£81million for the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Olympics. The government have just doubled the budget for something that will last for just a few minutes.
I despair............for everyone out of work or waiting for medical treatment, I despair.
I think it would be better if all participating countries paid a sum into a central pot to have a permanent olympic venue in Greece would help support their economy and at least we'd get something from it and it stops all the fighting and fussing every few years.
I like the Olympics, fair shout to them, it's just the whole thing seems a bit like holding a party on the top decks while the engine room floods shortly before the ship goes down.
I still think its a great opportunity for us to attend the games by hosting it and the area in London has benefited in part from the development. Its the £81m on the ceremonies that I find astounding. £80m of that £81m is likely to go up in a puff of fireworks with the proceeds going back to China from whom we bought them.
I am still ''on the list of possibles'' as a volunteer in Press Operations for London 2012. No definate idea yet but I got an email last week saying I was still in the running. (not literally)
Great idea Rowan, they need the money and they already have a venue, at least they should have finished their arena by then.
Not running with the torch then Eddie.
I remember The Festival of Britain was regarded as an extravagance in a time of austerity by some. As things turned out it was wonderful, not least because the RFH which a group of us haunted for years. Ditto the London Olympics post war. This one will be the white elephant we shall all regret.