Olympics in London

[fertler]

The whole thing is a disgusting display of Capitalism at it's worst, and now we have 17,000 Troops deployed, Police and G4S everywhere, Corporate Sponsors and their lackeys on the prowl. This is everything the Olympics was not supposed to be about. Frankly I couldn't give a fig what happens and I shall be out detecting instead of watching any of the crap on the TV.

Totally agree Trotboy! I'm just appalled at the whole circus, the smug smiles on Coe's face and the astonishing over-run cost of the whole pile of Sierra Hotel 1 Tango - is it £12bn or more that they are admitting to? I want my involuntary contribution back, and next we'll see the grinning pillocks (otherwise known as politicians) doing their best to muscle in on the act as if they own it! May they all drown in the pool of their own ordure!

Dammit! nearly went on a rant then.

Barrie.

[Davidhod]

Actually its come in under budget so far.

Don't actually like it but I'm very pedantic.

And where will Ken Livingston be? The bloke who actually won the bid... probably watching it at home.

[omegamike]

First day of sport yesterday (women's football). And what a MONUMENTAL COCK UP by the Olympic idiot's who are running this 'joke' Olympics. The North Korean team walked off the pitch before the game even started after background displays showed their team against a background of the SOUTH KOREAN FLAG!. It's just about as insulting as you can get, no wander they walked off the pitch. It's being likened to raising the Nazi flag as the Israeli team take the field - what a joke!

Incidentally Dave, the Olympic's is way way over budget. The sports Minister just months after we got the bid stood up in parliament and insisted the Olympics will not cost a penny more than 'X' Billion... a couple of years later it was 'Y' Billion and a few months after that it went up again to 'Z' Billion. God only know what it is now? I will try and dig her speech out of the archives of Youtube, I'm sure it must be on there somewhere.

[omegamike]

Having trouble finding her speech, don't think it's on Youtube for some reason? although I did come across this: It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.

Cost of Olympics to spiral to £24bn... TEN TIMES higher than 2005 estimate (and is it any wonder when we're forking out £335,000 for a single sculpture)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz21iTJISjF

Honestly, the whole thing is a joke. With the cash (mainly tax payers) being thrown about you wouldn't think we are in a double dip recession heading for a triple dip?

[marcinch1979]

traffic in London is a nightmare!!! Saw an emergency ambulance blocked by cars, once again we can see that money for big ones are more important than people's life and safety

[GaryS]

I snapped the pic below of the Olympic Countdown Clock when I was in Trafalgar Square just before Corfe last year.
Just wonder what will happen to it when the games are over.
I'm not into sports at all,and share the lack of enthusiasm for the Olympics that most of you seem to have. Will be glad when it's all over.
But for those interested and involved,I hope it all runs smoothly with no security problems.

[omegamike]

That would be the clock that broke down and stopped they did get it started again eventually. Nothing has gone right with these Olympics from the second that clock started ticking

[marcinch1979]

From Victoria to my place is about 40mins in the van, today was 3 hours.

[omegamike]

I don't believe you.....

If you take notice of the news the traffic volume is actually down on what it normally is and everything is running smoothly. They even showed pictures of near empty London streets! And another thing - can someone please explain to me why they rang bells all over the country at twelve minutes past eight this morning? what's all that about? Is this yet another one of their monumental cock-ups?

[fertler]

Actually its come in under budget so far.

Don't actually like it but I'm very pedantic.

And where will Ken Livingston be? The bloke who actually won the bid... probably watching it at home.

If you Google "London Olympic costs" you will find that the original cost prediction in 1992 (I think - might have been 1993) was £2.5bn. Despite Barcelona 1992 costing £8.075bn and Beijing 2008 costing £9.775bn, the government stuck to it's original £2.5bn. The current forecast is £9.3bn plus around another billion for "legacy project spending". Being of a suspicious nature when politicians open what, in my home town, would be called their gob, I suspect that a load more might be hidden where they hope no-one will find it! In the meantime around £1 in every £5 spent is coming from the National Lottery Good Causes Fund which means that deserving charities are missing out to the tune of about £2bn!

Where will Livinstone be? In a lot more comfortable place than I would put him for life!

[Davidhod]

If you want an explanation of the bells watch Twenty Twelve on iplayer. It's a classic, like a cross between The Office and Yes Minister. I was astounded that the "Big Bong" was actually happening.

My wife heard that Opening Ceremony tickets were still available so had a look online yesterday, cheapest available were £1,600. I'm struggling to bring in that much a month at the moment.

[marcinch1979]

I don't believe you.....

everything is running smoothly.

Yes it is running smoothly, nice and steady with max speed 2 miles/hour

But I have small 125cc suzuki for this sort of traffic so happy days

[jeb]

Wouldn`t everyone agree ,the opening ceremony was absolutely SPECTACULAR ?
I thought the Idea of "Forging" the Olympic rings symbol from molten metal to red hot metal was amazing ,and the designer was brilliant in their idea of it.
An amazing spectacle to say the least.

[omegamike]

Hmmm.. got to say I wasn't overly impressed, it was ok. Still can't see where 27 MILLION pounds went though? seeing as 99% of people on stage were volunteers and they spent just about every waking second either dancing, singing or prancing about! a few good props admittedly, but not £27 million quids worth. Saw some clips on the news this morning and it actually looks better second time round

[GHOST]

A trident missile costs us 20 million pounds each, we have near 70 of them.
Plus 4 nuclear submarines that carry them, now that I'd agree is a total waste of money.
The spectacular event last night was well worth the 20 million cost.

Then when you take off the 80,000 people in the stadium paying a grand each, the food and drink they buy, plus the t.v rights from around the world who pay to film it., it probably comes in at a £4.30 bill.

So you the moaning tax payer don't worry , I'll pay the bill, so you have nothing to moan about.

[DDazzzle]

And I actually get to see the shooting competitions live thanks to all those BBC Olympic HD channels, great start.

[Kyle]

what would have been more spectacular - would have been to bring the homeless and destitute people in and fed them, built homes for them, gave the elderly of this country the best seats...much better than my fireworks are better than yours.

[fertler]

So you the moaning tax payer don't worry , I'll pay the bill, so you have nothing to moan about.

Thanks Ghost! I'll hold you to that! Barrie.

[k9hohriver]

Good morning everyone!

It's Sunday morning, 8:40am here on the coast of Washington State, got the Olympics on NBC and watching the ladies cycle race.

Just want to say that you guys have a beautiful country.

Go USA!

k9

[jeb]

Kyle wrote,......"What would have have been more spectacular ,would have been to bring the homeless and destitute people in and fed them, built homes for them, ".

He`s talking about you Ghosty !

[marcinch1979]

this is joke, no tickets for today's volleyball but I can see now empty tribunes. For who is this then?

[GHOST]

, Pete you knob-end

[shep]

I love the Olympics and am glad I got to see a home games in my lifetime..
My way of looking at it is that it's an honour to host them, bit like being best man for a mate! You know it will end up costing you a fortune but how do you say no?

[omegamike]

You should have gone to the badminton yesterday, my girlfriend did...... there were several hundred 'vacant' seats, no queues, no atmosphere, security and the armed services nearly outnumbered the spectators. As a matter of fact she said if you include the press, officials, security and the armed forces they were outnumbered as spectators what a complete and utter mess someone should be hauled over the coals for this shambles....