The prospects for a proud Olympic legacy are bleak

10 December 2008

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John Patten, an Olympics adviser, warns that there is still much strategic thinking to be done for 2012 — not to mention the lax anti-terror measures at the construction sites

The Olympic Delivery Authority builds the theatres in which the events will be staged. What it has been asked to do just leaves swaths of unfunded, unplanned terra incognita between various Olympic buildings that need to be filled and regenerated. If nothing is done, then following medal-hung euphoria the inevitable post-mortem will begin: Postquam ludos, omnes majores tristes sunt. A Regeneration Corporation is essential to stop the Mayor feeling sad.

The government originally budgeted for £2 billion to be raised from sponsors. In the teeth of a recessionary gale this will prove tricky. To attract much sought-after private-sector sponsors, the Games cannot just rely on association with the talismanic Olympic rings, and their undoubted laurel-wreathed values of decency. The supremo, in conjunction with the government and the various associations and authorities, needs to drum up corporate support. British brand devotees really care about success, so the intelligent sponsor puts competitors first. But at least that can be cured much more easily than the currently hopeless prospects for the post-Olympic legacy down there in the East End.

Lord Patten is a former Conservative education secretary and Home Office minister.

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Tom Callaghan

December 11th, 2008 9:26am Report this comment

There is of course a simple solution. Let the Games stay in Beijing, where all the facilities, infrastructure, housing and so on have already been created. Whatever happens after the Games, I suspect there will be a lot of expensive white elephants around, which will take generations to pay off.

Andy

December 11th, 2008 7:18pm Report this comment

The Govt will never agree to an ex-military chappie running it, but that's what you need to bring it in on time and on budget. Also we need to stop duplicating stuff that will be dismantled (shooting, 3DE/SJ) and use existing venues that are already up to spec. Better still, we could ask Paris if their bid is still open ...

Jane Bodington

December 16th, 2008 2:47am Report this comment

the word 'legacy' is enough to make anyone shudder. Shades of the B-Liar.

A common good as a result maybe, but nothing a pol can claim to be a result of their ineptitude and overspending.

Frugality games, or at least sensible games.

I never watch it anyway. It's so divorced from real life. And real sporting events. I feel sorry for someone who spent all their life eg hurdling, they win the medal, and then, who cares, it isn't sexy, it doesn't sell advertising space. And if they come fourth, their life is over. But they are amazing athletes, just no-good fourth in the world. And then your life is over.
Couch potatoes rule, no Olympics there.

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