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[lochsong]

I'm in shock still.

I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of Lord Coe's mouth last night.

Now I hear more of it today.

The iconic architecture and planning of the games in China is the last big spectacle we will see for an Olympics.

Eh?

Has London thrown the towel in already as far as spectacle, facilities etc is concerned for the biggest international event to occur here for 100 odd years?

So it would seem, according to recent reports. Cutbacks etc, lack of money, lack of space etc etc

Makes me sick.

So for all the tax dollars (sorry pounds) that we are forking out to entertain the world that's the best they can come up with? Excuses 4 years in advance?

And then Mr Coe et al qualify his pathetic statements with the arguement that they want to ensure that future generations will use and benefit from the stadia that will be built.

I guess the 'Bird's nest' will fall into mothballs next year?

Disappointedly yours

LS


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By the way, that's Master Minded jumping the last at Sandown.

[jennywales]

LS, I didn't hear/see Lord Coe on this, but I get the gist.

Consider the following:

China is a totalitarian state which can order its people to participate as "volunteers" and can spend as much money as it likes with no comeback becuase it doesn't have an electorate to throw the Government out if money is mis-managed

China is one of the most polluted and polluting countries in the world.

China (allegedly) breaks the Olympics rules for its own glory

UK is, by and large, the opposite.

UK does not have limitless resources or a billion-odd people

It would be foolish to try and compete with China on any level, including the money one - I would much rather my taxpayer's pound be spent on a modest, appropriate and "green" Olympics which focussed on performance, not show.

So maybe that was what Lord Coe was trying to do - pre-empt the inevitable calls for more show at greater expense. I agree, if construction is delayed and estimates are seriously over-run, then that is cause for concern. But do remember that several of the specially constructed Athens facilities are now derelict. Do we want that to happen? I hope not.

On the wider issue, competing with the Chinese for spectacle is not possible. So keep it low key and do something different and imaginative.

[alansouthcoast]

I dont even know why the government wanted the 2012 Olympics, having overseen the farce that was the Dome. Everyone know the budget will spiral, despite denials. Typical brown, lets do it on the cheap. We will be left with a few stadium which will hardly ever be used to capacity, once the Olympics is over. Poor Tagalie and Acca will fot the bill in Council tax rises.

I know i sound pesimistic, but on the one hand we are hosting the Olympic games, while local councils are selling off playing fields to builders and closing swimming pools..... Madness Madness Madness.
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[geordie_racer]

Coes point was that

[a] having lots of white elephant stadia has to be a thing of the past

[b] the facilities built have to be usable by local people for the future

[c] implicity- that stuff like the openingg ceremony spectacular might not be what we spend our money on

it all makes sense to me;- what would we do in the future with a 95000 capacity stadium for athletics in east london?
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Geordie_R
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[jennywales]

Agree, Alan, the sense of priorities is mad. And we are now heading for (if not actually yet in) a recession which will go on for an unknown period, probably not four years, but it could. I also have no idea why we wanted the Olypmics in the first place, and if it had been put to a referendum would have voted "No". But as we have got it, the next best thing is to try and keep it within reasonable bounds!

Still selling off playing fields after all these years, and closing swimming pools and so on - agreed, madness and nothing will be done because we still spend mountains of money on military stuff we will (I hope) never use. A sixth of the MoD's budget for this year would pay for two Olympics with something left over to invest in more facilities for the future. - but that's another debate!

[Rowan]

Well, I don't want to see our money wasted on it. I was against us winning the Games and I haven't changed my mind. The money could be much better spent (including on our athletes).

I'm all in favour of an austerity games. I really dislike the IOC issuing us with threats and will happily stick two fingers up to them.

[jennywales]

[Rowan]

[jennywales]

Does Rogge not think that with Lord Coe leading the team the Games will NOT be for the athletes? What on earth is the old fool going on about?

I cannot imagine how the IOC manages to produce such wastes of space. They should give themselves a gold medal for "artistic waste of space diving". And certainly give themselves lots of first class travel and accommodation. What I don't understand is what they actually contribute...

[lochsong]

Thanks for your responses.

I take your points.

The fact is that the 2012 Olympics is being held in London. It's the Olympics, not the Chertsey U12's athletic finals.

London wanted the Olympics, London have got the Olympics and now London have to deliver. Where has national pride gone? We have a national lottery don't we? Lots of money there.

We have 2 of, if not the best architects in the world - Lord Foster and Lord Rogers. Put them to work - I'm sure they can come up with iconic sustainable designs for the stadia needed.

You guys are so negative.

This is London's chance to shine. Show the world what they can do. Improve the transport infrastructure etc. Put on a spectacle that the world will regard with awe.

It'll be expensive, but it'll be worth it in the end. Otherwise it will cast the UK as down in the mouth misers.

Can't a 90,000 seat athletics stadium be turned into a football stadium? Just locate it in the place that needs one.

Finally, look at the results that have happened since money was pumped into the sports world in the UK - 19 yes 19 gold medals in China. Blimey!

The UK athletes are expecting something special to show off their talents in foe 2012. I would be embarrassed if all we gave them was a few sheds with burger vans outside.

OK I've said my bit.


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By the way, that's Master Minded jumping the last at Sandown.

[Rowan]

[alansouthcoast]

[lochsong]

And yet a lot of your money will be spent to impress.

Did you see the closing ceremonies?

Let's hope everyone contributes.


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By the way, that's Master Minded jumping the last at Sandown.

[Rowan]

[geordie_racer]

who can say that the performances of our athletes over the perio of the gmaes has not made them feel good?

I suspect quite a few people will want to take up tai kwon do; rowing, ccling etc

how much motre of an impact will it have b bringing the games here

and we will and must do it well

i want everything here;  olympics, world cup, world athletics, everything. why not?

of course it costs a few quid but so what?

i think the "i dont want the olympics here" and "dont want all this expense" twaddle is just killjoy tripe

the greatest sporting event on arth; the greatest shop window for any nation is to hlod the olympics

get behind the games and be prepared to spend a few quid in the proccess. it's worth it.
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Geordie_R
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