If the Olympics aren’t already costing too much (even allowing for Mr Brown not waving VAT) the social costs are as big if not bigger than the financial ones. Having just read George Monbiot’s column in today’s Guardian about how the Olympics makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Also how minorities are often moved out of the way to allow the Olympics to be built and that very little of the housing is reserved for the poor most of it going to rich buy-to-let investors who can make yet more money. The IOC doesn’t care that minorities are kicked out of their homes and that democratic processes (where they existed, in Seoul – a military dictatorship at the time of the games – and Beijing, a free market but not so free people) are being over ruled in the name of the Olympics all they care about are a four week games where all the athletes have wonderful accommodation and the venues are shinny and new.
You can check out the full article here, Someone else's legacy.
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