The Budget

The Telegraph reports that the National Audit Office (NAO) has found “substantial risks” in the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games budget, raising the possibility of the Government having to bail it out because of financial guarantees given to the International Olympic Committee.

No surprises there then, the original "budget" has swollen from under £3BN (when the UK was bidding for the games) to at least £12BN (including the £2BN running costs).

Does anyone (aside from LOCOG) seriously believe that the final costs will not exceed £12BN?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Schedule

The London 2012 Olympics schedule has been released.

It can be viewed here Schedule.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Spurs Consider Legal Action

West Ham, as predicted, have won the approval of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for taking over the Olympic stadium after the 2012 games.

However, Spurs are not best pleased with this result and are reportedly considering legal action.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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It's Hammer Time

It would seem that the increasingly vitriolic and acrimonious battle between Spurs and West Ham, for control of the Olympic stadium post 2012 Olympics, has been resolved.

West Ham United are expected to be recommended as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium on Friday, when the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) will meet.

Seemingly Spurs' plans to rip up the athletics track, thus denying any form of athletics legacy as promised in the original bid for the games, was a step too far.

Once OPLC ratify the bid, it will then pass to London mayor Boris Johnson and government ministers Jeremy Hunt and Eric Pickles for final approval.

As to whether a combined track and football stadium is actually economically viable, only time will tell. Once the economic success/failure of the Hammers' legacy is actually known, those who have made the decisions and backed the bid will have long since moved on.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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It's A Wrap

Locog has done a U turn on an earlier decision to save £7M from the out of control Olympics budget (currently standing at £12BN including £2BN running costs), by reinstating plans to wrap the outside of the Olympic stadium.

However, this time they are seeking money for the wrap from the private sector; as such the wrap might contain a sponsor's name (if rules that forbid branding on Olympic venues can be bent).

The way to bend the rules is easy, the wrap can be classified as not being part of the permanent Olympic structure and be classified as only a "temporary hoarding".

Simple!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Ker Farking Ching!

My sympathies to Kamel Kichane, owner of Cafe Olympic in Newham, who has fallen foul of the Olympic money making machine.

Mr Kichane took advice from Newham Council, three years ago, about naming his restaurant Cafe Olympic. The council gave verbal permission for the name.

However, trading standards officers from the council are now threatening him with legal action unless he changes the name (as they claim it is an unauthorised use of the Olympic brand) at a cost of £3K.

Will the organisers of the Olympics also be pursuing other larger organisations, who use the word "Olympic" in their names, eg Olympic Airlines?

No, I thought not!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Spin City

The foreign affairs committee has expressed concern that the Foreign Office's overall message about what Britain is, and how it should be regarded during the 2012 Olympics is ill-defined.

Seemingly the committee wants Britain to be promoted as a "diverse, inclusive and friendly country. Or in a word ... generous."

I wonder if that doesn't slightly go against the grain of David Cameron's recent speech, in which he sounded the death knell for "multiculturalism"?

Notwithstanding that, the committee is also concerned that the Foreign Office (FCO) should squash any negative stories that appear in the media (I assume foreign media) about the Olympics.

As such a "rapid response unit" should be set up:

"We recommend that the FCO should form a 'rapid response unit', set up well before the Games, which is adequately resourced and prepared to take swift action to rebut or challenge negative stories appearing in the world media."

Who then is meant to handle negative stories in the UK media?

Surely the Olympics organisers already have a media and PR department set up at considerable cost to the British taxpayer?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"