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...

Not just the opening ceremony, the whole fucking charade is a waste of cash.

I agree with EightiesGold about Danny Boyle making a point on the NHS.

YANBU. Total waste of money. Yes it may make some money, but that will go into the pockets of private companies, and won't directly benefit the tax payer who has funded it. It makes my blood boil.

good publicity, promoting the country to the rest of the world.

YANBU, Total waste of money.

YANBU

I totally agree with you, op. I felt the same about the Jubilee celebrations as well.

YANBU. I had no idea until now just how much this was all costing (I live under a big rock ) Plus they could have put it on earlier in the evening, I have a lot of friends who went to bed long before GB brought the flag out, and I wouldn't let DD and DS stay up!

That money could have gone a long way towards improving and keeping the NHS afloat. Or put in to education, and facilities for poorer areas across the country.

YANBU

I would rather see that money put to better use in our double-dip-worst-recession-since-the-war than to promote a few elite athletes who choose to do what they do.

But I am an old curmudgeon. So there.

27 million doesn't seem obscene when there are top actors/actresses who get paid for movies that are only 2 hours long. Aren't the most expensive films like Avatar 100 million +?

I could be wrong, but I don't think taxes pay the wages of actors on big budget films

Lots of the money comes from sponsorship! It's an amazing opportunity for our country, I don't understand why people are so negative!

Because the Olympics as a whole will bring in more than it will cost.

The ceremony was four hours of advertising the UK. How much would that cost? I bet more than 27 million quid.

Some people are just miseries, and misery loves company.

The Olympics will be fantastic for Britain!

At £27m it was excellent value for money.

It looked like it would hvae cost more than that and I would have been happy to see more spent on it, to be honest.

I am a misery, and proud of it!

27million would do a lot for the NHS. Heck 8 Billion would do a hell of a lot more.
I just think at this moment in time the health service is more important than 4 hours of advertising as PP put it.

Sorry, YABU.

There's a bunch of countries that are backward and do not look after their, sick/poor/lost like the UK does. You know, like USA.

There are loads of faults in the NHS and the System, no arguemtnes from me. But, I am a little bit in love iwth Danny Boyle for putting it on the mainstage as a strengty of the UK. Beat that, Abroad. Cut that, At Home?

clever, clever man.

aplogise for ytpos. Am trying to get psihed enough to imagine that my hsuband is Danny Boyle. Hoping he looks like Alan Rikkman....

Yes you are. It was amazing and if you have the eyes of the world on you, give them something to sit up and take notice of. I can't believe people are still down on these games after such an incredible showcase of our history, culture, diversity, scientific innovation and general ability to be funky and tasteful all at the same time.

I bet loads of people poo poo me and say I've been corporately brainwashed... but frankly if I have, I don't care. Well done Danny Boyle!

Well done Danny Boyle!

Here here!

YABU and shortsighted.

Yes 27 million would be helpful to the NHS, but what about next year, and the year after? Something like this will generate massive cultural capital, and help to secure investment, tourism for years to come. That is what will pay for the NHS.

YABVU - I'm a teacher and so many of my couch potato kids have been totally inspired by the whole Olympic malarky - I'd never have believed it before but they've been getting quite sporty. At my school alone this is storing up good stuff for the future and if this is happening on my manor then it's happening all over the country.That is saving much more than 27 million in the coming years and the aspirations it has provided is priceless. The young athletes lighting the torch was wonderful.
Sorry for bad grammar n' stuff - am quite tiddly.

But it isn't costing 27 million, it is actually making money . Between foreign tv, advertising, visitors and tourism over the next few years the Olympics will bring in a lot more than it costs.

It was a reminder that the UK has given the world a lot over history, and has still got a lot to give.

(and I'm not usually a UK fan)

young athletes and torch?

Stuff a knighthood.

I think DB sould have a sort o f pass to Haeven. Or wherever he likes for life. Brill, brill, brill.