Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has managed to land himself in trouble over the Olympics bid by London for the 2012 Games.
There is a row going on about how many jobs will be lost, if the Olympics comes to London and various commercial sites are redeveloped.
Mayor Ken has accused some firms of inflating the number of jobs at stake, and of trying to hold the 2012 bid to ransom by excessive amounts of money for their land.
The Mayor said some firms were seeking a "huge windfall".
Angie Bray, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, has said to the Mayor:
"I think your tone is slightly unfortunate and does imply you regard them with distaste."
Mayor Ken has been accused of being hostile in his negotiations with 300 or so firms based around Marshgate Lane in Stratford, near where the Olympic stadium and athletes' village would be built.
If London wins, the London Development Agency will be able to compulsorily purchase the 250 acres of land required and the firms will get market value.
The counter claim is that the businesses will be forced out by 2007, but have to wait five years for a land tribunal to decide on the amount of compensation they will receive.
Bottom line, the Olympics is a total pain in the backside to host.
Thursday, 26 May 2005
Wednesday, 25 May 2005
A Close Call
International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge, has said that the race to host the 2012 Olympics is "very close."
Quote:
"I do not expect many votes difference between one and two,".
He was attending an unveiling of a memorial, honouring the winning medallists of the 1908 London games.
Quote:
"I do not expect many votes difference between one and two,".
He was attending an unveiling of a memorial, honouring the winning medallists of the 1908 London games.
Tuesday, 24 May 2005
More Corruption
Mercedes Bresso, regional governor of Piedmont, is offering his support to the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.
She plans to increase help for the February 10-26 Games.
Unfortunately she has an uphill task, Turin’s Olympic ambitions have been marred by cash problems and building delays.
Bresso is quoted as saying:
"The building work is going well now, there have been some difficulties but now it’s all going according to schedule and all the construction will be finished by the end of this year,".
Last year a row broke out over the hole in the Olympic budget, and an investigation was launched into possible bid fixing for building contracts.
The probe into bid fixing for Olympic building works is still ongoing, there are also reports of illegal labourers working on some of the construction sites.
Money corrupts, and the Olympics is about nothing but money these days.
She plans to increase help for the February 10-26 Games.
Unfortunately she has an uphill task, Turin’s Olympic ambitions have been marred by cash problems and building delays.
Bresso is quoted as saying:
"The building work is going well now, there have been some difficulties but now it’s all going according to schedule and all the construction will be finished by the end of this year,".
Last year a row broke out over the hole in the Olympic budget, and an investigation was launched into possible bid fixing for building contracts.
The probe into bid fixing for Olympic building works is still ongoing, there are also reports of illegal labourers working on some of the construction sites.
Money corrupts, and the Olympics is about nothing but money these days.
Monday, 23 May 2005
IOC Avoids Further Corruption Embarrassment
The IOC, always a "tad mired" with the stench of corruption, has managed to avoid some embarrassment by the resignation of their vice president Kim Un Yong of South Korea.
Kim was due to face a vote for expulsion on corruption charges, his resignation saved the problems that this vote would have brought; namely the fact that he probably would have won it.
For those of you who don't have long memories, Kim was implicated in the Salt Lake City bribery scandal; where he was found to have made the organisers arrange a job for his son and musical appearances for his daughter, he had been resisting the IOC's attempts to expel him.
He currently resides in jail in South Korea, on charges of bribery and embezzlement. The good people at the IOC did at least manage to suspend his membership a year ago, when he was jailed.
Hardly an effective counter corruption policy, is it?
His resignation means that the vote on expulsion will now no longer be required. That vote would have, for reasons that only the IOC can explain, seen him supported by the membership.
Despite being corrupt, he was elected an IOC vice president two years ago.
Doesn't this tell you something about the IOC?
However, Kim was convicted of embezzling from the World Tae Kwon Do Federation, including $676K that had been donated by Samsung.
It seems that he used the money to buy the votes that won him the vice president's job!
I tell you, it really is about time that the Olympics were cut down to size and the IOC reformed.
Kim was due to face a vote for expulsion on corruption charges, his resignation saved the problems that this vote would have brought; namely the fact that he probably would have won it.
For those of you who don't have long memories, Kim was implicated in the Salt Lake City bribery scandal; where he was found to have made the organisers arrange a job for his son and musical appearances for his daughter, he had been resisting the IOC's attempts to expel him.
He currently resides in jail in South Korea, on charges of bribery and embezzlement. The good people at the IOC did at least manage to suspend his membership a year ago, when he was jailed.
Hardly an effective counter corruption policy, is it?
His resignation means that the vote on expulsion will now no longer be required. That vote would have, for reasons that only the IOC can explain, seen him supported by the membership.
Despite being corrupt, he was elected an IOC vice president two years ago.
Doesn't this tell you something about the IOC?
However, Kim was convicted of embezzling from the World Tae Kwon Do Federation, including $676K that had been donated by Samsung.
It seems that he used the money to buy the votes that won him the vice president's job!
I tell you, it really is about time that the Olympics were cut down to size and the IOC reformed.
Friday, 20 May 2005
Red Is Gold
Competitors in four combat sports at the 2004 Athens Olympics who wore red, won their events 55% of the time.
That at least is the conclusion of a study published in the latest edition of the journal Nature.
The study covered boxing, taekwondo and the two wrestling disciplines.
That at least is the conclusion of a study published in the latest edition of the journal Nature.
The study covered boxing, taekwondo and the two wrestling disciplines.
Thursday, 19 May 2005
Blair To Avoid G8
Tony Blair will launch a series of special events next month in the UK, in respect of Britain's attempts to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
It is reported that he may even go to Singapore, when the IOC announce their final decision, in July.
Downing Street claim that this is:
"a symbol of his commitment to the bid - and his total support for the excellent bid team, who he feels have done a superb job...We are going for this hell for leather."
Both Blair and Chirac (French President) intend to appear at the G8 summit in Gleneagles when the Olympics decision is announced on 6 July.
However, as befitting leaders of international stature who enjoy travelling, there are rumours that Chirac and Blair plan to sneak away from the summit to Singapore.
It is reported that he may even go to Singapore, when the IOC announce their final decision, in July.
Downing Street claim that this is:
"a symbol of his commitment to the bid - and his total support for the excellent bid team, who he feels have done a superb job...We are going for this hell for leather."
Both Blair and Chirac (French President) intend to appear at the G8 summit in Gleneagles when the Olympics decision is announced on 6 July.
However, as befitting leaders of international stature who enjoy travelling, there are rumours that Chirac and Blair plan to sneak away from the summit to Singapore.
Wednesday, 18 May 2005
London Olympics Bill
It is reported that a London Olympics Bill will be introduced to Parliament as soon as possible, if London is selected to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Her Majesty The Queen included the Bill in her annual address outlining the Government's legislative programme to the State Opening of Parliament.
The Bill would set up the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), grant the Mayor of London specific powers relating to the preparation and staging of the Games and provide legal protection to Olympic logos and symbols.
London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the news:
"This demonstrates the absolute commitment of Tony Blair and his Government to bringing the Games to London in 2012...It shows how advanced our plans are and work could begin immediately if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awards the Games to London on 6 July."
Culture Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell, who is the Cabinet Minister with responsibility for London 2012, said:
"We will be hitting the ground running if the IOC awards the Games to London in 50 days time...The London Olympics Bill, which will be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity if we win the bid, is further evidence of our ability to deliver an outstanding Games."
Tory Sports spokesman Hugh Robertson added:
"We welcome the announcement of the London Olympics Bill. It shows how far advanced planning is for the 2012 Games...We agree with the Bill's principles and will work to ensure London has the best possible legislative framework to deliver a memorable Games if London is successful in the IOC vote 50 days from today."
And Liberal Democrat Don Foster said:
"All major political parties have shown their support for London's bid to host the 2012 Games...Now the Liberal Democrats are resolute that, if successful, the UK will take every opportunity to deliver a Games worthy of enriching the Olympic Movement."
That's the trouble with politicians, they are always very keen on spending other people's money.
Ask the Greeks if the $14BN wasted on the 2004 Games was worth it.
Her Majesty The Queen included the Bill in her annual address outlining the Government's legislative programme to the State Opening of Parliament.
The Bill would set up the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), grant the Mayor of London specific powers relating to the preparation and staging of the Games and provide legal protection to Olympic logos and symbols.
London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the news:
"This demonstrates the absolute commitment of Tony Blair and his Government to bringing the Games to London in 2012...It shows how advanced our plans are and work could begin immediately if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awards the Games to London on 6 July."
Culture Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell, who is the Cabinet Minister with responsibility for London 2012, said:
"We will be hitting the ground running if the IOC awards the Games to London in 50 days time...The London Olympics Bill, which will be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity if we win the bid, is further evidence of our ability to deliver an outstanding Games."
Tory Sports spokesman Hugh Robertson added:
"We welcome the announcement of the London Olympics Bill. It shows how far advanced planning is for the 2012 Games...We agree with the Bill's principles and will work to ensure London has the best possible legislative framework to deliver a memorable Games if London is successful in the IOC vote 50 days from today."
And Liberal Democrat Don Foster said:
"All major political parties have shown their support for London's bid to host the 2012 Games...Now the Liberal Democrats are resolute that, if successful, the UK will take every opportunity to deliver a Games worthy of enriching the Olympic Movement."
That's the trouble with politicians, they are always very keen on spending other people's money.
Ask the Greeks if the $14BN wasted on the 2004 Games was worth it.
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