Remind me, Why is "Britain" hosting the Olympics?

Question

I'm pretty sure that my wee part of Scotland will not see any economic or social improvement, yet we'll be paying for it for years and years.
Haven't they learned from the Millenium Dome?

Answer 1

If anyone thinks that the Olympics will bring financial benefit, they are living in cloud cuckoo land. Australia is still paying for it and all those little villages in Greece that were supposed to benefit, still haven't seen anything yet. The cost has already gone up ten-fold and there's 4 years to go yet. Just how much is it all going to cost by the time 2012 gets here? I also doubt very much if anyone 5 miles north of London will see any rewards. As I have already said, the Olympics should always be held in Greece where it originated from. All it needs is for participating countries to make a financial contribution and there would be no need to keep tearing peoples homes down to build new Olympic villages every 4 years.

Answer 2

I just love the way we Brits moan and bellyache about every major project. Millennium Dome? Did any of the moaners actually go there and experience it? The Scottish Parliament? We have an absolutely outstanding building that is a real focal point, would you rather they met in a second-rate supermarket-like shed? (second-rate building for a second-rate country?)

What's wrong with standing up and saying this is going to be a good thing? Focus of the world and all that? Standing on the sidelines throwing insults is neither big nor clever.



Everyone is saying how dreadful it is that China is hosting the Olympics this year, but the excitement and support for the Olympics among the ordinary people of Beijing is obvious to onlookers.



Forget Tibet, I think it's a disgrace that the Olympics are being hosted by a country whose citizens don't appreciate it and do nothing but moan about the cost.

Answer 3

You could ask "Why does England continue to subsidise Scotland to the level they do, when all they do is moan about every last little ******* thing? They're all for seperation, why not give it and watch them sink entirely without a trace before they drag us under?" - I wouldn't ask that, of course.



A global event which attracts interest from every corner of the globe is a great idea, bring on the World Cup afterwards and anything else going - why not? You won't be paying for it for years, it'll be barely noticeable to you and if it hadnt been mentioned you wouldnt have noticed it at all, I suspect. It will provide focus for development in an area that needs it, provide targets for our youth and aspiring sportsmen and women, provide recognition for the sports arena, clubs and societies... it is the stuff of the memories of our old age... what is not to like about it?



Oh, ffs, Londoners will of course benefit most form the games, but they will also be paying most for the games... the games themselves will not be held purely in London and to think anyone coming from abroad is going to spend money here that will stay purely in London is a very naive thing to think. Furthermore, London does happen to support the rest of the UK to a massive extent (like it or not, its true!) so to support it in this time isnt a bad thing frankly. I don't live in London, far from it.



If its the price which really bothers you, how much do our little "peace-keeping" forays around the world cost? How many euro-fighters would the Olympics pay for? Here you go... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/24/ndefence124.xml that should put the £10 billion for the Olympics into perspective a little shouldnt it? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/22/nolympic22.xml

These are both taken from the Telegraph, about the most anti-government source (even though the government has little to do with the Olympics, I understand a lot of you seem to think they are the source of everything bad in this country) I could think of... so should provide a fair bit of balance on it!

Answer 4

It has been proved and stated that the 2012 Olympics

will not e beneficial to any one but Southern England, but

we as council tax payers will have to shell out in our tax

for Souther comforts and revenue gained from of the

backs of the rest of the UK.Same old story London

first last and foremost.Same with Lottery hand outs.

Answer 5

It is all part of The Great Leader's Legacy. Dear Tony also got us involved in more stupid wars than any British politician since Palmerston at the height of the Empire. He also got us up to our arm-pits in European Human Rights legislation so we cannot even expel the murderous thugs who slipped in here through Blair's porous borders. What a joy New Labour has been!

Answer 6

The Dome is one thing lets just wait till 2014 when the Olympic Village is finished before we decide.

Answer 7

Well sweetheart remember in Scotland you get:



Free prescription for many (Free to everyone by 2011)

Free cancer drugs (not available in England)

Free school dinners for children 4-7,

Free university education,

Free care for the elderly in their home

Free eye tests

Free dental check up.



We do not get the above in England mate.



Do you want me to go on?? So never complain about Scotland paying for anything in England.



I however think the UK can not afford the games.

Answer 8

Couldn't agree more and I'm welsh so the same applies. What i say is Independence for Wales and Scotland and we can remain close friends and ignore the English and their defaults. Why should we pay and they benefit?

And then they have the cheek to say we are the ones being subsidized. When our coal industry and your oil drove their economies because they took out and never gave back.

Answer 9

You're assuming the Olympics ultimately costs money, maybe in the long term you can make money out of it with tourism etc.



There is no doubt that in the long term Barcelona benefited from the Olympics.

Answer 10

"Haven't they learned from the Millenium Dome?".



What, that it's now one of best live music venues in the world, now called the O2 Arena?



Do your research you pillock.

Answer 11

I think the Olympics will bring some profits. Tourism, broadcast rights, retail boom, banking profits, construction business, etc.

Answer 12

Because we're loaded and have billions to throw away.Thank

your fellow Scots for them.

Answer 13

you are right, I'm in London I will not see any economic benefit just increased taxes!

Answer 14

Well said Mrs M, I completely agree with you.

Your answer is spot on. :)

Answer 15

If its anything like the Terminal 5 farce it should be HILARIOUS...

Answer 16

Do you think the Midlands will benefit ?

I don't.