Rip Off Tourism Industry

The British tourism industry, never shy to rip people off, is no doubt rubbing its hands in glee waiting for the 2012 London Games.

Jerome Touze, of Where Are You Now?, believes that accommodation costs are "extortionate":

"For people who will be coming from other countries where their economy isn't very strong, how will they feel coming to a country where the cost of accommodation is extortionate?"

Indeed there can be little doubt that the cost/quality of many hotels in London is a disgrace. The Olympics will provide them an opportunity to rip people off even further.

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"

Lottery Money Syphoned Off

The lottery company's, Camelot, official records show that it passed on £1.258BN to the lottery's Good Causes fund in 2007/08.

Out of that, the cash strapped Olympics 2012 (ie the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund) received £147M.

Why is lottery money being used to prop up this white elephant?

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"