Disastrous Figures

The government claims that there will be a "sporting legacy" from the London 2012 Olympics. The government has made much of a target to increase, by two million by 2012, the 6.8m people playing sport, or doing some form of physical exercise for 30 minutes three times a week.

However, quarterly figures just released show that only three sports (athletics, canoeing and cycling) have recorded an increase in the number of people participating at least once a week; all the others have flatlined.

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat shadow culture, media and sport secretary, is quoted in The Guardian:

"These disastrous figures show the government's Olympic legacy strategy is going badly wrong. Many sports which have had huge funding increases are actually witnessing a decline in participation."

Throwing money at a problem is not always the best way to resolve it.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Kickbacks?

Lord laird has set the cat among the Olympic pigeons by questioning the integrity of charter deals for a fleet of boats intended to be used for corporate entertainment, media, accommodation and other purposes for the London 2012 Olympics.

Lord Laird has asked the Government to investigate whether Olympic officials were offered or requested "financial and other inducements, including vacations, periods of stay or trips on sea-going vessels for individuals and their family members".

Lord Laird named two British boat-charter companies (Top Sail Events and Charters Ltd) and has asked whether directors or staff members working for the Olympic Delivery Authority, the London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog), the Olympic board and the British Olympic Association had received or asked for on-board hospitality.

I wonder what has prompted Lord Laird's question?

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"

BBC Olympic "Budget"

The Sun has outed the BBC's travel "budget" for the London Olympics.

"The BBC is to land licence-payers with a £3 million bill to send sport staff to cover the London Olympics from Manchester – just a year after it relocates from the capital....flights, train fares, taxis and accommodation".

The reason that the BBC, based in London, is expecting to spend so much money is that (for reasons that only a "detached" and poorly managed bureaucracy such as the BBC can understand) the BBC sports department are moving out of London to Manchester one year before the Olympics.

Clearly an intelligent plan would have been to move after the Games.

The BBC then go on to dig themselves into a deeper hole by saying that, because plans are still being developed, they "can't speculate on the costs involved".

In other words, they have no budget (clearly taking their cue from the organisers of the London Olympics!)

Not very impressive 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"

Brown's Bankrupt Britain

Gordon Brown, now so desperate to cling to power, has tagged on to the Olympics bandwagon in the hope of salvaging his reputation.

Brown took the Cabinet on an "away day" to the offices of a building contractor at the 2012 Olympic Games site.

Brown claims that:

"Thanks to the Olympics, thousands of jobs are being created and protected in some of the industries worst hit by the recession - and in some of Britain's most deprived areas."

1 The Olympics "budget" now stands at £12BN (including £2BN running costs), the original budget was around £3BN. A monument to Labour's inability to manage projects and costs.

2 Many of the jobs being created are short term construction jobs, which employ non British short term immigrants. Yet was it not Brown who came up with that absurd phrase "British jobs for British people?"

The legacy will be a deficit to be funded by the taxpayer.

Brown will have left office long before the games begin.

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"

Olympic Mascot

Mid Sussex council has created a mascot for the forthcoming Olympics 2012.

Quote from the council's site:

"The mascot hatched in spectacular fashion at the recent Olympos Burgess Hill Open Day of arts and sports events, hosted by GLL/Freedom Leisure.

The creature is a cute and colourful character that is already proving a major attraction for local youngsters.

It will appear at many of the Council's Participate Mid Sussex community events, growing each year, until it becomes a giant mythical creature in time for the London Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012."

It was created by Same Sky Community Arts Group in Brighton, with funding from the Arts Council.

Mid Sussex council is now appealing to the public to suggest a fitting name for the character.

Send you suggestions to arts@midsussex.gov.uk.

I wonder how much this cost?

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"

Wasting Money

Were there to be an Olympic event for wasting money, then Surrey council would win a gold for its performance.

The council wants to appoint an Olympics co-ordinator on a three-year contract, tasked to ensure that "the Surrey 2012 programme has maximum impact."

This is all well and good, except for one small problem.

Surrey is not staging any Olympics events!

Nonetheless, the job advert says:

"The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games offer a once in a lifetime chance to make a positive difference.

We are looking for someone who will help Surrey's residents and businesses gain from this unique opportunity.

We are looking for a skilled networker and influencer, who can inspire innovation and creativity in our partners."

I take it Surrey council haven't heard about the recession?

The salary, if you are interested in applying for this no job, is £46K.

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"

Bonus Deferred

Paul Deighton, CEO of London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Locog), (salary £453,440 for the year to April 2009) has deferred £185K bonus payment until after the 2012 Games.

Locog made a loss of £38M last 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"