Forum Topic

Do we want the OLYMPIC GAMES in London?

Lord COE seems to want our support in his bid for the Olympic Games to be staged in London. I don't know how to react to this one. Do we really need a major event in London in 2012? I'm UNDECIDED on this question. Please convince me one way or the other. :-o

Gerry Tan ● 7431d10 Comments

I used to work near to the old stadium, as it then was, and I am sure glad I live in Brentford. I really agree with your view on ticket allocations. I suppose I had better get a job with a large corporation interested in sports if I want to see any games there. The traffic around wembley will also return to nightmare proportions and if London gets the Olympics, I am getting a bicycle?

Ian Campbell Barr ● 7430d

I tend to think, as has already been said, that I doubt if we coubt if we could get the infrastructure in place,on time /budget as it is without paying extra council tax for years. You often find that at these sort of sporting events,like the World cup or European Championships,that the average punters (you and me who pay for it)are frozen out of ticket allocations for the later, more interesting stages like semi-finals and finals.I for one, also think that this and previuos governments are far too London-centric . Why have a national football stadium in London?The game was developed in the North West of England,10 of the first 12 teams in the league were from Lancashire. The First Division(now Premiership) has only been won outside the north or the midlands a handful of times since the war.Why,if Newcastle met Everton in the FA cup final uld thousands of supporters have to travel all day to see their teams. It's not as if Wembley(the town)is worth visiting...it's a dump.Italy does not have a national stadium at all,they allow supporters from all parts of the country to see the national team by playing at different venues around the country.It doesn't seem to have done their form any harm(3 world cups).

Keith Iddon ● 7430d

Of course, the rail network was sold off and ruined; then we had to buy it back to stop it being ruined any further. Someone is making a nice profit and it isn't the public? I know that Ken is in charge of the tube - so i will blame him anyway. What a mess?

Ian Campbell Barr ● 7430d

On mainline trains, private companies lease the rolling stock to run services. The infrastructure is owned by the renationalised Network Rail.I think it works the other way roundon the tube.

Paul Davis ● 7430d

Err the planning was a "dog's breakfast" but since its started it's been going along very nicely.It is a multi-sports stadium. Football and Rugby will be the two sports that will use it 99% of the time and rightly so as they are the most popular and generate the most income.It's pointless building a multi-million pound stadium for a once in a century Athletics event. The planned Olympic Stadium for 2012 will itself be dismantled to a 25,000 capacity once the games have finished.

Paul Davis ● 7430d

Oh come on - what a dog's breakfast it has been, why wasn't the opportunity taken to make it a multi-sports stadium? As it is it's for football, football or football, a complete waste of money, and look at the time it's been dragging on -when you think a housing estate is built in a few months, this is plainly ludicrous. If all the other stuff needed to stage an Olympics was this protracted 2012 would be too soon!

Vanessa Smith ● 7431d

I think the answer to your question should be: if you don't mind paying for it? After all, your taxes will go up to reflect the costs incurred in staging the Olympics. Personally speaking, I don't mind paying a few extra quid but Ken is likely to get his sums wrong;we will run late on the build and, ultimately, that few extra quid will rise and rise. Therefore, no thanks. If I could trust the people doing the sums I would go for it. Alas, I cannot. As for the transport problems; don't private companies own the bulk of our transport ifrastructure, and if so, why on earth are the public paying for it?

Ian Campbell Barr ● 7431d

Wembley's rebuild is a total shambles? On budget and ahead of schedule according to the builders, Multiplex.

Paul Davis ● 7431d

Yep. It's the only way the agencies in charge of London are going to find the impetus to fix the transport problems and also fix the blight that is East London.

Paul Davis ● 7431d

Not sure I can help you on this one as I cannot make up my own mind! The reason for this is that, (and I feel awful)  I don't think we could get our act together to actually build all the infrastructure etc. that would be required to have a successful Games. When you consider the hoo-ha over the Dome and the fact that Wembley's rebuild is a total shambles, could we get things in on time and on budget? Rather than look stupid or end up paying for ever and ever I would pass on this. I do love the Olympics and would love to be able to attend some of the events, but I do have this nagging doubt.

Vanessa Smith ● 7431d