Right...The Olympics
Discussion
OK so the Olympics is upon as but am I the only one who isn't swept up in the whole thing, in fact I'd go one step further and say I think it's a colossal waste of time and money. There, I've said it. Now before everyone gets all hot and bothered about National Pride etc, while I agree that the chance to host a worldwide event should normally be something to be proud of I'll state my case.
Firstly the UK is once again in a second recession in as many years, the economy is in trouble and years of irresponsible public spending plus bailing out the banks means that the country is in a whole heap of debt. Massive public sector cuts are being implemented, most in very important areas like health, policing and education to try to reign in the deficit so given all that, was it really a good idea to waste billions of pounds that we can't really afford on hosting a sporting event?
Secondly it is now the start of a months worth of travel chaos, roads have been closed, our aging transport system which is already creaking at the seams won't be able to cope with an extra million visitors and we will have in effect clogged the arteries of London causing disruption to the very people who work in London and actually shoulder a large percentage of this countries tax bill.
A quick straw pole in the office I am working in at the moment would indicate that I am not alone in these thoughts and for people who work in the city, it is mostly being seen as a huge pain in the ar*e.
So in the words of the Chris Harris, tell me I'm worng.
Firstly the UK is once again in a second recession in as many years, the economy is in trouble and years of irresponsible public spending plus bailing out the banks means that the country is in a whole heap of debt. Massive public sector cuts are being implemented, most in very important areas like health, policing and education to try to reign in the deficit so given all that, was it really a good idea to waste billions of pounds that we can't really afford on hosting a sporting event?
Secondly it is now the start of a months worth of travel chaos, roads have been closed, our aging transport system which is already creaking at the seams won't be able to cope with an extra million visitors and we will have in effect clogged the arteries of London causing disruption to the very people who work in London and actually shoulder a large percentage of this countries tax bill.
A quick straw pole in the office I am working in at the moment would indicate that I am not alone in these thoughts and for people who work in the city, it is mostly being seen as a huge pain in the ar*e.
So in the words of the Chris Harris, tell me I'm worng.
So what is the cost of the olympics? Minus any profits made from sponsorship, tv deals, tourism, sales from local merchants, british airlines, the fact it will advertise britain as a holiday destination to the world etc of course.
And the fact it's bloody good fun to watch.
Then we can make a true assessment of whether it was worth it or not.
PS Remember all the money paid to people involved in the construction and organising of the games (a very large proportion of the budget)
a) mostly will be spent in this country anyway, so no net effect to the economy
b) some will be paid back to the goverment as taxes and therefore will not have made any difference to the balance
And the fact it's bloody good fun to watch.
Then we can make a true assessment of whether it was worth it or not.
PS Remember all the money paid to people involved in the construction and organising of the games (a very large proportion of the budget)
a) mostly will be spent in this country anyway, so no net effect to the economy
b) some will be paid back to the goverment as taxes and therefore will not have made any difference to the balance
Edited by bennett346 on Thursday 26th July 20:46
t hit the fan... I very much doubt that the UK could have just walked away from the deal in 2008 when things started to go awry...rich1231 said:
You know the Original Poster moniker you get by your name if you start a thread? Probably inappropriate for your post.
I take it this topic has already been covered then, hmmm I visit PH almost daily and hadn't seen one so I guess I must have missed it. It's just with it starting tomorrow, it's brought home to me what a crap month it's going to be for Londoners who actually work for living in the City. Luckily I will miss the latter half of it as I like a lot of Londoners will be going away in August.As for how much money it will make, somehow I doubt that we'll get back the £9billion+ we've spent on it already. I'd also like to ask if any of the posters so far actually work in London? I suspect that might have a bearing on how brilliant you think the whole thing will be.
I've decided to stop whinging now and just try to enjoy it. It's not going away, so f*ck it - Might as well try to like it.
Unless of course it completely f*cks the traffic on the M25 tomorrow.....................
It took my mate 2 hours to do what is usually a 45 minute drive home from work today. I must admit I am quite glad I don't live IN London any more.
Unless of course it completely f*cks the traffic on the M25 tomorrow.....................
It took my mate 2 hours to do what is usually a 45 minute drive home from work today. I must admit I am quite glad I don't live IN London any more.
GTIR said:
You don't care for the Olympics so much so that you start a detailed thread about it?
You sir are a gold medal cock.
I didn't say I didn't care. I care in that I think it's a waste of money and that it will royally mess up Londoners journeys to work for the next month. Besides I thought having a good rant was still allowed on Pistonheads which qualifies your comment for at least a silver medal in the cock Olympics, I'll save a place for you on the podium shall I? You sir are a gold medal cock.
Guvernator said:
GTIR said:
You don't care for the Olympics so much so that you start a detailed thread about it?
You sir are a gold medal cock.
I didn't say I didn't care. I care in that I think it's a waste of money and that it will royally mess up Londoners journeys to work for the next month. Besides I thought having a good rant was still allowed on Pistonheads which qualifies your comment for at least a silver medal in the cock Olympics, I'll save a place for you on the podium shall I? You sir are a gold medal cock.
GTIR said:
Who gives a toss about Londoners man!
Aha, I thought this might be the prevailing attitude of people who don't live here. Fair enough, I guess the transport problems don't really effect you so it's just something else to watch on telly. You do of course realise though that the money which was spent on this has probably been cut from other more useful public sector services don't you?To be quite honest I really couldn't care less about the Olympics, have no interest in it, and frankly the money IDE of it is quite scary!. Also, as far as I can see London struggles to cope with its own traffic, let alone when we have an apparent extra 11 million people in the city. I think we're done for!
I concur a colossal waste of money and how the transport will cope down your way I have no idea, rather you than me. I have no interest in any of the sports undertaken during the rest of the year so find it very difficult to get excited about it now, however ladies beach volleyball does look entertaining
AndyBrew said:
I concur a colossal waste of money and how the transport will cope down your way I have no idea, rather you than me. I have no interest in any of the sports undertaken during the rest of the year so find it very difficult to get excited about it now, however ladies beach volleyball does look entertaining
If you're not interested in the sport why not just watch porn rather than beach volleyball?AndyBrew said:
however ladies beach volleyball does look entertaining
There was some lesbian harridan on Radio 2 earlier complaining that men will only be watching the volleyball to perv at the women and how it's degrading and sexist and mysogynistic and all that clap-trap.I put my foot through the wireless and sent Jeremy Vine the bill.
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