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Britons reject benefits of hosting 2012 Olympics

14/08/2008

A new poll has found that only 15 per cent of Britons think that hosting the Olympics will be good for the UK's reputation.

While the people of China are currently embracing the Beijing Olympics and the enjoying the world's spotlight, it appears Brits are little less enthusiastic about hosting the Games.

The poll, published by Opinium Research today, shows that 40 per cent of respondents think the budget for the 2012 Olympics is "out of control" and that the final cost of the Games is likely to be at least twice as high as the current prediction of £9.49 billion.

Four in ten think that hosting the Olympics will provide no long-term benefits to the UK and the taxpayers' money would be better spent on improving services such as the NHS.

Forty-five per cent of respondents also think that other areas of the UK would be just as capable of hosting the Games as London, and in fact are more in need of the regeneration which comes with being host.

The government also comes in for considerable criticism, with almost half of the respondents claiming it is too incompetent to run to the Olympics.

Mark Hodson, head of research at Opinium claims: "The start of the Beijing Olympics has done little to fuel people's enthusiasm for 2012.

"People feel that the budget is spiralling out of control and they feel money could be better spent elsewhere. This sentiment is probably reinforced by the current economic climate.

"Given that 2012 could be a highlight of an inaugural Conservative government and the final spend will be decided by them, it is interesting to see that 39 per cent of those voting Conservative also think that the Olympics do not provide any long term benefits to the UK, and taxpayers' money could be better spent, compared to 23 per cent voting Labour."