To be horrified at the cost of the olympics opening ceremony when the country is in the middle of a huge recession?

[YellowDinosaur]

I just found out today that the olympics opening ceremony is costing 27 million quid.

Dh and I are sitting watching it and while it has been very cleverly done so far there is bugger all to do with sport.

Why the fuck has so much money been spent on bloody political one up manship in staging this and what on earth is wrong with lighting the torch, having a small amount of music and letting the athletes parade in?

I mean 27 million is a truly offensive amount of money for 1 evening at the best of times but in the middle of a bloody recession it's just a smack in the face.

I am happy for my views to be challenged and will even change them if anyone can give me convincing too why this expensed is justified. Not,holding nth breath though...

Ok hit post too soon -

Last paragraph should say ...if anyone can give me convincing arguments as too why this expense is justified. Not holding my breath though...

Sometimes these things just have to be done!!

It was a commitment made before the recession. Would you prefer it to be crap and done on a shoestring and make us look rubbish to the rest of the world?

YABU

27 million is a drop in the ocean.

Yanbu, I'm horrified at the cost of the entire thing. £7bn would have done a lot for homelessness and fuel poverty this winter

The commitment made was for 3 billion. Which got increased to 9 billion after the bid was won, and then when they only spent 8 apparently they had come in under budget.

So I don't expect them to spend peanuts but I do expect them to come in on budget and not take the proverbial!

Overspending by this amount in any normal job would have you fired!

They are putting on a spectacular show for the rest of the world. Money will be more than recouped with international telly revenues, money spent by tourists, (both during the games and in future), etc.

YABU

Bread and circuses - you need a bit of fun. 27 million is nothing really but if it goes well the feel good factor is massive

Now if the queen and prince Phillip had just parachuted out of that helicopter it would have been worth the money!

Early bird although I get the tourism argument this is in London and the rest of the country will gain very very little

YANBU

I can't even watch it. I hate the thought of it costing so much money when as someone has pointed out there are plenty of other ways this money could have been spent.

Some of my fb friends have been going on about how great it is, the same ones who moan that they've got to wait for a hospital referral etc.

The whole NHS thing enrages me, after what this government is doing to the NHS, and my trust being one of 20 trusts in the south west who have paid £10k to join a pay cartel to reduce all staff wages by up to 15% from band 1 up,, rendering it impossible to move to another trust in the area (if you don't like it you get sacked then rehired at the lower rate).

In case anyone is confused, this is £200,000 which should be spent on patient care being paid to screw their staff.

But hey, let's all enjoy the opening ceremony......

My point exactly. I'll also be affected by this shifting lard.

The same with all the chimneys.... There's nothing left of
Britains manufacturing industry!

I also work for the nhs which is part of why it fucks me right off!

I'm willing to bet that selling the television rights around the world will earn more than £27million...

I work with dementia patients. On my last night shift, there were only 2 clean sheets in the linen cupboard and a ward with over 20 incontinent patients as the trust are screwing down on laundry bills. These patients are all dear to someone, they deserve better. But hey, the NHS must be something to be proud of to figure so largely in the ceremony!!

Mental health services are shocking. My son had to wait 9 months to see CAMHS, what a joke!

Earn who £27 million exactly Bobyan?

Yes Shiftinglard, but if we ever get to do it again the NHS won't feature because it will be privatised by then!!!
can't get my head round why they can spend so much money on this when I said good bye to a close colleague today who is moving teams as ours is too large in the new model yet we are running round like blue arsed flies trying to support an aging population!!!
and don't get me started if I have to look at that overpaid football kicker Beckham again!!!

Personally, I thought that was Danny Boyle making something of a point to the government by the prominence of industry and the NHS in the ceremony.

Also, I'd like to see the government go after the £6bn Vodaphone owes in tax and spend that on the NHS, while still having this.

to the op, just we have to accept and enjoy

YANBU

yanbu, but oh well. it's spent. To be fair, govt excels at spending money in even worse ways.