Forum Topic

What could we have done with 9.3billion pounds?

Which is what Boris says the Olympics have cost us?

Penny Crocker ● 5043d8 Comments

The figure which "staggered" Margaret Hodge (remember her, a member of the governmnet which grossly underestimatede the cost of staging the games) on 9th March when the doubling of security budgets was announced to the House of Commons, was £535million.As security at the Athens Olympics in 2004 was finally costed at a figure 'in excess of £1billion (sources Guardian and NYT) the latest London figure is probably a woeful underestimate.

Nigel Brooks ● 5042d

Where did you hear that Eric?

Keith Iddon ● 5042d

Rumour has it that the London Olympics 2012 budget is £800 million.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5042d

It also doesn't include the security bill which Labour 'forgot to include'!!!

Nigel Brooks ● 5042d

I assume that is the direct cost to date, and does not include unexpected extras or indirect costs to residents and businesses, including resulting business failures.

Chris Bell ● 5043d

Or even a budgie.

Keith Iddon ● 5043d

If Blair and Browns liars had been honest with us about the real cost (they said "around £2Billion"; and remember the dome fiasco and the NHS 'supercomputer?) we would probably never have bid and let the French pay for it.Only goes to prove that yu can't trust Labour with a budget.

Nigel Brooks ● 5043d

Well, we could have built swimming pools and so many sports facilities that would have encouraged kids to take up sports for years to come, not just the juration of the olympics. I know I sound 'ba humbug' but with an obesity epedemic looming, which the NHS cant cope with, I think the money could have been better spent. Having said that, I hope the olympics doesnt encourage to many ealing residents to go swimming because gurnell just couldnt cope!

Marie Shelly ● 5043d