So it's over. Beijing apparently went off without any obvious hitches...

Impressive Opening/Closing ceremonies
There was no major air pollution
There was no terrorism threats
World records fell all over the place
Team China did well
Team GB did well

The problems the media were worried about before the games must have been resolved...

Tibet
Darfur
Human rights

Becasue the media are now worried about...

The $20 billion spent by Beijing
The $9 billion being spent by London
London's image on a global scale
Whether everybody wants the games or not

And the good news is you have 4 years to get up to speed on the debate!

No country which hosts the Olympic Games ever gains anything financially from them. The so called "honour" of hosting the games is a moot point - there is no honour in spending money just to boost some politicians ego and line the pockets of the International Olympic Commitee when the money could be better spent elsewhere. It would have been better if the 2012 Olympic games had been awarded to Paris. You only have to look at what happened to the Athens facilities after 2004. The whole stadium and ancillary buildings are falling down and are never used. This link tells the sorry tale and should stand as a warning to Seb Coe and his mates re the 2012 games. Ruined Athens Olympic Facilities a Warning to London - June 2, 2008 - The New York Sun

You are right Esca, the Olympic legacy can work both ways. However the only possible downsides for the UK that I can see are potential overspend and London looking a bit "holiday camp" compared to the "5-star hotel" of Beijing.

I don't think the latter is likely, I think the World expects a certain amount of quaint/odd/eccentric etc from the UK. The overspend issue? Well I can't see it being avoided, but that's another thread in the making.

Anyway, back to the original point, I can't help but wonder where all the upset people pre-Beijing are now? Have they all forgotten (or possibly forgiven?) the issues they were vocal about pre-Beijing? Or are they simply are not news anymore, so are not gracing the news channels?

Given the worries about costs of the London Olympics, maybe we should use good old British ingenuity to use existing facilities to double up for venues.

I reckon with a bit of tweaking Tower Bridge would be great for the high and lowboard diving event. Okay, so it will be interrupted if they have to raise the bridge.

North and South Circular for long distance cycling?

Thames for open water swimming.

What say you lot?

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Sorry Jez I'm thinking that we did well in events which involved boats, water and cycling. So I thinking the we need an event which plays to our strengths so I propose we introduce Pedalo racing in 2012

Given that the modern pentathalon is based around an Austrian survival guide for soldiers seeking to escape from hostile enemy territory. Leyton seems ideal just leave each competitor in the middle of and let them make their own way back to the stadium.

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Urban Shooting! Nottingham could host the event in the way Weymouth is hosting the sailing

I was a bit concerned by the British section of the closing ceremony. It seemed to be London dance companies, London Fashion schools, London this and London that. Maybe I'm over-reacting but if 2012 turns into London everything and keep away the rest of the UK then I'm tempted to say London's bill at the end of it.

I do hope we don't end up with another Dome here. The rest of the UK stand aside because it has to be London. Shame about the Dome, brilliant concept, brilliant building filled with crap that disappointed everybody.

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Not so fast you lot.



Boris is on the case and has started implementing plans to save money and not go over budget.



With gas prices being at an all time high, likely to go even higher by the time of the games, he’s arranged for Chep, the pallet people to save all their old broken returns and he’s going to stack em’ high and burn them as our ‘Olympic flame’!


Brilliant I say.


We can have a giant barbeque with the embers after the games…..

I’ll bring some sausages then….




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