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Working on the solid nonviolent principle that we should transform our enemies, PN brings you a
slightly tongue-in-cheek column dedicated to getting to know our "enemies" better.
LOVE YOUR ENEMY ... EVERYONE CAN CHANGE
Kat Barton
London's 2012 Olympics have been taking a bit of a bashing in the mainstream press, but not being
the type to jump on the bandwagon, PN attempts to take a rather more kindly look at this controversial project...
The modern Olympic Games began with the noble aim of promoting international understanding through sporting
competition, and in the past the Games have seen country delegations as well as individual sportsmen and women promote
understanding of some important political issues - such as Tommie Smith and John Carlos's black power podium gesture in
1968, and the various boycotts of the Games over the years. However, such politically-inspired outbursts are unlikely to
be a feature of the 2012 Games, with demonstrations being banned from any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.
Unforeseen circumstances
Modern-day Olympics boast many more noble aims, though: for example, the promise made by Sebastian Coe, Chairman of London
2012, to boost young people's participation in sport, and the huge urban regeneration scheme in east London - which
includes building 40,000 new homes. (Although neither the money nor the plans for these have materialised, they're still
very much in the pipeline.) Not to mention all the money that will go to good causes - once £340 million has been
channelled from existing sports lottery distributors to fund the Games.
But £2.4billion is a small price to play for two weeks of sporting fun, or at least it was until it became £4.4billion.
The unfortunate rise was due to unforeseen circumstances such as the decision to include inflation costs in the transport
budget and VAT in the construction budget.
A thorough clean-up
Mind you, £4.4 billion is nothing compared with the costs of some Games, and spiralling costs are pretty standard fare
too: Sydney 2000 ended up costing over twice pre-bid figures, Greece 2004 cost four times as much as its original budget,
and Montreal 1976 still holds the record for the most expensive games in history at over $5 billion (equivalent to $20
billion in 2006).
Still, it's money well spent if you ask me, and the benefits for London could be huge. In Athens, a thorough clean-up
was undertaken with homeless people being sent to mental institutions to get them off the streets where they might be seen.
So, I reckon we've got to keep an open mind - after all, everyone can change - and if last month's revised figures are
anything to go by, it looks like we'll be seeing a few more before 2012.
Suggestions of candidates ripe for redemption should be sent to editorial@peacenews.info
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