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The 2012 Olympics will be a spectacular celebration of sporting endeavour with the potential to galvanise participation as well as contributing to the regeneration of east London. But in any enterprise like this, where public money is being spent on a project without immediate precedent, it is vital to safeguard the taxpayer's interests.
That is why the Mayor is right to resist the construction of temporary venues, costing tens of millions, that will have no value after the Games fortnight. To do so simply for the convenience of a few athletes who do not want to travel to the more than adequate facilities of Wembley Arena is indefensible. Let the sportsmen get up earlier in the morning, as millions of Londoners have to. It is important that the Mayor prevails against the unelected sporting organisations that are trying to bully their way into commitments of other people's money.
This is going to be an exceptional Games, come what may. Britain's history of enthusiasm for sport and London's unique openness to visitors from abroad virtually guarantee a uniquely exciting and welcoming Olympics. It is important to show the other capitals that will host future Games, some of them in low-income countries, that the event can leave a worthwhile legacy and not the debts and recrimination that have lingered in some previous host cities. If that means the Mayor has to put some sports officials back in their box now, so be it.
Of course, we cannot ask individual sports to accept belt-tightening if the Games' own administration here is bloated. For that reason it is disturbing to see that the number of public sector workers has increased by 20 per cent over the last year. The Government must take care not to drive up the bureaucratic burden beyond the minimum necessary. But the Mayor is right to stand up for the capital's interests. This is London, and we are going to host a great Games on our terms.
Money for old rope
John Humphrys has chosen a bad day to show contempt for the viewer. In a crude and arrogant paid-for speech at a corporate dinner, the veteran Today programme host has described his other role, as presenter of Mastermind, as "money for old rope" - just as the Conservatives unveil proposals to rein in pay and empire-building at the BBC.
The amount the BBC pays its so-called "talent" has already come under fire. Many licence fee payers were appalled by the £18 million package paid to Jonathan Ross even before he and Russell Brand were disgraced for humiliating the actor Andrew Sachs. The BBC should stand firm when talent and its agents make unreasonable demands, difficult though that is when director general Mark Thompson is himself receiving £834,000 a year.
The BBC is still a great institution and produces some programmes of unique quality. But its licence-fee funded activities on the internet and in publishing are tending to crowd out competition. No one wants a world in which the only news provider left is the BBC. Selling off BBC Worldwide, which successfully exploits the rights to BBC programmes around the world, could raise useful sums for the public purse.
As shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt points out, the BBC Trust tends to defend its own rather than being an independent voice for licence-fee payers. That must change. The BBC must remember it is the servant of the licence-fee payer and not the master.
Capital attractions
Londoners have their own views on what tourists come to see. That is why so many Standard readers have already taken the opportunity to vote for the BT Visit London awards. The shortlist appears today and voting is open until September 30. And making the choice could be an excuse to revisit some of the city's attractions - many of which are free.
Reader views (2)
Bidding for the Olympics was the height of New Labour's arrogance and a classic vanity, sorry "legacy" project for Blair (funny how it is always the left that view legacies in terms of big-spending Le Grande Project). But - misconceieved in its inception - it will do London great harm I am afraid. Parisian posturing and a New York trying to reclaim its confidence post 9/11 mistakenly meant that two of the three great world cities put in a bid for an event that is reserved for second-tier wannabe-great cities. Blair, reasoning that London couldn't be sidelined if those two bid, threw London's name into the pot. And the trouble is that the bidding contest (probably the most exciting bit of the entire games if we are honest) appeals to London's strong skillbase of marketing creativity. Actual execution - i.e. pulling it off - however, is not a strong UK skill. I wager it will be a disaster that relieves Atlanta and Montreal of their joint wooden spoons and that London will take a big knock to its self esteem (and its finances) for years to come. All so unnecessary and so typical of the "bread and circuses" world view of the left. I was in Paris that day and told them to cheer up. Don't worry, I said - you'll have the last laugh".
- Milton-Not-Keynes, London, 18/09/2009 15:57
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Well what do you expect from these self-righteous self-serving olympicrats?
The whole world of sport has been ruined by BIG TV CASH, egged along by nationalistic furvour (although most who "play" for the country claimed are often imported AT GREAT EXPENSE from elsewhere).
For example, look at the cost of a soccer season ticket compared to 10 years ago - it’s obscene for any real fans not to be able to afford them for their families.
Save not 20 million Boris, BUT 20 Billion, scrap the lot, send it back to Athens.
And the argument that it will encourage our "yoof" to better health through enthusing sport is laughable - most will sit slumped on the couch chomping crisps and guzzling lager whilst cheering on their hopes for the all coveted road to OBE GOLD!
It’s about time we stopped confusing Sporting Celebrity Wanabees and their parasitic spivs with serving the physical health of the nation - that lesson should start at school, not through the Plasma screen in the Wii gaming console connected living room.
- Darius, London UK, 18/09/2009 12:52
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