Olympic optimism or overspend...

It seems that there are several problems arising over the 2012 London Olympics...

A new civil liberties controversy has flared up over the news that police chiefs are considering using high-powered microphones to "eavesdrop" - as critics will see it - on crowds at the London 2012 Olympics. [link]

In the BBC news item Blunkett (!!!) said

"If you can't guarantee that [a private conversation as you walk down the road] - and here is someone speaking who has been pretty tough in terms of what should be available to protect society - I believe we have slipped over the edge."

Almost a year ago there was growing concern regarding the number and situation of CCTV cameras in the UK...[Owsblog post]

"A fifth of the world's CCTV cameras are in the UK, and the average person is caught on film 300 times a day. Britain's four million cameras cover almost every town centre and the numbers are growing”…

On top of this there is the growing clamour of concern over the money: how much and for what. Culture spokesman Don Foster said he wished those involved would "shut up" until the budget was finalised. I presume he was referring to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, amongst others, whom has already said the cost of the Games will be higher than budgeted (how many times can we expect to hear that in the next few years!). She stated the cost would rise by £900m to £3.3bn.

"Different government departments are arguing with each other and so nobody knows where we stand. And confidence in our ability to deliver the Olympics is sadly ebbing away when it's going to be fantastic.

I can tell you some of the rise is coming from…[BBC Link]

Mr Brown said:

"When we did the original application, there was one form of company organisation that might not have required VAT.

"Now that we have looked at the thing in detail, there may be another form of company organisation for the Olympic deal."…

Funnily enough I tend to agree with spokesmen from all 3 main parties: it is ‘frightening incompetence’ from the government but why not leave the criticism and concentrate on making sure the games are the great success the government ‘insists’ they will be….