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£50,000 for each London borough to fly the flag during the Olympics
Matthew Beard, Olympics Editor31 May 2011
High streets, town halls and public squares are to be decorated in Olympic colours thanks to a City Hall grant.
Each London borough will receive a £50,000 grant to pay for the flags, banners and bunting to provide a uniform "Look and Feel" for next summer.
Boroughs will be encouraged to submit their own proposals for how their area might look, giving them the flexibility to decide how the designs will be used to best display hidden aspects of London, highlight public spaces and enhance the fabric of the city.
A "Look Book", a catalogue of finished designs and all materials the boroughs will be able to purchase, will be released this summer. Mayor Boris Johnson said: "The games are a unique opportunity for London to secure its position for another generation as the best big city in the world.
"We all have a duty to make the most of this opportunity and I'm determined to ensure every part of the capital gets to benefit and enjoy the Games.
"This fund will help us put on the best show and showcase ourselves to the world - wherever we are."
London boroughs must identify areas to dress and consult the Greater London Authority and organiser Locog by the end of July, confirming their plans by the end of September. All orders from the Look Book must be received by the end of the year.
Reader views (14)
Truly the support for the Olympics is flagging. Boris, extractum digitum and do something worthwhile: stick the flagpole where the sun don't shine...sideways
- Bart, London, UK, 27/06/2011 14:11
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This flag is hideous. It looks like a broken swastika.
- Dave, Devon, 01/06/2011 06:42
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If there is money for this pointless nonsense then why did the London Councils savagely slash the London Taxicard scheme for the disabled?
- Susan, London, 31/05/2011 21:06
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Well just means that everyone in Londonistan can read ZION.
- Bill, Bright Town, 31/05/2011 20:04
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Only one flag should fly in England and thats the Cross of St George ..to ensure the spirit of Agincourt lives on and we repel the invaders before they get to our borders with a sharpe arrow in the jacksie
- Clif, Londion, 31/05/2011 18:56
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Every council who qualify should either turn down the offer or use it to maintain essential services and at the same time all council employess earning over say £60k p,a should take a 10% cut in salary as a contribution towards maintaining essential services in these times of austerity.
- strongbow sullivan, Paris, France, 31/05/2011 17:52
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unfortunately it is the price LOCOG charge to fly their flags from our town halls to advertise their event. Don't blame Boris or the Councils, blame LOCOG.
- croydonian, dorset, 31/05/2011 16:33
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A B***dy waste of public money. Every household in the capital should make a deduction to their council Tax as compensation. I for one do not want to see this idiot flag flying.
- Vince London, West London, 31/05/2011 15:44
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Where does all the cash come from if we are so bl*****g poor.
- Davey_Buoy, Chertsey, 31/05/2011 15:10
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Flags but no libaries
- James, London, UK, 31/05/2011 14:48
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Boris says " Its a unique opportunity " Has the man no sense . The games have been here before . As for spending all this money on what is just a few days , is just throwing good money away. Who for instance is going to make sure that this grant is spent on what its been given for . I doubt if hardly any money will be spent on this ,it will be use for other things like a few nights out for the town hall loafers . The ones who spend much of there time making excuses that there out of office and in the field, or of course sick . Come this side of London and the meet the staff of the Town halls ,thats if you can find that is .No the answer is to provide the stuff for each London counciland get it delivered to them then collect it later before they try to sell it off .
- Hamilton Straker, Ealing West London, 31/05/2011 12:29
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More waste of my council tax!
- Mark, London, 31/05/2011 12:04
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Surely each council getting this grant could put the money to better use than buying flags and bunting???? It amazes me that in a time of recession and cuts, town bureaucrats can allow the wastage of large sums of money on worthless items to cover a 3 week event! Amazing when services like lolly-pop patrols are being cut from outside schools.
You really couldn't make it up!
- Tony, Essex, 31/05/2011 11:31
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Is this when we find out how much of the signage will be in French?
- Rachel M, London, UK, 31/05/2011 11:08
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