British Olympic Association Pissing Money Away

As I have noted many times on this site, the Olympics "budget" (currently standing at £12BN, including £2BN running costs) is out of control.

It is little wonder that it is out of control as the Telegraph reports that the British Olympic Association (BOA) is again on its knees passing the begging bowl around for more money.

Andy Hunt, the BOA CEO, claims that there is a "financial gap" in its accounts.

Really?

What happened to the £6M in extra funding BOA was given by Locog just before the 2008 games in Beijing?

This £6M is on top of £28M from the Joint Marketing Programme Agreement, and another £6.5M from sponsorship/asset sales in 2009.

BOA seem to have pissed away £40M.

Where has all of this money gone, and why has the BOA failed to properly budget for the 2012 games?

With this level of incompetence it is hardly surprising that the main Olympics budget is out of control.

As regards the BOA, it is clear that not one penny more should be allocated to this inept and incompetent body.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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London Logo Farce - The Farce Continues VII

Unsurprisingly the International Olympic Committee has rejected Iran's complaint that the logo for the 2012 Olympics resembles the word Zion, and is racist.

"The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012, nothing else."

However, I guarantee that this absurd and pathetic fuss over the logo will not die down.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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London Logo Farce - The Farce Continues VI

As we know, the London 2012 Olympics Logo (aka Lisa Simpson Gives Head) has attracted a fair amount of criticism since it was unveiled in 2007.

However, even by the standards of the Olympics, the latest fuss over the logo is absurd in the extreme.

The National Olympic Committee of Iran has sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) complaining about the logo of 2012 London Olympic Games.

For why?

Apparently, the logo says "Zion"???!!

The letter is signed by the Head of Iranian Olympics Committee, Mohammad Ali Abadi and the Secretary General of Iran's Olympic Committee Bahram Afsharzade addressed to the president of IOC Jacques Rogge.

"We appreciate the committee's efforts in line with developing the spirit of Olympism all over the world. We ask for your consideration of the following issue which if neglected, may have destructive effects on the future of sport, especially London Olympic Games in 2012.

Highlighting the values of Olympic, which ban any sorts of partiality, political, religious and racial measures in this field, may have a leading role to hold London Games better.

We have two years ahead to the opening of the games and unfortunately we see the games face with a critical challenge at the beginning which is raised by the racial attitudes of some individuals.

As internet documents have proved, using the word Zion in the logo of 2012 Olympic Games is a disgracing action and against Olympic's valuable mottos.

There is no doubt that negligence of the issue from your side may affect the presence of some countries in the games, especially Iran which abides by commitment to the values and principles."

The logo is undoubtedly dreadful in terms of aesthetics, and conveying the concept of the games. However, to claim that it actually says "Zion" and is intended to be a racial insult is nonsense.

That being said, this absurd objection will undoubtedly stir a large number of people up and there will be a lengthy and unnecessary fuss over this.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Volte Farce

The Telegraph reports that Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham council, has had to make something of a volte farce.

He had suggested that residents be charged to watch Jamaican and United States athletics training in Birmingham, in the weeks leading up to the 2012 London Olympics.

However, following a public bleating and outcry, he has had to backtrack.

I disagree with the public bleating, making money is entirely within the "spirit" of the games. Additionally, given the size of the ever increasing Olympics "budget" (£12BN including running costs) and the fact that the country has a £4.8 Trillion debt, any opportunity to reduce public costs should be grasped firmly.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Toilets - The True Olympic Legacy

Colin Dawe said:

"We're talking about legacy, you’re talking about upgrading toilets as a result of this."

Source Dorset Echo.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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EU Floodgates To Be Opened

The Telegraph reports that the UK's attempts to target British Olympics fans with a "UK only" promotion of tickets for the 2012 games, may be stymied by the EU.

EU National Olympic Committees are threatening to promote the UK process in their own countries, as a result of a perceived "slap in the face" emanating from reductions in their ticket allocations.

The market for the UK ticket promotion may now rise from 60M to 500M.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Record Breaking

It seems that records are already being broken, despite the fact that the 2012 Olympics have yet to start.

"Prestige" seats to watch the most popular events at the Games will cost £5,400 per person.

This price is the second highest price for sports seats in history, being beaten only by the £5,500 price tag for the 2011 Super Bowl.

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"