The Olympic 'Zil' lanes: 250 miles of road will be coned off for 2012 'VIPs'

[-:Undertaker:-]

Thanks to Jordy for bringing this to my attention;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1093929/The-Olympic-Zil-lanes-250-miles-road-coned-2012-VIPs.html


More than 250 miles of road are to be reserved for VIPs during the London Olympics. Up to 80,000 officials, sponsors, politicians and athletes will have congestion0free lanes in London and at other venues. Ordinary motorists face fines if they stray on to the reserved routes, which include sections of the M25. Challenging the fines could lead to a penalty of up to £5,000.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/12/12/article-1093929-02C76451000005DC-10_468x324.jpg



More than 200 traffic lights will be adapted to keep Olympic officials on the move in 2012. Critics said the plans - outlined in a Department for Transport consultation paper yesterday - owed much to Soviet-style 'Zil lanes'. In Communist times, these were used by high-ranking party and state officials to get around Moscow in their Zil limousines. For the 2012 Games it is thought that key roads leading to the main stadium in Stratford, East London, will come under the Olympic Route Network, as are routes to and from Heathrow, under plans outlined by transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

The network will cover the Olympic sailing venue at Weymouth in Dorset and rowing events at Eton Dorney in Berkshire. Hugh Sumner, Olympics transport director, said no public routes would be shut. Thirty miles of the network might be assigned as 'Games lanes' - reserved lanes on dual carriageways and motorways. Mr Fitzpatrick-said: 'The network will be vital for transporting the Games Family and keeping our country moving during the Games.' But AA president Edmund King said: 'The network will cause congestion for buses, taxis and other road users.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/12/12/article-1093929-02C76451000005DC-755_468x444.jpg



'Enforcement must be fair. The last thing we want is motorists straying into Olympic lanes by mistake and being hit with fines up to £5,000.' The consultation document listed possible effects of the network, including the possibility of delays to other traffic during the Games, tougher parking restrictions for residents, stricter loading restrictions and the need for public utilities to reschedule roadworks. Among the VIPs are members of the the International Olympic Committee and other affiliated organisations; technical officials, sponsors who provide £1billion of funding and services and members of the media. A 14-week consultation period on the proposals will now follow. The Government says the network is designed to ensure that the 55,000 athletes, officials, media and sponsors on each of the 16 days of the Olympic Games and 16,500 on each of the 12 days of the Paralympics Games can move safely, quickly and reliably between the competition venues, their accommodation and other key locations.

This is disgusting, yet another case of 'do as we say not as we do' by the ruling elite in this country - this is on the same par as the disgusting road charge brought in for inner-London by former Mayor 'red Ken'. We pay for the roads, we have a right to use the roads - not government officals and foreign officals who mostly don't pay tax and milk the system dry. A fine of £5,000 - how out of proportion and what a complete and utter devious scheme to make yet more money out of the people who not only pay for the roads in the first place, but are also the people paying for this ridiculous Olympic Games of which most of us will not even see/have no interest in it.

This calls for people to ignore the damn government for once and to hell with them all - I hope this Olympics is a big **** up to show up what a gang of utterly useless, self-serving morons we had & have incharge.

When are the British people going to stand up and stop being treated like second class citizens in our own country?

Thoughts?

[Technologic]

As long as essential NHS/Police/Fire staff can use them too i don't care, people need to learn to walk

[flatface]

As long as essential NHS/Police/Fire staff can use them too i don't care, people need to learn to walk

I agree with this, use public transport or take alternative routes.

[Tintinnabulate]

As long as essential NHS/Police/Fire staff can use them too i don't care, people need to learn to walk

I am sure they will never stop the Emergency Services from using them.

In a way this idea is good as those taking part won't complain they couldn't take part because of traffic etc. Just makes the country looks good really.

[Catzsy]

I am sure they will never stop the Emergency Services from using them.

In a way this idea is good as those taking part won't complain they couldn't take part because of traffic etc. Just makes the country looks good really.

Agree and it is a very special occasion for the UK. I am sure there has to be some pretty ruthless security measures. Fuss about nothing really.

[dbgtz]

I think its fair, if they actually have to be there like opening the games, participating in the games (obv) etc. Apart from those it is pretty stupid.

[Inseriousity.]

"The Government says the network is designed to ensure that the 55,000 athletes, officials, media and sponsors on each of the 16 days of the Olympic Games and 16,500 on each of the 12 days of the Paralympics Games can move safely, quickly and reliably between the competition venues, their accommodation and other key locations."

if it's transporting 55,000 people, I think it's a good idea to have a 'special lane'. It's not like it'll be permament and I imagine that they wouldn't just pick random roads, it'd have took proper planning.

[alexxxxx]

When are the British people going to stand up and stop being treated like second class citizens in our own country?

Thoughts?

we've invited the world to the UK for 4 weeks which never happens. the whole world will be watching. they'll be our guests. if someone important needs to be somewhere in time for an event then they should. the UK will be pretty much at a standstill for 2 weeks anyway. well london anyway.

every country does this. in italy when there's bad pollution only cars with odd or even numbers at the end are allowed to drive in the cities! get a grip.

[xxMATTGxx]

I'm not being funny but I rather make sure all the people who are taking part and what not get there on time. London 2012 is an important even for the UK and we have to make sure everything is done correctly.

[kk.]

the olympics is something which is very rare, and for it to come to the UK, i think we can all manage to live with very few roads being designated olympic roads for a few weeks.. if not, then the people in this country need to have a reality check.. if you cant handle only having 3 lanes, or 2 lanes, then man up or just dont drive.. We've forked out for the olympics, i think we can live with a few weeks of small congestion so the we can actually watch what we paid for...

anyway, dailyfail fals again

[Inseriousity.]

in italy when there's bad pollution only cars with odd or even numbers at the end are allowed to drive in the cities!

LOL classic :D

[Jordy]

How come the officials are allowed to use cars yet the general public is banned from using cars to attend the games. To make the games more "green" they are not building any parking facilities at all at the games to ensure everyone attends by public transport. This has meant massive investment in public transport in East London which I'm not actually against, I just think if we're all expected to be "Green", why can't the officials and athletes be too?

[kk.]

How come the officials are allowed to use cars yet the general public is banned from using cars to attend the games. To make the games more "green" they are not building any parking facilities at all at the games to ensure everyone attends by public transport. This has meant massive investment in public transport in East London which I'm not actually against, I just think if we're all expected to be "Green", why can't the officials and athletes be too?

they probably are, the atletes will all travel by bus depending on where they are in the country. My towns hosting team GB, so theyll all probs have cars, but foreigners won't.

[Fez]

As long as essential NHS/Police/Fire staff can use them too i don't care, people need to learn to walk

I agree with this.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Are the athletes not staying most of the time in the Olympic village which is usually built alongside? which to me suggests this will be for the likes of Tony Blair, Herman Van Rompuy and countless other politicians who don't want to use our roads because they are overcrowded and sub-standed. In which case we should ask ourselves, why doesnt the government spend this money on widening and improving the roads rather than a week or twos worth of sporting events?

Yet again its do as I say, not as I do.

If it were only atheletes using it then you may have a case (although i'd still ask why can they not use the 'sufficent' and 'great' sporting links being built by the taxpayer for these games? what annoys me is the fact that this will include politicians, the super rich friends of the politicians when it was the British taxpayer who paid for these roads - not a select few, most of who are foreign and have never paid anything to this country.

Why should people be treated different on the roads because of their status?

[kk.]

Are the athletes not staying most of the time in the Olympic village which is usually built alongside? which to me suggests this will be for the likes of Tony Blair, Herman Van Rompuy and countless other politicians who don't want to use our roads because they are overcrowded and sub-standed. In which case we should ask ourselves, why doesnt the government spend this money on widening and improving the roads rather than a week or twos worth of sporting events?

Yet again its do as I say, not as I do.

If it were only atheletes using it then you may have a case (although i'd still ask why can they not use the 'sufficent' and 'great' sporting links being built by the taxpayer for these games? what annoys me is the fact that this will include politicians, the super rich friends of the politicians when it was the British taxpayer who paid for these roads - not a select few, most of who are foreign and have never paid anything to this country.

Why should people be treated different on the roads because of their status?

athletes do stay in the village, but not all the time. They have to travel from their camps across the country. Im not sure exactly how it works, but im assuming they travel a few days before theyre due to compete. but also, they dont hve the facilities in east london for them to train, so they go elsewhere, or stay where they picked as their host towns

[alexxxxx]

Are the athletes not staying most of the time in the Olympic village which is usually built alongside? which to me suggests this will be for the likes of Tony Blair, Herman Van Rompuy and countless other politicians who don't want to use our roads because they are overcrowded and sub-standed. In which case we should ask ourselves, why doesnt the government spend this money on widening and improving the roads rather than a week or twos worth of sporting events?

Yet again its do as I say, not as I do.

If it were only atheletes using it then you may have a case (although i'd still ask why can they not use the 'sufficent' and 'great' sporting links being built by the taxpayer for these games? what annoys me is the fact that this will include politicians, the super rich friends of the politicians when it was the British taxpayer who paid for these roads - not a select few, most of who are foreign and have never paid anything to this country.

Why should people be treated different on the roads because of their status?

we've invited the world for dinner to advertise our country and therefore people who need to be places including the hundreds of athletes, TV vans, journalists, foreign heads of state and politicians, charities, sponsors and their guests. it's common practice at olympic games. TV cameras and mixing trucks don't travel well on public transport.

if we're having an olympic games we might as well make it good. get a grip and complain about something much less trivial. this is such a joke - almost as bad as complaining about wheelie bins.

[Stephen]

Thanks to Jordy for bringing this to my attention;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1093929/The-Olympic-Zil-lanes-250-miles-road-coned-2012-VIPs.html




http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/12/12/article-1093929-02C76451000005DC-10_468x324.jpg




http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/12/12/article-1093929-02C76451000005DC-755_468x444.jpg




This is disgusting, yet another case of 'do as we say not as we do' by the ruling elite in this country - this is on the same par as the disgusting road charge brought in for inner-London by former Mayor 'red Ken'. We pay for the roads, we have a right to use the roads - not government officals and foreign officals who mostly don't pay tax and milk the system dry. A fine of £5,000 - how out of proportion and what a complete and utter devious scheme to make yet more money out of the people who not only pay for the roads in the first place, but are also the people paying for this ridiculous Olympic Games of which most of us will not even see/have no interest in it.

This calls for people to ignore the damn government for once and to hell with them all - I hope this Olympics is a big **** up to show up what a gang of utterly useless, self-serving morons we had & have incharge.

When are the British people going to stand up and stop being treated like second class citizens in our own country?

Thoughts?

Seriously? Because you're pissed, you want the olympics to be a huge failure? It's a ******* road/lane

[Technologic]

Why are you even trying to turn this political? And why the hell do you care?! You live in Liverpool...

[Neversoft]

I think that's fair enough. Especially seeing as how public transport will be free if you have a ticket to any one of the Olympic events and they're opening up new cycle lanes and such. Traveling around London in 2012 is going to be quite the spectacle.

[Jordy]

I think that's fair enough. Especially seeing as how public transport will be free if you have a ticket to any one of the Olympic events and they're opening up new cycle lanes and such. Traveling around London in 2012 is going to be quite the spectacle.I think it will be a spectacle yes, no doubt it'll show that London has the best public transport system in the world. However I do worry for the roads, the M25 is congested enough as it is, if you take away a lane from it and put even more cars on it, you're heading for disaster.

[-:Undertaker:-]

we've invited the world for dinner to advertise our country and therefore people who need to be places including the hundreds of athletes, TV vans, journalists, foreign heads of state and politicians, charities, sponsors and their guests. it's common practice at olympic games. TV cameras and mixing trucks don't travel well on public transport.

if we're having an olympic games we might as well make it good. get a grip and complain about something much less trivial. this is such a joke - almost as bad as complaining about wheelie bins.

Well why not use our roads like the rest of us have to? why should politicians and their rich friends be allowed to use our roads free of charge going to the event that we paid for while we are all stuck in the congested roads that the politicians here have failed to sort out - maybe if they do not like the state of the roads they should have spent the billions they have spent on this silly sporting event to build more roads - that afterall is what we pay taxes for.

We do not pay taxes for an expensive and over-the-top sporting event that lasts a few weeks, and at the end leaving us with a costly stadium that will be rarely used (if not at all judging by past examples) and a mountain of debt.

I'll complain about it because its a large sum of money and the way we [the taxpayer] are being treated is disgraceful. We have people dying because they cannot get cancer drugs, we have roads congested - our country is falling apart and is under strain by a massive amount of debt yet our politicians still see no problem in splashing billions and billions on a useless sporting event that will only serve to expand their own egos and treat their friends to a nice few weeks in the VIP boxes.

Then to top that off, we are the ones who will be sitting in our cars on congested roads while the politicians whizz past to see the games we paid for.


Seriously? Because you're pissed, you want the olympics to be a huge failure? It's a ******* road/lane

Yeah I do, and I hope everybody sitting in their cars on the congested roads also get pissed off and all ignore the road closure which would be fantastic. It is time we stopped serving the elite and they serve us like they are supposed to.


Why are you even trying to turn this political? And why the hell do you care?! You live in Liverpool...

Because it is political clever clogs - its being closed for politicians. Exactly on your second point; i'm in Liverpool yet my family and millions of other families are paying for this total waste which none of us will get to go and see and all it is is just another reason for the politicians to be treated to a nice banquet, expand their own egos and be treated as royalty.

We are taxed on everything, then taxed again - then when we die we are taxed. Give people a break.


All Animals are Equal - but some Are More Equal than Others.

Quote: -
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: 'A dedicated transport route is essential to the smooth running of an Olympics and London 2012 will be no different. We are absolutely determined to ensure that athletes spend their time competing and not commuting during the Games.'

So - sod the people that are paying for it - they don't matter.All that really matters is that the competitors arrive in time for the VIP's to watch them and, if that inconveniences hundrds of thousands of people getting to work - it is worth it and - it is probably "good for us", This simply is not going to happen in MY country. What do the rest of you think?

- Paul Kearns, Ilfracombe, Devon, 11/12/2008 20:28

That [comment] is spot on.

[Tintinnabulate]

Well why not use our roads like the rest of us have to? why should politicians and their rich friends be allowed to use our roads free of charge going to the event that we paid for while we are all stuck in the congested roads that the politicians here have failed to sort out - maybe if they do not like the state of the roads they should have spent the billions they have spent on this silly sporting event to build more roads - that afterall is what we pay taxes for.

We do not pay taxes for an expensive and over-the-top sporting event that lasts a few weeks, and at the end leaving us with a costly stadium that will be rarely used (if not at all judging by past examples) and a mountain of debt.

I'll complain about it because its a large sum of money and the way we [the taxpayer] are being treated is disgraceful. We have people dying because they cannot get cancer drugs, we have roads congested - our country is falling apart and is under strain by a massive amount of debt yet our politicians still see no problem in splashing billions and billions on a useless sporting event that will only serve to expand their own egos and treat their friends to a nice few weeks in the VIP boxes.

Then to top that off, we are the ones who will be sitting in our cars on congested roads while the politicians whizz past to see the games we paid for.



Yeah I do, and I hope everybody sitting in their cars on the congested roads also get pissed off and all ignore the road closure which would be fantastic. It is time we stopped serving the elite and they serve us like they are supposed to.



Because it is political clever clogs - its being closed for politicians. Exactly on your second point; i'm in Liverpool yet my family and millions of other families are paying for this total waste which none of us will get to go and see and all it is is just another reason for the politicians to be treated to a nice banquet, expand their own egos and be treated as royalty.

We are taxed on everything, then taxed again - then when we die we are taxed. Give people a break.



That [comment] is spot on.

Two words: Multiplier effect.
Building more roads doesn't bring in additional money, hosting the Olympics does ...
I didn't think you would want the government to spend money on roads with so much debt :S.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Two words: Multiplier effect.
Building more roads doesn't bring in additional money, hosting the Olympics does ...
I didn't think you would want the government to spend money on roads with so much debt :S.

Wrong, because with the multipler effect we'd solve debt by simply spending. The Olympics are not going to make a profit and have already made a loss, you also have to remember that the money for the Olympics wasn't there in the first place and will not be paid back for decades - meaning that the interest on that debt is going to have to be paid year on year. I think you are using the absurd theory that Labour spewed out over election time, that to get out of recession you need to spend - that simply does not work and has been proven in numerous socialist economies which ended up bankrupt (including the British economy in 1979) and of course all of that is another can of worms. However, if you have no money and have debts to your name, you do not go out and spend more money to 'get yourself out of debt' because it doesnt work. I would understrand your point if the government was investing in something that made a profit - however the Olympic Games do not make a profit they make a disasterous loss.

The Olympics have already made a loss and while roads do not make a profit, roads are essential - costly games are not.

[GommeInc]

Makes you wonder if they will think about reducing public transport costs. It would be useful for residents and visitors to London, especially when driving is out of the equation. Does make you wonder why they decided to have the Olympics here, when the events are scattered far and wide :P

[alexxxxx]

Well why not use our roads like the rest of us have to? why should politicians and their rich friends be allowed to use our roads free of charge going to the event that we paid for while we are all stuck in the congested roads that the politicians here have failed to sort out - maybe if they do not like the state of the roads they should have spent the billions they have spent on this silly sporting event to build more roads - that afterall is what we pay taxes for.

it's not a bloody permanent thing! Why does the queen get a police escort? I don't know whether you've ever been to london, but it is BUSY at the best of times. Just get over it.


We do not pay taxes for an expensive and over-the-top sporting event that lasts a few weeks, and at the end leaving us with a costly stadium that will be rarely used (if not at all judging by past examples) and a mountain of debt.

The 2012 olympics will be used as a platform to show off what is good about britain to the world, the media will come and show off the rest of the UK and to promote our country to business and tourism - which could pay it all off. Not to mention the large number (thousands, millions) of tourists who will be in london and the UK at the time spending all their money.

If you watch the news you'll hear of the football clubs wanting to buy the main stadium or rent it. The past example i guess is greece - who can't organise or plan a thing.

Not to mention the prestige of hosting the olympics game, the promotion of sport and its health benefits. I'd be willing to say that public support for the olympics is very high.


I'll complain about it because its a large sum of money and the way we [the taxpayer] are being treated is disgraceful. We have people dying because they cannot get cancer drugs, we have roads congested - our country is falling apart and is under strain by a massive amount of debt yet our politicians still see no problem in splashing billions and billions on a useless sporting event that will only serve to expand their own egos and treat their friends to a nice few weeks in the VIP boxes.

LOL you're going a bit over the top with the 'political elite' crap. The country is not falling apart by any means and the debt is nominal compared to the risks with the banks.



Then to top that off, we are the ones who will be sitting in our cars on congested roads while the politicians whizz past to see the games we paid for.

Take public transport - which has been upgraded for the games.



Yeah I do, and I hope everybody sitting in their cars on the congested roads also get pissed off and all ignore the road closure which would be fantastic. It is time we stopped serving the elite and they serve us like they are supposed to.

Vote the millionaires of UKIP.



Because it is political clever clogs - its being closed for politicians. Exactly on your second point; i'm in Liverpool yet my family and millions of other families are paying for this total waste which none of us will get to go and see and all it is is just another reason for the politicians to be treated to a nice banquet, expand their own egos and be treated as royalty.

In your opinion it is a waste.

[-:Undertaker:-]

it's not a bloody permanent thing! Why does the queen get a police escort? I don't know whether you've ever been to london, but it is BUSY at the best of times. Just get over it.

The Queen gets a police escort because she is the head of state, she does not get main roads & motorways closed off so she can go along the road faster than the rest of us - nobody should have priority over the roads, especially not because of their status.


The 2012 olympics will be used as a platform to show off what is good about britain to the world, the media will come and show off the rest of the UK and to promote our country to business and tourism - which could pay it all off. Not to mention the large number (thousands, millions) of tourists who will be in london and the UK at the time spending all their money.

What utter nonsense; 'platform to show off what is good about britain to the world' - that doesn't even mean anything. If you want to improve business, then maybe the £12bn+ spent on the Olympics could have been used to give business a tax break or even give the ordinary people of this country a tax break rather than spending more than you will ever get in return and the small return you do get will be centred down in London.

This Olympics is costing every single person in this country roughly around £2,000 each - I won't get to see it, I won't be having a ticket free of charge like Herman Van Rompuy, Tony Blair and the rest of the worlds cronies are - so why on earth should I and the millions of other people in this country who couldn't give a hoot about the Olympics pay for it?

As for you being concerned for the welfare of business, come off it.


If you watch the news you'll hear of the football clubs wanting to buy the main stadium or rent it. The past example i guess is greece - who can't organise or plan a thing.

China are also struggling to use their stadium - all that money spent on a few weeks worth of sport and a fancy stadium for a minor league football club - what a total and utter waste. If concerned about sporting in this country, how many playgrounds & parks could have been built with the billions spent on this stadium and entertainment for the rich and powerful? it has nothing to do with sport as they try and make out hence why they sell off our wonderful parks year on year, its about extending their own ego and handing our contracts.


Not to mention the prestige of hosting the olympics game, the promotion of sport and its health benefits. I'd be willing to say that public support for the olympics is very high.

See above, nothing at all to do with the promotion of sport.


LOL you're going a bit over the top with the 'political elite' crap. The country is not falling apart by any means and the debt is nominal compared to the risks with the banks.

Sorry but it is the elite, why should roads be closed off for politicians and 'VIPs' who will no doubt include the politicians best friends, the mega rich and famous. That is elitism.


Take public transport - which has been upgraded for the games.

The thing is, I and many other people in this country will not be going to the Games because we have no interest in it/we cannot afford it - so why should we be interrupted (along with business) on the already congested roads that we alone pay for have to sit in hot cars while the super rich and politicians whizz past in their special Zil lane all because they are powerful/friends of the politicians?

It is not on.


Vote the millionaires of UKIP.

Lmao, you make it out as though its the richest party on Earth.

But you see this is the difference because my rant isnt about money, UKIP don't drive around in Zil lanes demanding the roads be shut now do they? I have no problem with people being rich and powerful, but what annoys me is this liberal elitism that runs in this country and around Europe. The same can be seen (since we are going to digs) in the fact that a large portion of unelected EU pencil pushers are on more than both Prime Minister Cameron and President Obama.


In your opinion it is a waste.

No it is a waste, it loses money and provides next to no benefits = a total waste of money at a time when we have no money left.

[Geraint]

Build new roads in London? Yeah, good idea that, let's just knock down some houses, shops, businesses for some roads. More congestion will encourage people to use public transport which is what they want to do. They'll probably congestion charge people to get some money too.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Build new roads in London? Yeah, good idea that, let's just knock down some houses, shops, businesses for some roads. More congestion will encourage people to use public transport which is what they want to do. They'll probably congestion charge people to get some money too.

Our roads are too small and for an expanding population that is sadly what you have to do - its common sense. As for public transport being used more if the roads are congested, well going by that theory our roads wouldn't be congested right now. Most people commute to London and car is the best method of transport for those who live in the rual suburbs surrounding London. If people pay their taxes for new roads and for things this country needs (which is new roads) then they should get new roads or have that tax cut.

[MrPinkPanther]

Firstly no they don't pay taxes but the olympics will generate vast amounts of money for our countries economy in the long term. Far higher than the Olympics cost.

Secondly you are wrong. It's not a £5000 fine, it's UP TO a £5000 fine for challenging the ruling like it is with many other offences because you end up paying court fee's etc.

Thirdly you say they reside in the Olympic village. This is true. But the Olympics are set throughout the UK, not just in London. For example sailing takes place on the coast. Athletes travel around a lot and the other people in this thread are right, we need to show how great the UK is, this won't happen by displaying the wonders of traffic jams. If you have a Guest into your house you don't expect them to do chores even though you may do some yourself, this is the same principle.

Finally you've said these will likely be reserved for people like Tony Blair and Herman Von Rompuy when this is specifically designed for Athletes and Olympic officials. Stopped trying to create a rant out of nothing. It's common sense.

[alexxxxx]

The Queen gets a police escort because she is the head of state, she does not get main roads & motorways closed off so she can go along the road faster than the rest of us - nobody should have priority over the roads, especially not because of their status.

Sounds like elitism to me(!)



What utter nonsense; 'platform to show off what is good about britain to the world' - that doesn't even mean anything. If you want to improve business, then maybe the £12bn+ spent on the Olympics could have been used to give business a tax break or even give the ordinary people of this country a tax break rather than spending more than you will ever get in return and the small return you do get will be centred down in London.

No, it quite clearly does. For the cricket t20 world cup, which is tiny in comparison to the olympics, there was foreign media in my city filming and talking about it and making it look like a nice place. You get the exposure, everyone is thinking about london/england and so is business. Why was south africa so bothered about hosting the world cup when there's millions without proper schools? I have an issue with it all being concentrated in london yeah, but i think it is likely a return can be made - not to mention the possible economic benefits in london that the £12bn has achieved.



This Olympics is costing every single person in this country roughly around £2,000 each - I won't get to see it, I won't be having a ticket free of charge like Herman Van Rompuy, Tony Blair and the rest of the worlds cronies are - so why on earth should I and the millions of other people in this country who couldn't give a hoot about the Olympics pay for it?

Why won't you get to see it? You could. I will be. And i'm sure nearer the time there will be plenty of freebies to get your hands on. Why should i pay for someone else's cancer drugs - I DON'T NEED THEM? Why should i pay for some other kids education, I DON'T WANT IT. Why should I pay for the armed forces in the middle east, I DON'T WANT IT? Why should I pay for anything that doesn't relate to my life? Because that's how taxes work. It is unfair. Life is unfair.



As for you being concerned for the welfare of business, come off it.

I'm not a communist you know.



China are also struggling to use their stadium - all that money spent on a few weeks worth of sport and a fancy stadium for a minor league football club - what a total and utter waste. If concerned about sporting in this country, how many playgrounds & parks could have been built with the billions spent on this stadium and entertainment for the rich and powerful? it has nothing to do with sport as they try and make out hence why they sell off our wonderful parks year on year, its about extending their own ego and handing our contracts.

If you think West Ham (premier league) and Spurs (champions league) are 'minor league' then you'd be wrong. Millions of people will enjoy the olympics, not just the rich and powerful.


See above, nothing at all to do with the promotion of sport.

Apart from the extra millions invested in it.



Sorry but it is the elite, why should roads be closed off for politicians and 'VIPs' who will no doubt include the politicians best friends, the mega rich and famous. That is elitism.

It's not clear who exactly will be allowed to use these lanes.



The thing is, I and many other people in this country will not be going to the Games because we have no interest in it/we cannot afford it - so why should we be interrupted (along with business) on the already congested roads that we alone pay for have to sit in hot cars while the super rich and politicians whizz past in their special Zil lane all because they are powerful/friends of the politicians?

It is not on.

LOL Businesses in london will be VERY happy the games are there I can assure you. And if youre travelling to london from any sort of distance the train is much better - it's faster for a start.



Lmao, you make it out as though its the richest party on Earth.

There are some guys with a lot of £ in it though. I'd say the public image of UKIP is much more elitist than the other 3 main parties.


But you see this is the difference because my rant isnt about money, UKIP don't drive around in Zil lanes demanding the roads be shut now do they? I have no problem with people being rich and powerful, but what annoys me is this liberal elitism that runs in this country and around Europe. The same can be seen (since we are going to digs) in the fact that a large portion of unelected EU pencil pushers are on more than both Prime Minister Cameron and President Obama.

No because they are not in office and they have no power so they cannot do that. As soon as UKIP would be elected, they'd seem even more elitist. I love this blog detailing with varying levels of truth i should imagine the divides in the party. http://ukip-vs-eukip.blogspot.com/


No it is a waste, it loses money and provides next to no benefits = a total waste of money at a time when we have no money left.
It is a waste in your opinion.

[Catzsy]

Firstly no they don't pay taxes but the olympics will generate vast amounts of money for our countries economy in the long term. Far higher than the Olympics cost.

Secondly you are wrong. It's not a £5000 fine, it's UP TO a £5000 fine for challenging the ruling like it is with many other offences because you end up paying court fee's etc.

Thirdly you say they reside in the Olympic village. This is true. But the Olympics are set throughout the UK, not just in London. For example sailing takes place on the coast. Athletes travel around a lot and the other people in this thread are right, we need to show how great the UK is, this won't happen by displaying the wonders of traffic jams. If you have a Guest into your house you don't expect them to do chores even though you may do some yourself, this is the same principle.

Finally you've said these will likely be reserved for people like Tony Blair and Herman Von Rompuy when this is specifically designed for Athletes and Olympic officials. Stopped trying to create a rant out of nothing. It's common sense.



Spot on and the Beijing Olympics made a profit. Lets bring up the drawbridges, close the channel tunnel and make Britain great again, shall we? Honestly what a lot of windbagging over nothing.

[GommeInc]

Firstly no they don't pay taxes but the olympics will generate vast amounts of money for our countries economy in the long term. Far higher than the Olympics cost.
He has a slight point with this. £12 billion won't be paid back for a very, very long time. The amount of money coming in through tourism during the games would be no where near a billion. If anything, it will be scraping the double figures of the millions (£10 million to 99 million) It will take years to pay back, if ever, as it will be paid back through other means. It's a false perception that the games will pay back the debt the games will put us in, when if anything it would be the usual tourist income after a few years, trade and so forth. The games won't pay for themselves, only for the event and a bit afterwards when people want to see what happened and where it was. The rest of the profit would be any interest the games left in Britain.

The rest is a bit scratchy though. It's common sense elitism may rear it's head here as that's the point of the Olympic Games. People who are physically better than us getting carted around to do what they have to. Politicians may use them, because traffic will be dreadful, so if they used it then fine, as they will be doing what they have to do. If anyone uses the lanes when they really do not need to, then you'll no doubt hear about it on the TV, in newspapers and get an army of angry people on the case :P

[Catzsy]

He has a slight point with this. £12 billion won't be paid back for a very, very long time. The amount of money coming in through tourism during the games would be no where near a billion. If anything, it will be scraping the double figures of the millions (£10 million to 99 million) It will take years to pay back, if ever as it will be paid back through other means. It's a false perception that the games will pay back the debt the games will put us in, when if anything it would be the usual tourist income after a few years, trade and so forth. The games won't pay for themselves, only for the event and a bit afterwards when people want to see what happened and where it was.

Gomme, the last olympics made a profit. This is incredibly short sighted.

[GommeInc]

Gomme, the last olympics made a profit. This is incredibly short sighted.
I'm not saying it won't, I'm saying it's false to assume the games itself will make a profit which many believe it does. It takes a while to bring it back in, and China was making a profit long before this. "Made in China" is usually a sign, their industry is better than ours in everyway, so businesses were immediately attracted before and after the event. We'd only make it back through Tourism, which is a good industry but not as good as the production industry, and we all know how bad the UK looks to the outside world for business, we make ourselves look dreadful :P 12 Billion is alot of money, but it is worthy while :)

[Catzsy]

I'm not saying it won't, I'm saying it's false to assume the games itself will make a profit which many believe it does. It takes a while to bring it back in, and China was making a profit long before this. "Made in China" is usually a sign, their industry is better than ours in everyway, so businesses were immediately attracted before and after the event. We'd only make it back through Tourism, which is a good industry but not as good as the production industry, and we all know how bad the UK looks to the outside world for business, we make ourselves look dreadful :P 12 Billion is alot of money, but it is worthy while :)

There is huge money to be made from world wide broadcasting rights, etc etc etc. This thread is just nitpicking and an opportunity to have a go at something that matters very little to the average britain. I think the rise in unemployment and falls in house prices together with the possibility of a double dip recession is a little more important than this small issue. It is a diversionary tactic.

[GommeInc]

There is huge money to be made from world wide broadcasting rights, etc etc etc. This thread is just nitpicking and an opportunity to have a go at something that matters very little to the average britain. I think the rise in unemployment and falls in house prices together with the possibility of a double dip recession is a little more important than this small issue. It is a diversionary tactic.
True :P If anything the olympics would bring in jobs - not directly linked to the Olympics, which are mostly voluntary - but tourism, accommodation and new businesses that may see an opportunity.

[MrPinkPanther]

Catzsy is right. It makes a profit. The Olympics generates vast amounts of money for the hosting country not just in terms of tourism. We also must not forget that the majority of this £12 Billion (The higher end of estimates I might add) is being spent regenerating areas, these regenerated areas will remain past the olympics. As for this £2000 for every person, please. Learn to do Maths Dan.

12,000,000,000 / 61,500,000 = £195

Less than £200 per person. Not £2000.

[Jordy]

Gomme, the last olympics made a profit. This is incredibly short sighted.I'm quite sceptical of this to be honest and I'm never sure I'd trust the Chinese figures anyway.

Look at Greece for example who held the 04 games, they were put in billions of debt from it and have never recovered. It's often listed as one of the reasons for their economic collapse earlier this year.

I'm not against the games but I'm a little sceptical. I'm quite impressed by the efficiency in construction so far and how they kept to a final budget but what really matters is the legacy of the games. E.g. Will we better at sport in the future thanks to investment in sport due to the olympics

Most importantly though, the games are about the regeneration of East London, primarily the Stratford area. That is the main reason the games were brought to London, it pains me to see you rattle on about making profits and trying to improve tourism in the UK, they're merely perks of the olympics, definitely not the reason behind the games coming to London.

[Tintinnabulate]

This Olympics is costing every single person in this country roughly around £2,000 each - I won't get to see it, I won't be having a ticket free of charge like Herman Van Rompuy, Tony Blair and the rest of the worlds cronies are - so why on earth should I and the millions of other people in this country who couldn't give a hoot about the Olympics pay for it?

Lol you don't even pay tax... stop moaning.

And undertaker, multiplier effect is a long term thing lol :S. Do you even know what it is?

I actually did my university report on the Olympics Games. Here is a quote from it:


In macroeconomic terms, the Olympic Games set in motion an influx of investment in the
infrastructure of the country and host city. Not only this, but the games encourage traveling and
multimedia exports. In addition, mass production begins as well as a trade and commercial
revolution and a wide range of job opportunities. All of these contribute to a major economic
boost for the host city and nation and provide a multiplier effect.

[GommeInc]

I actually did my university report on the Olympics Games. Here is a quote from it:
Which should end in:

"If there is any interest in the host country after the games."

China is an interesting country for production, it always has been. The UK isn't that interesting to the outside world in terms of development, it's too costly. It's only [partially] of interest to business offices and the commericial sector, rather than the industrial/production sector. Although tourism would be up, other factors like development wouldn't be that effected, as there is little reason for them to be. China got a boost because the world saw something different in China. Britain is a consumer country, we're not for the developing of such consumer items :P

An interesting snippet of your report though.

So far the games just seem to be just that, the games. There have been few hints to what's actually going to happen. So far what's happening is a huge stadium which won't have many uses afterwards (Wembley Stadium gets few uses as it is, so two big stadiums won't really work well together). It does make you wonder what show they'll put on :P Boris standing on a huge stage in the middle just being "Boris"? :P

[AgnesIO]

I cannot honestly believe that you can complain about a general practice, that is NEEDED. If you ever actually went to London -:undertaker:- you would see the roads are often really congested already (and just so you know I go pat a lot of the Olympic stuff every week to watch football). If we then add thousands (well hundreds of thousands) more people for a few weeks, imagine how bad it will end up.

Do you seriously believe UKIP would not do the same thing? Do you really think i UKIP were in power, they would not demand to get a quicker route which no one else has? Get real!

This road is fine, and to be honest you would have to be quite silly if you ever believed that sacrifices would not have to be made for the SHORT TERM games, then you would have to be stupid.

[Jordy]

So far the games just seem to be just that, the games. There have been few hints to what's actually going to happen. So far what's happening is a huge stadium which won't have many uses afterwards (Wembley Stadium gets few uses as it is, so two big stadiums won't really work well together). It does make you wonder what show they'll put on :P Boris standing on a huge stage in the middle just being "Boris"? :PThe Olympic Stadium is a temporary stadium though, after the Olympics (or the 2018 World Cup depending if we get that), it will be reduced from something like 80,000 to 30,000 capacity and sold to a football or rugby club.


If you ever actually went to London -:undertaker:- you would see the roads are often really congested already (and just so you know I go pat a lot of the Olympic stuff every week to watch football). If we then add thousands (well hundreds of thousands) more people for a few weeks, imagine how bad it will end up.That's the point I'm trying to make, they're already congested so if you put more road users on there and add in Zil lanes (Effectively removing one lane), you have a traffic nightmare! What kind of a portrayal is that to the world?

[alexxxxx]

The Olympic Stadium is a temporary stadium though, after the Olympics (or the 2018 World Cup depending if we get that), it will be reduced from something like 80,000 to 30,000 capacity and sold to a football or rugby club.

That's the point I'm trying to make, they're already congested so if you put more road users on there and add in Zil lanes (Effectively removing one lane), you have a traffic nightmare! What kind of a portrayal is that to the world?

yeah but it's unlikely that people from abroad will be using cars (apart from those in near europe) to travel to london and i'm sure the transport policy will have been already sorted out for the olympic games. to be honest jordy if youre coming from nottingham to london it is faster to take the train than drive anyway, the same from manchester, derby, birmingham.

[Jordy]

yeah but it's unlikely that people from abroad will be using cars (apart from those in near europe) to travel to london and i'm sure the transport policy will have been already sorted out for the olympic games. to be honest jordy if youre coming from nottingham to london it is faster to take the train than drive anyway, the same from manchester, derby, birmingham.Yeah I always favour the train to London, I will at the Olympics too as they've got an innovative system. Trains from the East Midlands arrive in St Pancras, and there's a bullet train service between St Pancras and Stratford taking 7 minutes to whiz you right into the games :)

Either way though, it's inevitable to say that some will drive and many tourists will be using Taxis to get around, it's going to be a traffic nightmare but possibly a public transport miracle :P

[Neversoft]

I think it will be a spectacle yes, no doubt it'll show that London has the best public transport system in the world. However I do worry for the roads, the M25 is congested enough as it is, if you take away a lane from it and put even more cars on it, you're heading for disaster.

Forget about the roads. Everyone should get naked and walk to London while we blast London Calling by The Clash into the atmosphere.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I'll reply in simple terms why i'm annoyed with this and why its wrong, then anyone wishing to repond can pick up on it. The British motorist (the taxpayer) is charged a road tax which is supposed to be spent on roads thus avoiding congestion, only 1/5 of the road tax we pay is spent on the roads and the rest goes elsewhere (EU, foreign aid - you name it). Ontop of all of this, we have the costs of regulations on cars, eco-taxes aka legal theft on the price of petrol which is only worth a fraction of what we pay at the pumps and to the government. So my point is very simple, seeing as we pay for an already too-large burden and as we are paying for the Olympics which these politicians are attending - why should we be made to sit in our cars on even-worser congested roads while the politicians whizz past?

[AgnesIO]

I'll reply in simple terms why i'm annoyed with this and why its wrong, then anyone wishing to repond can pick up on it. The British motorist (the taxpayer) is charged a road tax which is supposed to be spent on roads thus avoiding congestion, only 1/5 of the road tax we pay is spent on the roads and the rest goes elsewhere (EU, foreign aid - you name it). Ontop of all of this, we have the costs of regulations on cars, eco-taxes aka legal theft on the price of petrol which is only worth a fraction of what we pay at the pumps and to the government. So my point is very simple, seeing as we pay for an already too-large burden and as we are paying for the Olympics which these politicians are attending - why should we be made to sit in our cars on even-worser congested roads while the politicians whizz past?

Don't get me wrong but I don't agree with the way road tax etc is done.

However, I think it is spent on far more things. They don't just aim to spend it on things to annoy you Dan lol.