in jobs.

[IT_Man_Dan]

See, I can understand everyones views on this and although I'm strongly against our governments cuts I do also think that sometimes you gotta spend money to make money...

Therefore I don't believe hosting the games is a waste of money.

 

Yes £81 million is a lot of dosh but just think of the amount of much needed revenue the games will bring to UK businesses etc. Not to mention the jobs that it will create or has already done so.

 

Just my 2 pence worth :-)

[X-13]

Yes £81 million is a lot of dosh but just think of the amount of much needed revenue the games will bring to UK businesses etc. Not to mention the jobs that it will create or has already done so.

 

Creating jobs is good. But when they go to Eastern Europeans, because they can be hired cheaper, it's a waste of time. But that's an entirely different thread.

 

Also, any revenue made would have to exceed £81million, and I mean exceed it by a lot, to justify the spending.

[mats]

The most annoying thing is why can't the IOC officials use Boris bike/Public transport instead of special car lanes!!!?

 

Probably because people keep getting killed on the cycle "super" "highways". Have a read of Cyclists in the City: National embarrassment: TfL builds cycle lane to Olympics. Two people killed already. Tells cyclists not to use it. for example.

 

 

Back to the original subject - the olympics is just a massive corporate jolly, paid for by the people imho.

[localzuk]

I think the arguement is less "they've taken more money" and more "they're spending money we have a more important use for."

 

That £81million could go to a much better use. It could also keep quite a few people in jobs.

 

Yes, but its a moot point now though - the Olympics are going to happen over here and we now have to spend the money to do it properly.

 

The money is allocated, so basically already spent. Complaining about it now is like crying over spilled milk.

[MYK-IT]

Well I'll be a 'volunteering' Olympic Games Maker so don't blame me!

 

As previously mentioned, it is all the behind the scenes planning, preparation, staff (all in forms of capacity, not just the ones you actually see in the performance) involved and you soon understand why costs easily escalates. New jobs, and work opportunities before and during the Olympic Games will be generated, and we can only hope that the legacy will carry on afterwards.

 

Seems to be a can't win/lose scenario..would it be the same (views) if it was the World Cup being hosted?

 

Personally I'm looking forward to it, though I haven't a clue where I'm going to stay (bivvy bag might be required! )

[CHR1S]

Yes £81 million is a lot of dosh but just think of the amount of much needed revenue the games will bring to UK businesses etc.

 

In London

 

Not to mention the jobs that it will create or has already done so.

 

In London

 

 

Blah blah, population density, blah blah, stuff outside Landan, blah blah.....