Olympics costing £900 mil over budget

[AddiscombeEagle]

I see on the BBC that they have announced that the 2012 Olympics will already be 900 million over budget and that this will be met by London taxpayers and the Lottery.

This makes me laugh, are tickets for this going to be restricted just to Londoners and bar everyone else. I can’t see how I should pay more council tax in sunny Carshalton than someone in Liverpool for example, how it is going to benefit my daily life unless they are going to upgrade Carshalton Athletics stadium for the Olympic football.

Not sure whether I am moaning for no reason, it just feels wrong that London taxpayers are picking this up when the whole country will reap its rewards.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6167504.stm (http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6167504.stm)

[JAS78]

these huge projects always seem to go well over budget, i'm certain when these bids are put in the costs are underestimated on purpose to make the bid far more attactive. Now we've won the games the extra £ will be found without a problem from somewhere.

i agree, the cost should be spread across all taxpayers (maybe only England though)

[GreatGonzo]

It is ridiculous because we will all be taxed more and the reason - to pay the tax!

If the government want the Olympics and say they will benefit the country then they should make the project VAT free!

[JAS78]

Originally posted by GreatGonzo
It is ridiculous because we will all be taxed more and the reason - to pay the tax!

If the government want the Olympics and say they will benefit the country then they should make the project VAT free!

i think the government were prepared to wave the VAT but weren't allowed due to European law

[GreatGonzo]

Originally posted by JAS78
i think the government were prepared to wave the VAT but weren't allowed due to European law

Why not take the tax and just fund the project to the same amount, surely the EU (sooner we get out the better) cannot dictate what our government does with tax!