|
Jacque Rogge the president of the IOC is in London along with 400 executives from other nations, the picture in the capital is bleak, support for the Games is low and money is tight, is time we considered a u-turn on the 2012 games? by John Kaponi
The comment by Jacques Rogge the president of the International Olympic Committee that “London faced a challenge to deliver 2012 Olympic Games” is the understatement of recent times, given the massive economic and social problems facing Londoners. This week will see London host an international conference for 400 executives from the IOC and future host cities and an analysis of the Beijing Games will be made, with the backdrop of an ever worsening global economy.
With problems that have been caused by the lack of "liquidity" in the banking system here in the UK and internationally this has meant plans in London like the decision to scale down the media centre and the Olympic Village, with reports in September this year claiming that banks are reigning in their lending. 2012 bosses are worried that contractors, Carillion Igloo, will not be able to finance their £200 million contribution to the broadcast and press centre.
If funding falls through the ODA will have to go cap in hand to the government to raid the £1 billion contingency fund - four years before the games begin.
Rogge who spoke in London last night was still confident the Games would not be a failure and said:
"I am conscious that we came out of the enormous success of Beijing, into difficult economic times."
Indeed the Mayor of London has said repeatedly with the Government that the Games will be delivered for £9.3 billion, with an emphasis on sustainability and legacy. Building venues that will be used after the Games and will be utilisied by the local community; this is the ethos for 2012.
What is now happening in London and what should concern the IOC and the ODA is the level of public opposition to the 2012 Games, with many now calling for the event to be cancelled or London to "give back" the Games.
A London Daily News poll carried out several months ago asked "How would you describe the staging of the 2012 Olympic Games in the city?" 48 % per cent said "I am totally against the 2012 games in London".
John Kennedy a black cab driver and BBC London contributor and columnist in the London Daily News said:
"London doesn't need these games and I bit my tongue recently and decided to back the games because it was the right thing to do. Well after Tessa Jowell MP admitted the Government wouldn't have bid if they knew the economy was heading for recession, the right thing to do is scrap London 2012 and hand the games along with the flag back to the International Olympic Committee. Maybe we could have a handing the flag back ceremony and hold it on April the 1st next year because between Livingstone and Jowell we the public have been taken for a real ride, treated like fools, made to believe a Olympic games would improve the lot of the millions of people who live here in the UK in poverty."
With the ever worsening economy in London and estimated 350,000 job losses in the capital, home repossessions and small businesses failures at record levels, who is going to publicly justify higher council tax bills so that London can have more swimming pools? Please show your hands!
photo credit: UK Sport Government press office
|
