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'I'll bang my shoe on desk': Boris Johnson demands £20m Olympic cuts
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent18.09.09
Boris Johnson is at the centre of an unprecedented row after his proposals to cut costs for the London Olympics were rejected by Games chiefs.
The Mayor erupted in fury at an acrimonious meeting of the Olympic board over his proposal to save £20million with a shake-up of venues. He accused Games chiefs of "arrogance" and of "grovelling" to demanding international sports leaders.
At one point, in a reference to the antics of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev at a UN meeting in 1960, he said: "If I have to take my shoe off and bang it on the desk I will."
The flashpoint came when City Hall's plan to move to Wembley the 2012 boxing and shooting events, planned for east London, was opposed by the British Olympic Association.
The scenes threaten unity at the powerful board, which consists of the mayor, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, Sebastian Coe, chairman of 2012 organising committee Locog, and Lord Moynihan, chairman of the British Olympic Association. Mr Johnson wants to cut the cost of the two events as part of a wider economy drive and is understood to be backed by Ms Jowell. But the priority for Lord Moynihan and Lord Coe is to be "uncompromising" in delivering a Games that they have pledged will put "athletes first".
Lord Moynihan told the meeting relocation had been opposed by the respective international federations. He said the plan to stage shooting in the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich and boxing at the ExCel centre was "non-negotiable to the people that matter".
Mr Johnson, who has become increasingly dismayed that the demands of international sports chiefs are apparently outweighing taxpayers' interests, then vented his anger. It is the first demonstration of the tensions that exist over costs between elected politicians and the sport leaders, who are not accountable to the public.
The row has been simmering since Games organisers last year sought to save £40million by scrapping a temporary venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics next to the O2 Arena, relocating the sports to ExCel.
In a compromise proposed by Ms Jowell, the sports would move to a temporary Barking venue, with shooting staying in Woolwich and boxing at the ExCel. That would cut costs and regenerate the area. The board agreed a feasibility study be ready in two weeks.
The Olympics has a £9.325billion budget, with central Government contributing £5.975billion, the National Lottery, £2.175billion, and the Mayor's office, £1.175billion.
How the games plan has changed
Boxing: originally to be hosted at ExCel in Canning Town, proposed move to Wembley Arena opposed by international boxing chiefs because
of lengthy travel times from athletes' village. May revert to ExCel.
Rhythmic gymnastics and badminton: these two sports share
an Olympic arena because they have similar technical requirements. Initially due to be staged in a temporary £40 million venue, as yet
unbuilt, next to the O2 Arena. Wembley Arena or a temporary venue in Barking now more likely options.
Shooting: Due to be hosted in a temporary venue at the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich, but the British Shooting Federation wants a permanent facility as a legacy. The shooters' preferred range in Bisley, Surrey, has been ruled too expensive but Barking remains an option. This site could host shooting or badminton and rhythmic gymnastics but is not big enough for all three.
Reader views (23)
The country doesn't just consist of athletes or Seb Coe. Of course it's wonderful to promote sport and our athletes, but I think that Lord Coe is vain. He seems to crave the pomp and prestige of the country spending millions on the Games to make himself look big and isn't fooling anyone when he says it's all about the athletes. This is so evident that it sticks out further than an Olympic runner's posing pouch. The country needs to get behind Boris to ensure we have an economical games that doesn't waste money. It can still be enjoyable. If the Olympic Board is not willing to compromise to save money, then they must be in this for themselves. We're going through some very difficult economic times and Boris needs to stand his ground on this one. After all, we don't want our hard earned money to be spent on gold posing pouches for our athletes inscribed with 'Coe' on the front. It's heading that way!
- Fiona, London, UK
The whole approach of the IOC is wrong. They make the games as expensive as possible in order to make themselves look as important as possible. The athletes should stay in hotels, as they do at the world championships in their various sports, negating the need for a pretentious and ludicrously costly Olympic village. The boxers or whoever should stay in hotels in Wembley. The media should be housed in existing office space rented for the fortnight, of which there is plenty in the pipeline, not in two vast buildings constructed in a location where long-term demand is dubious at best. The athletics should be held at Wembley, which can be converted into a 68,000 seater athletics stadium. Billions could be saved without reducing the quality of the sport. The way the IOC does things is not about the athletes, Lord Coe, it is about the egos of the IOC members and the other suits, including yourself.
- Oliver Chettle, Bedford
Boris stop prentending to care!
- Dan, London
we got the olympics thanks to the muppets who voted for a socialist mayor so thank you ken lovers for our new white elephant
- David Jones, london
If Coe wants unnecessary millions spent - let him fund it. When London hosted the Olympics after the war, the athletes didn't need luxury accommodation or stadiums. The Mayor is right - cut the cost of the Olympics.
- Boudicca, Guildford
Well done Boris! Who are these grandees to whom the venues are "non negotiable". The hsitory of international sport is littered with self-aggrandising patriachs, many corrupt, who served only themselves. Seb Coe is an honourable exception, but seems to have lost sight of the priorities.
It's high time the interests of those who are actually finding this extravaganza were put first. Get that shoe off Boris!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
'As Ken admitted he got the Olympics so he could get money to regenerate East London.. '
That would be a worthy dodge if the money spent were going on anything that E London actually needs, Melvin. The best comparison I can think of to the Olympic cash's effect is air-dropping crates of food into a famine area, and just crushing some of the hungry people beneath like hedgehogs. My area, Waltham Forest, is feeling no gain at all from all this money: most of the recorded 'local' jobs are actually east Europeans living in local digs, which does nothing for local housing need, and creates a mining-town culture of boozing and brothels. Not exactly 'regeneration'.
- Mdj E10, london uk
I agree with Boris we should scap temporary venues as clearly they add no value to anything. The public have every right to demand value for money... I wondered if Lord Coe could explain how building a 60 ft fence stacks up against his pledge to put "athletes first"...?! I think I would be happy to throw my size eleven slippers at the out of touch Lord's & Coe... Good Luck Boris
- Mjm, Dartford, Dartford, UK
Labour has looted our economy for decades, we can't afford all this nonsense. Strip the Olympics down to essentials.
- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh
Boris, Boris, Boris, did you not know that London taxes finance the Labour party and all of it's pet projects? No one in London votes for them and yet they spend our money on what they fancy, wake up and smell the coffee, the only way to change it is to get them out of power and back up North.
- Bob, Cheam
Is this the biggest ever waste of money in the UK or what?
For 9bn, think of:
- the scientific research
- the schools
- the hospital funding
- the police
anyone who voted for the 2012 olympics needs their head examined
- Ces, london
Boris is right. Save money where possible.
Aren't we all sick and tired of people like Coe spending other peoples' money.
Boris was right about the congestion charge too.
Too many politicians think that they have a God-given right to tax and waste.
- Sally70, Bedford
Have we got a list of there pay packets Coe and Company
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex
Boris should stop wasting £20 million to replace perfectly good Artic buses then he would have the money!!
Fact is the ceremony on route 507 and talk of these buses was a stage managed exercise!!! The former red arrows are like gold dust to Go Ahead who are now using them on route 12 - (I saw one at Oxford Circus last week!!)
As Ken admitted he got the Olymics so he could get money to regenerate East London if Boris is short of cash he should demand the return of Business Rate income that Thatcher stole from London to give to the tory shires!!
Yesterday it was Boris is furious over removal of Thames from tube map well as he chairs TFL he either already knew and it was another stunt of he is just totally imcompetent at his job!!!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Crikey Boris and Tessa in bed together, metaphorically of course, although Boris is a bit of a ladies man judging by previous behaviour, and up against Lords Coe and Moynihan, a couple of upper class Tory toffs.
How will the usual anti government ranters, Frank, Dirk etc, manage to turn this into a new labour plot/mismanagement etc.
No doubt they will try.
- Kerry, Purley
Sebastian Coe, noble and brilliant athlete as he once was, is now right in there with the "best" of them; snout and trotters. Oink.
- James Harrison, London
Rhythmic gymnastics is not a "sport" - bin it, and let's save some more money that way. Badminton is a bit pants, too,,,,,,,
Take that shoe off and get banging, Bozza.
- Johnny In Moldova, Chisinau Moldova
Considering the stellar list of oversight members, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few games held in the local ASDA or 'Gala Bingo'...
The new Wembley Stadium project almost brought the UK to it's knee's and now they're attempting multi-venues w/no sponsorship, costs overruns, multi-million pound black holes...
Let's start the 'independent investigation' now (vs post-games) into how costs spiralled, lack of security in key areas, congested traffic issues and 'where we dropped the ball' identifying potential revenue streams from an empty stadium...?
My £'s are on a Stratford Super Car Boot/Produce Market or Take That/Girls Aloud for 50 nights...!
- Scrappy-Doo, London
Well what do you expect from these self rightous 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 from elsewhere).
Look at the cost of,for example a season ticket compared to 10 years ago - it`s obscene for any real fans not to be able to afford one 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 eating 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 should start at school, not through the Plasma screen in the Wii connected living room.
Rant over!
- Darius, London UK
And now, fresh from Broadway, Boris Johnson, tap dancer extraordinaire!
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
Perhaps if you hadnt been so quick to cut the congestion charge in the west boris (to look after your tory car drivers) you'd have more money to play with.
- Dave, Madrid
Let those who wanted London to win the bid to host the olympics pay for it, and those of us who are opposed to the debacle opt out. Someone ought to explain to Coe that this country is bankrupt and cannot afford what it is costing to boost his already over-inflated ego.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
Boris needs to bang the table on Olympic Legacy!!
Londoners and taxpayers are being acutely short changed. No one would vote to pay £9bn for 2 weeks of games but that is what we are doing due to the insularity and arrogance of Olympic chiefs designing and building the games.
- Mike, London
