Turin Torch Relay

The Olympic flame will begin its Turin relay, in time for the Winter Olympics (which start on the 10th of February 2006), on the 8th of December.

It will be carried by Venetian gondolas, horses and a Ferrari across Italy.

Italy's Stefano Baldini, the marathon champion at the Athens Olympics, will be the first of 10,000 torchbearers.

Each bearer will carry the flame for about 400 yards.

On its first day in Italy, the torch will pass by St. Peter's Square to receive a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.

One small neighborhood association in Rome said last week it would block the Olympic torch from its streets, because the relay is sponsored by Coca-Cola.

The £6BN Olympic Tax Bill

David James, a corporate troubleshooter, has warned that mismanagement of the 2012 London Olympic venues could cost the British taxpayer £6BN.

He notes that the lesson from the Millennium Dome fiasco need to be learned.

Not surprisingly James identifies the main culprit of overruns for the Dome, as that of being poor management.

James has produced a set of recommendations, to ensure that the 2012 Olympic Games do not fail financially. They include:

• Involve Sport England in helping to ensure that local communities can use Olympic venues after the Games


• Ensure that there is no long-term damage to local community facilities, such as the Hackney Marshes


• Hire accountants to run the financial control and creation of contracts


• Ensure that board directors of Olympic bodies have relevant experience — "not just a who's who of the great and the good"


• Externally vet all sub-contractors hired to work on Olympic venues and ensure that they have a proven track record


• Abandon the Government's standard procurement preference for the cheapest services, in favour of fitness for purpose


• Agree standard contracts for all Games sponsors to prevent "freeloading"


• Contract out the retailing of Olympics-themed merchandise to a professional national retailer


• Set up and maintain a strictly controlled register of assets for all Olympic venues, detailing purchased and leased items


• Retain health and safety experts to approve all designs for Games sports venues


• Do not make advance payments to contractors

Olympic Fiasco

Ireland's Oireachtas sport committee has described Ireland's involvement in last year's Athens Olympics as a "fiasco".

It is recommending major improvements in how the country prepares for the games.

In a report published today, the committee says a steering group should be appointed to oversee Ireland's preparation for the London Olympics in 2012. They acknowledge that Beijing 2008 is too soon for any changes to make a difference.

The committee is also seeking additional funding for coaches, athletes and a new Institute for Sport.