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£46,000-a-year Olympic role for county not hosting events
Ed Harris25.08.09
A council is recruiting a £46,000- a-year Olympics co-ordinator even though it is not hosting any of the events.
Surrey county council said the employee, who will be given a three-year contract, will be asked to ensure "the Surrey 2012 programme has maximum impact".
The council had hoped Bisley would host the shooting event but Olympic organisers decided to hold the event in Woolwich.
The new job was described as a waste of taxpayers' money by campaigners.
In the job advert, bosses say they want someone who will create an Olympic legacy for the county: "The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance. We are looking for someone who will help Surrey's residents and businesses gain from this unique opportunity."
The county is expected to provide facilities for a number of athletes competing in the Games.
Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This job smacks of gimmickry by the council."
A council spokesman said the co-ordinator will be seeking Olympics-related contracts.
Reader views (5)
This is crazy only £46,000?
How is this poor civil servant going to feel knowing their olympic co-workers (who're also working on equally pointless jobs) earn 3-4 times more?
- Ian Sankey, London
This is an absurd use of taxpayers money
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties
Will the £46,000 per year be taken out of the money currently in the olympic purse - or will it be in addition to the overall cost of this debacle? (As a tax payer I have a vested interest.) I eagerly await publication of the findings of the recent investigation by the forensic accountants into the £100 MILLION of tax payers' money which has allegedly "gone missing".
- R.F., Yorks, UK
To be fair, this is too big a job for one person. They need to appoint an Olympics Executive Officer, an Olympics Equalities Officer and an Olympics Administrative Assistant as well...but the salary for the Olympics co-ordinator will need to be increased because of the line management responsibility.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
The paralympic games are indeed a once in-a-lifetime opportunity: if they have the money spare, why don't they donate it to the Military Rehabilitation Centre for soldiers injured in Afghanistan - which I believe is in their county . . . ?
- Roz, France
