Comment: the real legacy of the Olympics

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The legacy of the Games will be twofold. Physically, they will bequeath a redeveloped area in and around the Olympics site. There are already concerns about the way this is being managed. Less tangibly, the Games are meant to deliver a more sporting nation - Sebastian Coe's target is for two million new participants. It is a fine aspiration, but Sport England, the body charged with delivering it, has had its budget depleted as Lottery cash is diverted to the rising construction costs of the Games. Its chairman, Derek Mapp, resigned five months ago, and has yet to be replaced. Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, has been promising a "legacy action plan" but, on previous form, this is likely to be both vague and uncosted. The Mayor has appointed the Labour MP, Kate Hoey, to advise on how the Games can boost sport in London. This excellent appointment should bring a new focus to the sports legacy.

But, ahead of the visit by International Olympics inspectors next week, the crucial question remains how to contain the ever-rising cost of the Games. As we report today, Mr Johnson intends to appoint a heavyweight financial expert to establish whether the taxpayer is likely to get value for money from the £9.3 billion budget - of which £1.825 billion comes from City Hall. This is a critical job. Given that the cost of the Olympics village has doubled and that of the Aquatics centre and velodrome have more than quadrupled, there are real fears that even the present inflated budget will be insufficient. Mr Johnson will have to be much tougher than his predecessor in ensuring it is not exceeded. He cannot allow the real legacy of the Games to become a decades-long financial burden on London and the nation; that means tough action now.