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Mayor Boris Johnson has been told to quit "meddling" in the rows over the location of 2012 Olympic events. Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford called Johnson's demands that the shooting venue be moved to Barking "ill -judged." The Mayor is leading an "austerity games" charge and has repeatedly called on his 2012 colleagues to find savings - £10m could be cut from the bulging budget if the event is stripped from Woolwich's Royal Artillery Barracks. The Labour MP fired off the two page broadside to City Hall yesterday as fears rise that his constituency could lose out in any budget cuts, he argues that the loss would hurt the local economy hard and lead to "great disappointment."
Flat pack games
2012 is running the risk of being known as the flat-pack Olympics, 17 sports will have no bricks-and-mortar legacy at the end of once in a generation sports festival. Organisers say they are simply following International Olympic Committee to avoid being landed with any 'white elephants'. The troubles in securing a permanent tenant for the main Olympic stadium have been well documented. British Shooting is even contemplating seeking a judicial review of the decision to stage the competition at Woolwich, instead of investing in a permanent legacy at Bisley, in Surrey. This week the International Olympic Committee told London organisers they need to finalise venues for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at the Games. "I have to express a concern that three years before the Games their venue has not been finalised," chief co-ordinator for the Games Denis Oswald said. However, London's chief executive Paul Deighton has moved to allay his fears. "We are finalising our venue masterplan working with the two sports and we will have this resolved by the end of the year," he said.
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