'They are a bunch of whingers': Culture Secretary dismisses critics of Olympic's £9.3billion cost

Those who raised doubts about the cost of the London Olympics were dismissed yesterday by the Culture Secretary as 'whingers'.

Andy Burnham attacked those who flagged up concerns that the £9.3billion budget for the 2012 Games had spiralled to four times the original estimate, during questioning by the Commons' cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

Mr Burnham said: 'The cynics have been having a field day. But the cynics will always be there. Some of those are legitimately holding the Government to account about getting the country ready for the Olympics.

'But there will be others who, in my view, are unduly and unnecessarily whingeing about the whole thing.'

Opponents immediately said his blast proved the Government was 'completely out of touch' with the public.

Olympic chiefs have come under repeated fire over the 'formidable' challenges they face to stage the Games on budget, which is now four times the Government's original £2.4billion estimate.

Mr Burnham said critics would find themselves 'wrong-footed' when the country experienced a 'surge of excitement' in the run-up to the Olympics in London.

He added the Games would create massive benefits for the cultural and sporting life of the UK as well as providing a huge boost to Britain's tourism industry.

He told the committee that once London Mayor Boris Johnson was presented with the Olympic flame during the closing ceremony of the upcoming Beijing Olympics there would be a 'surge of excitement, particularly among young people across the country'.

He added: 'We are going to immediately feel differently about the Olympics.'

The proposed stadium for the 2012 Olympics

Organisers of the 2012 Games have come in for criticism due to concerns about the rocketing costs and the fact the vast majority events are being staged in London rather than anywhere else in the county.

Last month the Olympic Delivery Authority was ordered to take action to prevent the cost of the sporting showcase spiralling out of control.

Britain's spending watchdog warned the £9.3billion budget for staging the event could be under threat because of uncertainty over construction deals, security and the future use of sports facilities.

A report by the National Audit Office raised the grim prospect of venues, including the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, being left to decay after the Games ended.

Tory culture spokesman Jeremy Hunt said it was 'shocking' that the Government was condemning scrutiny of the finances for London 2012.

He said: 'As a member of the Government that has tripled the costs of the Olympics and seen all major costs spiral out of control, it is shocking that Andy Burnham would think to complain about the public's scrutiny of the budget.

'Once again he's shown that this Government is completely out of touch with the public's mood and relaxed about spending other people's money.'

Mr Burnham said the London Olympics would bring a 'step-change' in how Britain was seen by the rest of the world as well as boosting tourism.