London to Host 2012 Olympics

[Zander]

WheW!!!, Thanks for the tip...didn't know that. But CONgrATS!!! CHEERS!!!

Actually, I may have been mistaken above. I think the official policy is that Londoners will have to pay for it through higher council taxes for 30 years! :\

 

[drothgery]

I suppose six hours will have to be enough. I was hoping the olympics would end up on the other side of the planet on the theory that if the events were all happening overnight for my time zone then there would be less disruption of the TV schedule and thus of my life. Hopefully the time differential will mean most events are airing early in the day and the prime-time schedule will be less affected.

It's the Summer games. Unless they're trying to avoid hosting the Summer Olympics in the middle of winter (as per Sydney) by having them in September, they're disrupting reruns, reality TV, and the odd summer show. And they're only doing so on NBC and its related cable networks. No bigee.

 

[Turanil]

The people trying to get the olympics in their city get blinded by the prestige and the idea that the new infrastructure will recoup the expense and they do not look at the reality of the economics.

One drawback that I observed firsthand was a drastic rise in housing costs leading up and even after the Olympics. The rise in housing costs has made life difficult for many low-income families who live in the city.

I am so GLAAAAAD Paris wasn't chosen for the Olympic games!

 

[LightPhoenix]

I'm a little amazed it was chosen so quickly... I can't recall the last time there weren't three or four rounds of voting.

 

[drothgery]

One drawback that I observed firsthand was a drastic rise in housing costs leading up and even after the Olympics. I worked in refugee resettlement during the 90's and finding affordable housing was always a challenge. The rise in housing costs has made life difficult for many low-income families who live in the city.

There's been a very dramatic rise in housing prices in most of the US (especially in fast-growing cities like Atlanta) over the last decade or so; I wouldn't be too sure Atlanta's housing price increases had much to do with the Olympics. Heck, as Olympics go, Atlanta 1996 was probably the most financially sound Summer games in the last twenty years.

 

[loki44]

There's been a very dramatic rise in housing prices in most of the US (especially in fast-growing cities like Atlanta) over the last decade or so; I wouldn't be too sure Atlanta's housing price increases had much to do with the Olympics. Heck, as Olympics go, Atlanta 1996 was probably the most financially sound Summer games in the last twenty years.

You are correct about that, there are other factors of course. It just seemed like there was a drastic rise leading up to the Olympics that was above and beyond normal rate hikes. In some areas rents doubled in the two year span leading up to the Olympics.

 

[jaerdaph]

Well as a New Yorker, I'm THRILLED we lost!

 

[I'm A Banana]

I suppose six hours will have to be enough. I was hoping the olympics would end up on the other side of the planet on the theory that if the events were all happening overnight for my time zone then there would be less disruption of the TV schedule and thus of my life. Hopefully the time differential will mean most events are airing early in the day and the prime-time schedule will be less affected.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 21st century! "A show of world spirit, comroderie and peaceful competeition is all well and good, but it best not interrupt my Yes, Dear reruns!"

Yeah, I was *baffled* as to why NYC was making a big bid for it...there's barely enough room for the people and vermin that place already has, let alone the influx of millions more... :\

 

[The Shaman]

Well, given the Olympic spirit permeating this thread... :\ ...I'm sure this will put the Londoners on the next flight to Spain...

...it was announced in the last day or so that the 2007 Tour de France will start in London.

Oh, and thank you for urinating all over those of us who like to travel to your country and spend our money while we're there. :\

 

[jaerdaph]

My Olympic spirit died when the Dream Teams replaced the amateur athletes originally intended by the Olympics.