Money

The Guardian reports that some of Britain's top athletes, swimmers and cyclists are still refusing to sign a sponsorship scheme that has been designed to plug a £50M funding gap.

Seemingly they are concerned that they will sign away their rights to earn money from their own sponsorship deals, ie they feel that they can make more money elsewhere.

All very well, but did they not get to their "elevated" sporting positions by using taxpayers' money?

Isn't it time they gave a little back?

I thought that it was simply the thrill of taking part that mattered!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympic Tickets Costs Rise

Unsurprisingly statements made in 2004 by Lord Coe, that the minimum cost of tickets to see the London Olympics 2012 would be around £15 are proving to be a tad exaggerated.

Olympics organisers have back peddled on the £15 starting price, and now say that the price quoted by Lord Coe was based on Dollars and therefore the price has now moved upwards.

Needless to say, the organisers still claim that the tickets will be "highly affordable".

We shall see.

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"

Boris Was Right

Boris Johnson was right, when he proudly declared in Beijing that "ping pong is coming home".

Quarterly tracking figures from Sport England show that, of the 31 sports measured according to how many people played them at least once a week, only table tennis recorded an increase. Nine (including football, rugby and gymnastics) showed a decline.

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"

Police Powers

It seems that ZaNuLabour have given the police some quite extraordinary powers in the run up to the 2012 London Olympics. The police will be entitled to enter private homes and seize political posters during the London 2012 Olympics.

Those who break the rules could be fined up to £20K.

The powers were introduced by the Olympics Act 2006, and passed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in theory to preserve the monopoly of official advertisers on the London 2012 site.

The powers allow advertising posters or hoardings placed in shop or home to be removed. However, as with all ZaNuLabour legislation, it has been drafted so "broadly" that it also includes 'non-commercial material' - which could include legitimate campaign literature.

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"

Terrorist Contingency Fund

The organisers of the London 2012 Olympics have released £19M from the £2BN contingency fund, in order to improve the protection of Olympic sites from terrorist attack.

Of the £2BN contingency fund, £700M has been released.

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"

Contemptuous Arrogance and Greed

In a display of arrogance and greed, the organisers of London 2012 have threatened to sue a removal company.

Their crime?

Since inception, 22 years ago, Olympic Removals have used the Olympic rings logo on its vans.

Needless to say, because the Olympics 2012 is primarily about money, those in charge of it are spoiling for a fight with anyone who has the "temerity" to infringe on the "hallowed" and "revered" "trademark" of the Olympics.

Founder/owner of Olympics Removals, Steve Tanner said:

"We are not going to be bullied. This is all about money.

It's disgusting. The Olympics used to be about more than money – the whole spirit has been lost."

Were it possible, given that the word "Olympics" is also trade marked, you can be sure that the Olympics organisers would try to charge everyone whoever used the word in speech or written form.

The Olympics is about money, not sport.

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"

Snouts In The Trough

How reassuring to see that, despite the current recession and a budget that is out of control, those tasked with keeping the costs of the London Olympics 2012 under control are making sure that they are personally not in danger of facing any undue financial hardship.

CLM, a consortium of surveyors overseeing the Olympic construction project, received £151M last year (double what had been previously paid).

On top of this largess to the consultants, Olympic bosses found the time and the funds to award themselves some very generous pay rises.

Staff at the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) took home £30M, including £2M of bonuses. David Higgins, CEO, received took home £537K (generously deferring half of his £201K bonus until 2012).

Howard Shiplee, director of construction, claimed £19,343 in expenses, including £11,478 on hotels and nearly £2,280 on taxis.

It is reassuring to know that those who are running this "venture" on behalf of the taxpayer, really know and understand the true value of money.

Our money safe in their hands!

Yes?

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"

Cuts

Over £20M per annum, for the next 3 years, will be cut from the London budget to cover irregularities in the 2012 Olympics accounts.

The black hole (estimated at being between £60M-£100M) in the accounts means that the London Development Agency, the Mayor of London's economic and business unit, does not have sufficient reserves to cover compensatory commitments owed to businesses forcibly relocated from the Olympic Park.

KPMG are conducting a forensic investigation into the irregularities, and will issue a report at the end of July.

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"