Big TV

The Scotsman reports that there is a row going on in Edinburgh over the placing of a £500K giant TV screen, ostensibly to be used to show the 2012 Olympics.

Not surprisingly people are not that keen to have such a monstrosity erected in view of their backyards.

Aside from the obvious waste of money, the unasked/unanswered question is what will be shown on the TV once the Olympics have finished?

Aesthetically "pleasing" commercials, or government propaganda films?

Either way a giant TV screen, costing £500K, is hardly a legacy worth boasting about is it?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Security

The former head of London Olympic security and former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Tarique Ghaffur, has put the cat amongst the pigeons by saying that time is running out to ensure that London 2012 is effectively policed and that the £600M security budget is inadequate.

Suffice to say the government disagrees, and claims that decisions will be made in the new year.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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A Shot in The Arm?

Tessa Jowell referred to the Olympics 2012 as being a "shot in the arm", whilst appearing on BBC Two's Daily Politics programme, at a time when Britain is expected to go into recession.

She noted:

"But, as it turns out, facing a recession deeper than any that we have known, almost certainly, the Olympics is, I mean, it's economic gold at a time of economic need."

Given that the out of control "budget" currently stands at £12BN (including £2BN running costs) and is likely to rise further, as private finance deals fall through, why is so much money being wasted on this white elephant which will not produce any meaningful legacy?

This waste of resources is more akin to a shot in the head, rather than a shot in the arm.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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VIP Lanes

Those of you who suffer the daily misery of commuting using the M25, A2, the A282 and the Dartford Crossing may be delighted to learn that certain lanes on these roads may be reserved for Olympic VIPs during the 2012 London Olympics.

Special priority VIP lanes on the roads that form the network will be used to allow athletes, officials, and media to move efficiently between venues during the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012.

I ma sure that the regular commuters on these roads will welcome this idea!

.Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Ross Resigns

David Ross, beleaguered ex director of the Carphone Warehouse, has quit all of his roles in the organisation of 2012 London Olympics.

He emailed Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and London mayor Boris Johnson resigning his various positions.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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A Tad Careless

How very careless of David Ross, co-founder of Carphone Warehouse, not to have told his fellow directors that he used £157M of his shares as collateral in 2006 and 2008.

How even more careless not to have told the boards of three other companies that he did the same with shares (approx value £50M) in them as well.

Suffice to say he has now resigned from Carphone Warehouse.

However, he has not yet resigned from the organising committee of the London Olympics, where his role is to assess the legacy of the Games and to ensure that Londoners get value for money.

Let us trust he does so before being subjected to a potential criminal investigation by the Financial Services Authority.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Security Costs To Rocket

Whilst plans for social housing and other Olympics 2012 "legacy" promises are being cut back, the "good" news is that security costs are going to rocket.

That at least is the view of Denis Oswald, the chairman of the IOC's co-ordination committee for London 2012 (as per The Telegraph).

"It's really a difficult budget.

Compared to previous Games, it is really rocketing."

Are these games really worth all the hassle and cost?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Tess Jowell Puts Her Foot In It - Again!

The hapless and hopeless Tessa Jowell has put her put into again, by lecturing so called "junk food" sponsors of the Olympics 2012.

Jowell, who spoke at a local government conference, said that companies such as Coca-Cola, Cadbury and McDonald's "need to be made aware" of increasing concern about healthy eating and childhood obesity.

The Guardian quotes her:

"[They] need to be made aware of the increasing concern about child obesity and the increasing possibility of their leadership to address the eating habits and sedentary way of life by encouraging exercise."

That may well be true.

However, if Jowell and the government are so concerned about "junk food" and the companies that sell it why are they so keen to receive sponsorship from these companies for the London Olympics?

Could it be the £50M funding shortfall in the £12BN plus Games?

Given that companies such as MacDonalds and Cadbury are mainly purveyors of burgers and chocolate, what exactly does she expect them to do - sell salads only?

When you sup with "the devil" use a long spoon.

For good measure, Jowell then said:

"There is no more money and as I have said before we are on time and on budget."

Errmmm...no you are not!

Thee original budget was around £3BN, it now stands at £12BN (including running costs) how can she possibly claim that the Games are on budget?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Enormous Piss Up

ZaNu Labour would still have us believe that the 2012 London Olympics (currently budgeted to cost us £12BN, including £2BN running costs) will produce tangible benefits for the ordinary people of Britain (not just those executives involved in the IOC/LOCOG and marketing/property development companies).

However, a report detailed today in The Times states that the Games are nothing more than an excuse for a "national celebration because the economic rationale is weak" in order to boost morale (much like third world dictatorships use national events to divert the attention of the people from reality).

The real irony in this 250 page report, commissioned by Bliar's DCMS and entitled Game Plan, is the date on which it was published - December 2002.

The only reason that it is coming to light now is that fact that Bliar and the hapless/hopeless Tessa Jowell all but sat on it, permitting only a handful of people to read it.

Why is Jowell still "in charge" of the Games?

Why are we still pushing ahead with them?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Moaning Moynihan

The Times reports that Lord Moynihan is moaning that that the target of fourth place in the 2012 London Olympics medal table for Team GB will slip to 8th, if budget cuts of up to £79M are pushed through.

Quote:

"We will be deeply disappointed this week if the Government moves away from their commitment.

To give our Olympic and Paralympic athletes the best chance of success in 2012, the full investment programme agreed by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor must be honoured in full."

So what?

We are facing the worst recession in decades, there are far better uses for the money than the Olympics.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"