The new Clement Temile thread

[HTFCew]

I preferred Ovett as well. He had a lot more personality.

[Lato]

Actually Ovett was more popular with athletes as he was 'one of them' whereas Coe was the 'oddball' to quote you. Ovett was also more popular with the spectators.

 

Something as important as the Olympics should have been put to a referendum of the people of the city. The London bid was the only one based around a concept for over 90% of the facilities. Computer graphics and fancy videos are all well and good but for something this important you need tangibles. Its now five years to go to the start of the Games and as far as I can see nothing has happened apart from the costs escalating. How long has Wembley taken to build...seven years and that had an agreed plan eventually. Plans for Olympic facilities are still being finalised, the land for the stadium is contaminated, the public transport system is going to be nothing short of a joke without a massive investment which won't be forthcoming because Coe and his cohorts won't use it. Okay they make noises but they aren't interested in that as their tier of society is totally car orientated and they will all be chauffereda round. Look at the disaster that is the Millennium Dome since it was built and what happened to that. Do you remember the chaos of its opening and the chronic public transport problems with getting to that.

 

If the UK was to stage the Olympics then it should have been in Manchester where the Commonwealth Games were successfully staged and many facilities are already in place. Too easy a solution though plus the IOC insisted that any British bid had to be in London...why when there was nothing there is a question that has to be asked??

 

 

[Lato]

you've gone very quiet on the Olympics rhodes as more and more people are voicing concerns over the costs. I read today that the Beijing Olympics are estimated to be costing £20billion and thats with reduced labour costs. No wonder everyone was eager to snap off Seb and Co (pardon the puns) hand when they gavea cost of £2 billion for the 2012 Games.

 

Also funny how its LONDON that will have to bear the brunt of the cost but BRITAIN that will benefit from them.

[Rhodes]

Lato - You seem to feel very strongly about the topic and I think anything I say in favour of London hosting the 2012 Games will fall on deaf ears. It all seems to be about the money aspect with you but what about the advantages and the huge benefits such as transforming the East of the City from the deprived wastelands they are today. I was looking at some of the artists impressions of what it's all going to look like (see link) and I'm sure even you can't fail to be impressed:

 

http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/olympics/slideshow/index.jsp

 

 

 

 

[3praise]

Artists impressions are just plans and drawings - anyone can draw a building in a couple of days, it will be a huge ask for these plans to be ready in time, when most sites havent even got planning permission yet!

 

Its funny that you posted this Rhodes, as it sums you up quite well, very interested in plan, theroies and things that could happen, BUT in reality nothing is quite that easy.

[Lato]

rhodes if you think the Olympics will be a good thing for London then that's well and good. I agree that parts of East London will be redeveloped if everything goes according to plan but I'm just concerned that the costs are escalating out of control, no actual budget figure has been fixed, no start dates for much of the infra structure has been announced and the ownership of the land is still under question.

 

I also find it incredible that a budget figure was initially announced then within 12 months a revised figure is published that is increased by £900 million. £400 million of which is to pay for a development partner primarily employed to stop costs escalating out of control!! The other £500 million is to allow for inflation between now and 2012 in transport costs and rises in steel prices. Shouldn't basic things like that have been accounted for in the original budget...or was it that they were scared if they announced the real figure it might not go down well with the voting public.

 

 

[Sharming Paula]

Just think about the hoist in your Council Tax and Business Rates

[Rhodes]

Lato - You seem to have an enormous bee in your bonnet concerning the cost of the Games as if it is your own money, why don't you just chill out as it will be alright on the night and all come out in the wash. Don't you think Seb Coe has thought of all these things and has every angle covered, he's not stupid and won't want to lose face with the British public as he's too proud a man who bleeds red white and blue. At the end of the day it's not every day your home City is given the Olympic Games, why can't you just be proud of that fact, I see 3praise is unsurprisingly jumping on the bandwagon now and all this started just because I innocently happened to mention Coe in a post.

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Don't you think Seb Coe has thought of all these things and has every angle covered

Probably not!

[NeutralFan]

I'm more worried about my council tax... will have to talk the missus into moving back to Hertfordshire!

[Football Man]

What! And miss out on all those future editions of the Islington Gazette that Kentish Town will be all over like a rash?

[3praise]

not jumping on the bandwagon Rhodes, merely adding weight and evidence to a post in which i agree with Lato! nothing wrong with having an opinion is there Rhodes?

[Rhodes]

3praise - No agreed but there is weight and evidence and there is weight and evidence, yours always, come what may, seems to disagree with my point of view for some reason, funny that.

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

3praise - No agreed but there is weight and evidence and there is weight and evidence, yours always, come what may, seems to disagree with my point of view for some reason, funny that.

So does mine most of the time. Funny that.

[3praise]

Well Mr "im so far in the Closet im in Still in Narnia" Rhodes you know what they say - opposites attract!!

[Rhodes]

3praise - This is exactly what I mean with your strange posts, I don't understand a word of this one. Incidentally why don't you just send me a PM which will naturally be treated in the strictest of confidence saying that your comments on here are all a facade in order to keep those pints of Fosters coming after Haringey games and you being allowed through the 'gates of heaven' for home fixtures.

[Lato]

headline in the Standard tonight (I haven't read the story) is Olympic Bill set to rise to £10 billion.

 

My concern is that yes the powers that be may well have thought of all these things but surely the 'great British public' have a right to know. Why lie about them in the first place...is that not deliberately misleading the electorate?

[Rhodes]

Lato - Yes this was on the News too however simply another story spread by un-patriotic doom and gloom merchants wanting to rain on Seb Coe's parade. As I say don't worry yourself so much, it will be awright on the night, the electorate are not fools and will vote with their feet if they feel there is any misleading or wrong doing going on. Incidentally what if hypothetically the Games had been awarded to Poland and Warsaw were currently preparing to host them in 2012, I'm sure you would be all for it then.

[NeutralFan]

Originally Posted By: Lato

Why lie about them in the first place...is that not deliberately misleading the electorate?

That seems to be the general qualification to be a politician?

[Lato]

there is no chance of the Olympics being awared to Warsaw therefore that statement is irrelevant. However if it did occur then I wouldn't support that either as I feel the Olympics have grown out of all proportion, moved away from the ideals of Pierre de Coubatain and the Olympian spirit and are now just a money making exercise for trough swilling businessmen and attention grabbing conduits for publicity seeking politicians and policy makers. The IOC need the balls to stand up and say that the Games need to be made smaller not bigger and indeed with the pletehroa of World Championships in all sports there is almost a case for questioning whether there is a need for them anymore.