to think that with all the talk of benefit caps and cuts, a TRILLION national debt.11 BILLION spend on the Olympics

[therehastobemore]

is a fucking joke

FFS

i was involved in local politics in 2005 and i did contact my MP among other saying we couldn't afford it, we needed to invest in local sport facilities for people across the country and pointing out that other countries seem to have invested badly when it came to the olympics

I was told not to worry (I still worried) that local facilities would improve as more people wanted to invest in sport and leisure and that great use would be made of the new facilities afterwards..

So when we had problems with a local swimming pool we duly applied to Sport England and got turned down because most of the money was being diverted to the olympics. Then it happened again with another. We now have the only 2 pools that a very deprived and large community could easily access closed because no one can find the cash to resolve the matter - money that would previously have come from Sports England. tell me how the olympics are helping because it beats me. A waste of money unless you're lucky enough how to live in that East London area where massive investment is being made at the expense of the rest of the country. or you actually want tickets.

Waste of time and money lots of better things to spend it on and I only hope I'm proved wrong

I can't help but look back to the commonwealth games and see the benefits that Manchester still enjoys.

The investment into infrastructure is one that would otherwise not be made, and will be hugely beneficial to a huge number of people. Sponsorship generates such a massive amount of revenue for the games, and they are paying for exposure on the worlds biggest stage. No opening or closing ceremony (which are both watched by millions) wouldn't be an option. The more exposure generated, the more money is invested.

If that is true about the village being sold to the Qatari royal family, I imaging they've paid a pretty penny, and won't leave it dormant afterwards.

And in terms of national debt, we are seen to be in a stronger position than a lot of our counterparts as our debt is serviceable. We aren't defaulting, nor in a position whereby a default is likely. Cuts to the budget ensure that our position is maintained. If this money wasn't being spent on the games it wouldn't be invested in health services or social payments - they are funded by an entirely different system and budget. And Sports England have to contribute to the games. How can they not, and maintain their position of investing in sports for our youngsters???

And arguing about the cost of the games is a moot point as none of us know the breakdown of costs in terms of exactly who is liable for what.

YANBU