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The man in charge of delivering Olympic venues for the 2012 London Games is to pick up a six-figure bonus despite struggles to get the £8.1 billion project on track in the recession.
David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, has tried to avert a row over his £600,000-plus package by deferring half his bonus for 2007-08.
But he is still expected to pick up the rest of the payment when the ODA's annual report is published this month. This comes after a year when the £1.1 billion Olympic village was effectively nationalised and the £355 million media centre was taken into public hands.
Last year Mr Higgins was paid a basic salary of £373,000 and a bonus of £205,000. It is believed this year's pay is similar but that half the bonus will be deferred until 2012, when he will get it if the ODA delivers on time and on budget.
He said: "In the overall climate, with the concerns of the general public about bonuses, I take a different perspective from the rest of the executives and have decided to defer."
Reader views (4)
The Olympics is a total waste of taxpayers money. I
always knew that things like this would happen.
Don't forget all the knighthoods and other gongs these
pompous arrogant buffoons will receive when this
charade is over!
- Lb, Bromley
And the Income Tax people can't undestand why I screw them all the time ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent
I would like Mr. Higgins to advise me why the olympic committee have decided not to publish the findings of the investigation by KPMG forensic accountants into the alleged "disappearance" of £100 MILLION from the olympic purse. This is tax payers' money which is unaccounted for and we have a right to know if there are irregularities in the accounting practices. We have been fed on a diet of lies and deceipt since the day they first bid for the 2012 games, but will not sit back and allow any proven irregularities to be swept under the carpet.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
DEAR GOD - it is how much over budget!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO NO NO NO NO
YET ANOTHER TAX PAYER FUNDED GRAVEY TRAIN REWARD FOR FAILURE.
- Jeremy E, Home Counties
