For those who poo poo'd the Olympics Games coming to the UK

[B00]

And said that we're no longer capable of putting on a show, we'll embarrass ourselves as we're skint, etc etc etc....

Watch this and eat your sour grapes ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J--WBdwnyvI

[Brenden]

Me too Boo

[rojash]

Not sure if those links by Gromit were in answer to my question, but if they were, I still can't find any mention of the Brits being unable to put on a show, or predictions that they will embarrass themselves.

[gsr600]

it was a good show - however, one country did not have fireworks because they are not environmentally friendly (was it china/Japan) so maybe we were guilty of that.lol

[craft1948]

It'll have been China...............they just set fire to the dissidents.

[ELVIS68]

It was one of the best things on tv this Xmas apart from A Christmas Carol of course

[China Doll]

We're going to spend several million putting on a firework/opening display. I'm sure it'll be lovely. I would still rather not have olympics, or the complete disruption to London or the massive expendature which I am not convinced we can afford even with the tourists that come. If you are having money problems within your family then you budget tightly, ride it out and try not to throw a massive party in which you invite all and sundry - I think the same logic should be applied to running the budget for a country.

But I'm sure the opening display will be lovely.

That the sort of post you on about lovely? You know I hate to disappoint you ;0) xx

(My uniquel bright and optomistic way of looking at the world can also be hired out for children's parties).

[MantaRay]

Fantastic display! Just shows what we can do with an unlimited budget for fireworks.

[New Judge]

Who actually paid for these "free" fireworks?

[B00]

Well guess all you londoners did New Judge, I suppose if you asked sweetly beforehand they'd have given you back a Catherine Wheel which would have been your contribution ;-)

[jno]

rojash, have another look at gromit's second link (the prediction that the games would actually be moved to Paris because we'd do it so badly), or here

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1082751.html

As to those who brightly point out that "we didn't hold the fireworks, a fireworks company did"... well, I suspect they'll be outsourcing the opening ceremony too rather than expecting us all to turn up in our Sunday best and march through London waving sparklers.

And as for who paid for them... maybe the quarter of a million or so who turned up to watch them in person, or those who watched them at home like me?

[The-HouseHusband]

They have done the river of fire for a number of years just as Sydney have done the Bridge. It just shows we can send thousands of pounds (that we havn't got) up in smoke just to mark the fact that the date has changed. Wish we had that amount of money to teach Autistic adult's and children how to realise the way the date changes.

[anotheoldgit]

The cost of these fireworks fade into insignificance after reading this.

http://www.dailymail....MWs--green-Games.html

[jno]

the cost of the BMWs seems to be nil, aog, as they have been donated (and will be taken back again and sold as second-hand after the games).

[anotheoldgit]

jno you are quite correct, I missed that point.

But I wonder if BMW will also be providing the chauffeurs and the fuel?

[jno]

it doesn't say, but I suppose so, as they are official sponsors of the games.

They ought to make an Olympic Officials 10-Mile Chauffeur-Driven Road Race a regular Olympics event, with added points for running over East End-dwellers.

[B00]

lol AOG, keep on digging, you'll find something disagreeable about the whole affair soon enough, God forbid you might actually enjoy any of the games and ceremony ;-)

[ChuckFickens]

"Jenny Jones, a member of the London Assembly for the Green Party, said......‘I am sure there are many local car dealers which could have supplied vehicles'"

There's a good example of a stupid statement, does she think the local dealers make the cars out the back! adding a middle man in the import process is hardly going to make it greener, it would do exactly the opposite.

[seadogg]

I am not sure that the competition to win the games by lashing out more money and general flummery than other nations, has much to do with the Olympic ideal . The 48 games were terrific and done on a relative shoestring in a bomb ravaged city in deep austerity. When the actual events start though, it will just as good as always.