In the face of the worsening recession, B&Q have announced that they are ending their sponsorship of Olympic athletes.
B&Q have also ended their sponsorship of the British Olympic Association.
Jacqueline Caston, the external relations manager at B&Q, is quoted in the Telegraph:
"We enjoyed great internal, motivational success through our partnership with Team GB, but decided not to continue the partnership past the contractual end date of Dec 31, 2008."
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Home Office Jeopardises Olympics Security
The Telegraph reports that police are concerned that the failure of the Home Office to deliver a £600M security plan (deadline last September, but postponed to some time in 2010) threatens the security of the 2012 London Olympics.
Given the government's predisposition to harp on about the ongoing terrorist threat, this reluctance to come up with a plan may seem somewhat surprising. However, the Olympics budget (currently £12BN, including £2BN running costs) is out of control and the government is broke.
Quite simply, there is not the money available to cover all aspect of the games. Therefore the government is taking shortcuts within the areas that they hope will not be seen on TV.
The fundamental purpose of the games is to provide the government with a PR "spectacular", all other issues relating to the games will come second.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Given the government's predisposition to harp on about the ongoing terrorist threat, this reluctance to come up with a plan may seem somewhat surprising. However, the Olympics budget (currently £12BN, including £2BN running costs) is out of control and the government is broke.
Quite simply, there is not the money available to cover all aspect of the games. Therefore the government is taking shortcuts within the areas that they hope will not be seen on TV.
The fundamental purpose of the games is to provide the government with a PR "spectacular", all other issues relating to the games will come second.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Rip Off Tourism Industry
The British tourism industry, never shy to rip people off, is no doubt rubbing its hands in glee waiting for the 2012 London Games.
Jerome Touze, of Where Are You Now?, believes that accommodation costs are "extortionate":
"For people who will be coming from other countries where their economy isn't very strong, how will they feel coming to a country where the cost of accommodation is extortionate?"
Indeed there can be little doubt that the cost/quality of many hotels in London is a disgrace. The Olympics will provide them an opportunity to rip people off even further.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Jerome Touze, of Where Are You Now?, believes that accommodation costs are "extortionate":
"For people who will be coming from other countries where their economy isn't very strong, how will they feel coming to a country where the cost of accommodation is extortionate?"
Indeed there can be little doubt that the cost/quality of many hotels in London is a disgrace. The Olympics will provide them an opportunity to rip people off even further.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, 5 January 2009
Lottery Money Syphoned Off
The lottery company's, Camelot, official records show that it passed on £1.258BN to the lottery's Good Causes fund in 2007/08.
Out of that, the cash strapped Olympics 2012 (ie the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund) received £147M.
Why is lottery money being used to prop up this white elephant?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Out of that, the cash strapped Olympics 2012 (ie the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund) received £147M.
Why is lottery money being used to prop up this white elephant?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, 19 December 2008
Big TV
The Scotsman reports that there is a row going on in Edinburgh over the placing of a £500K giant TV screen, ostensibly to be used to show the 2012 Olympics.
Not surprisingly people are not that keen to have such a monstrosity erected in view of their backyards.
Aside from the obvious waste of money, the unasked/unanswered question is what will be shown on the TV once the Olympics have finished?
Aesthetically "pleasing" commercials, or government propaganda films?
Either way a giant TV screen, costing £500K, is hardly a legacy worth boasting about is it?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Not surprisingly people are not that keen to have such a monstrosity erected in view of their backyards.
Aside from the obvious waste of money, the unasked/unanswered question is what will be shown on the TV once the Olympics have finished?
Aesthetically "pleasing" commercials, or government propaganda films?
Either way a giant TV screen, costing £500K, is hardly a legacy worth boasting about is it?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Security
The former head of London Olympic security and former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Tarique Ghaffur, has put the cat amongst the pigeons by saying that time is running out to ensure that London 2012 is effectively policed and that the £600M security budget is inadequate.
Suffice to say the government disagrees, and claims that decisions will be made in the new year.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Suffice to say the government disagrees, and claims that decisions will be made in the new year.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
A Shot in The Arm?
Tessa Jowell referred to the Olympics 2012 as being a "shot in the arm", whilst appearing on BBC Two's Daily Politics programme, at a time when Britain is expected to go into recession.
She noted:
"But, as it turns out, facing a recession deeper than any that we have known, almost certainly, the Olympics is, I mean, it's economic gold at a time of economic need."
Given that the out of control "budget" currently stands at £12BN (including £2BN running costs) and is likely to rise further, as private finance deals fall through, why is so much money being wasted on this white elephant which will not produce any meaningful legacy?
This waste of resources is more akin to a shot in the head, rather than a shot in the arm.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
She noted:
"But, as it turns out, facing a recession deeper than any that we have known, almost certainly, the Olympics is, I mean, it's economic gold at a time of economic need."
Given that the out of control "budget" currently stands at £12BN (including £2BN running costs) and is likely to rise further, as private finance deals fall through, why is so much money being wasted on this white elephant which will not produce any meaningful legacy?
This waste of resources is more akin to a shot in the head, rather than a shot in the arm.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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