London Olympics 2012 - Will it be fab or a disaster?

[Earlybird]

The more I watch the Beijing Olympics, the more I wonder if London will be ready to host the Olympics in 2012. I keep thinking of how it took years to build Wembley Stadium, it ran months (years?) late, and the costs skyrocketed - and that was one site!

Will London pull it together for a fab event in 2012, or are the next 4 years of preparation going to be an anxious and possibly painful time? Anyone know how far along they are in planning/building the various sites? Will hosting the event be a blessing or a curse for the city and the entire country?

[Roskva]

It's so far over budget all ready, that I think it's going to be a financial disaster on an even grander scale than the dome. Oh, and to make life even more fun, choose one of the most inaccessible areas of London, on the wrong side of the city for easy access to the rest of the country.

And why didn't they recycle the said dome as part of the scheme - at least the thing is already built and has transport access in place, and is standing empty costing the tax payer a fortune...

And it's not promoting sport at grass roots level, because too much funding is already being diverted to the building project.

But maybe I'll wake up in 4 years' time and be pleasantly surprised

[SqueakyPop]

I don't have any doubt that we can pull off a fantastic Olympics.

I am really excited about it and will be volunteering my services

[MaureenMLove]

It will be fabulous. And the Dome isn't stood empty, its the top place for concerts from all the top bands and there's loads going on there. Its an amazing place to be.

Speaking as someone from South London, I admit, that atm the access to East London isn't great, but they are certainly making great progress in connecting East with South and also to the rest of the country.

The people of this country are far too keen to put a downer on things. Maybe if we were all a little more positive, then we could enjoy the excitement and wonderful things that the Olympics will bring.

I am not very good on the political and financial side of these sorts of things, but I do have a passion for this country and I am confident and excited about the whole thing.

This country will put on a show to be proud of and I, for one, will be there to witness it!

[SqueakyPop]

When we had the Commonwealth Gamea in Edinburgh in 1986, the country was gloomy about them before and during. I was a volunteer during them (bus driving for the Scotland team), and it was fab. Anyone that was actually involved knew the true story.

I have no doubt that the London Olympics will be the best ever. A lot of the stories coming from Beijing about atmosphere, rent-a-crowd, etc, will not exist in London.

[MaureenMLove]

Well we'll be there Squeaky. Our glasses are half full and I'm down for volunteering too!

[SqueakyPop]

I'm just hoping that they will take a 47 year old old-bag!

[MaureenMLove]

I'll be a meer pup at 44!

[SqueakyPop]

I live near Heathrow, and I'm sure they will need women-of-a-certain-age to welcome atheletes and spectators

Or I could work at Eton Dorney on the rowing events.

[Peachy]

I'd agree with Maureen

look at how we're doing in this olympics: the energy from that will carry through.

[edam]

It'll be a bloody nightmare for anyone who lives in London, works in London or has cause to be in London for any other reason. Apparently they will have special car lanes for 'Olympic officials' and VIPs. As if the roads of our capital city aren't overcrowded enough already. Cheeky gits.

[spudmasher]

Good question Earlybird. I am trying so hard to be positive but I have little trust in the authorities presiding over the whole project.All sorts of rumours are flying around but what worries me most is what will happen to the area after the olympics. So far a big fat nothing has been planned it seems. Also the cost is enormous. All sorts of charities seem to be missing out at the moment. All money is being channelled into sport. Lots of cuts in the arts and organisations like The London Bubble are having funding cut. A coincidence? Communication is the key. I live not a million miles fro the main site and so far we have been given only pr stuff. I would feel much happier if it were all transparent- accounts and everything in a leaflet posted through my letter box.

[fishie]

[local spy] buildings are going up and (more importantly) a waitrose food & home is to open in stratford.

it will be great. what do volunteers do?

[choosyfloosy]

I'm signed up to volunteer too (i.e. am on email list from 2012 website), though it's occurred to me that I have practically zero language skills. Best volunteer job for me = cleaning toilets, while excellent multilingual squad of not-educated-here people do the welcoming stuff.

[buffs cistern]

I think it'll be great. Watching the Beijing opening ceremony was fantastic, but I so hope they go for something completely different in London - a daylong music festival, for example.

[MaureenMLove]

No idea Fishie! I just signed up on the 2012 website. I get newsletters every month or so and info on things that are going on between now and then. There's a whole host of parties going on, next weekend, when the torch is handed to UK.