The London Olympics juggernaut has been accused of crushing funding to the arts. A grouping of the UK's senior arts and sports administrators warned that the lottery money being diverted from the arts to the Olympics would damage the arts, and reduce participation in sport.
The Voluntary Arts Network, the Central Council for Physical Recreation, Heritage Link and the National Council for Voluntary organisations have also written to MP's; warning them that lottery cuts will jeopardise the legacy of the games at community level. They have asked for an urgent meeting with Tessa Jowell (culture secretary), claiming that arts, heritage and sports charities will lose more than £100m.
Jowell intends to divert an additional £675m from the National Lottery, to fund the Olympics behemoth (the budget for which has spiralled out of control).
Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, said:
"There is a spectacular lack of logic in using money earmarked for the arts to plug the holes in the Olympics bills. The money raided from the lottery will largely affect small, innovative, experimental organisations and individuals who are the lifeblood of creativity in the UK. Pulling the carpet out from under them and nobbling their money is undermining the future of our major arts institutions."
Tim Lamb, chief executive of the Central Council for Physical Recreation, said:
"If there is to be a real legacy of increasing participation in sport, it seems ironic, if not perverse, for money to be taken away from community sport to fund the Olympics."
Jowell claims that the diversion of funds will not begin until 2009; a cynic might note that by 2009 Labour will have been kicked out of office, and can therefore wash their hands of the entire sorry affair.
Showing posts with label Tessa Jowell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tessa Jowell. Show all posts
Monday, April 23, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Pig In A Poke II
Tessa Jowell has finally announced the budget for the 2012 London Olympics, it will cost £9.3BN (before running costs of £2BN).
In other words, as has been predicted on this site for many months, the costs of the Olympics will be around £12BN.
The question therefore arises, if I could come up with the figure so quickly and so long ago, why the hell did it take Ms Jowell so long?
In other words, as has been predicted on this site for many months, the costs of the Olympics will be around £12BN.
The question therefore arises, if I could come up with the figure so quickly and so long ago, why the hell did it take Ms Jowell so long?
The Pig In A Poke
Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary entrusted with overseeing the London Olympics 2012, will announce today the budget for the games.
Cynics amongst you might ask why there is still no budget, given the fact that Britain bid for the games some years ago.
One would have thought that a bid could not have been put together, or indeed accepted by the IOC, without a budget. However, in the world of Olympic politics all things are possible.
My own personal guesstimate as to the costs, currently stands at £12BN (which includes £2BN running costs).
At a stormy session of the Commons public accounts committee last week, officials were accused of presiding over a "pig in the poke" and "Alice in Wonderland" finances.
Quite!
However, whatever the budget figure announced today turns out to be, you can be sure that by the time the Olympics are held in 2012 it will be much more than that.
Never allow politicians to become involved in large scale projects.
Cynics amongst you might ask why there is still no budget, given the fact that Britain bid for the games some years ago.
One would have thought that a bid could not have been put together, or indeed accepted by the IOC, without a budget. However, in the world of Olympic politics all things are possible.
My own personal guesstimate as to the costs, currently stands at £12BN (which includes £2BN running costs).
At a stormy session of the Commons public accounts committee last week, officials were accused of presiding over a "pig in the poke" and "Alice in Wonderland" finances.
Quite!
However, whatever the budget figure announced today turns out to be, you can be sure that by the time the Olympics are held in 2012 it will be much more than that.
Never allow politicians to become involved in large scale projects.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Barclays Boycotts Olympics
Barclays has withdrawn from sponsoring the 2012 London Olympics. This is rather ironic, as Barclays is housing the Olympic organising committee in its headquarters.
The sponsorship would have contributed to the currently expected costs of £2BN, needed to run the games themselves.
Barclays, which has loaned the organising committee £50M, was expected to have been among the leaders applying for main sponsorship places.
The winning sponsor, from the world of banking (sans Barclays) will be expected to put up £100M.
Had Barclays become a sponsor, it would have had the right to use Olympic rings in advertising, the right to associate itself with the games and personalities involved in them, and the right to advertise its name and logos at Olympic sites.
Despite what Tessa Jowell and the other Olympics organisers might try to claim, this withdrawal is undoubtedly a blow for the already shambolic Olympics.
The sponsorship would have contributed to the currently expected costs of £2BN, needed to run the games themselves.
Barclays, which has loaned the organising committee £50M, was expected to have been among the leaders applying for main sponsorship places.
The winning sponsor, from the world of banking (sans Barclays) will be expected to put up £100M.
Had Barclays become a sponsor, it would have had the right to use Olympic rings in advertising, the right to associate itself with the games and personalities involved in them, and the right to advertise its name and logos at Olympic sites.
Despite what Tessa Jowell and the other Olympics organisers might try to claim, this withdrawal is undoubtedly a blow for the already shambolic Olympics.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Radiation Hazard At Olympic Site
Jack Lemley the ex head of the building programme for the London Olympics, who quit over budget issues, has ridiculed the Government's preparations for the 2012 Games.
Mr Lemley claims that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and London Mayor Ken Livingstone repeatedly ignored his warnings that the budget for the event was spiralling out of control.
He also claims that his warnings over the chemical contamination of the Olympic sites were dismissed, because "all they wanted to hear was good news".
It is reported that Mr Lemley was forced to resign after he sent Tessa Jowell a letter warning that the construction of the Olympic sites faced such serious delays, that the Games might have to be scaled down.
Mr Lemley claims that:
"It said all the management costs were underestimated dramatically, by several hundred per cent. These numbers have been known for months by everybody and if Tessa Jowell hasn't told the Prime Minister, she wasn't doing her job. It's a swamp. There is misrepresentation of the situation."
On the subject of contamination Mr Lemley was equally outspoken:
"A blind man could see there was a huge environmental problem. I thought it was highly likely they underestimated. I talked to Tessa Jowell's senior people, Jeff Jacobs and his assistant, almost on a daily basis about this."
The question that we should be asking of our "respected" and "competent" government is why did they choose a site contaminated with scrapyards and hazardous waste from factories which produced items such as; soap, matches, ink, dyes, paraffin, rubber, creosote, fertiliser and varnish.
Seemingly there is even a radiation issue, plus a few unexploded bombs!
Quote:
"They now know there are drums of radioactive material buried at the site and they never had that in their estimates.
In the spring, I learned it was highly likely there was unexploded Second World War ordnance in the ground and I said: 'I'm not going to put a pile-driving crew out there with unexploded bombs.' I wanted trenches dug so people could understand what was going to have to be done to clean the ground up and then the contractors could price it."
Mr Lemley found that his views were not welcome:
"At Olympic Board meetings, I was never invited to speak. Tessa attended with Ken Livingstone and Seb Coe and British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan. All they got was good news."
As I keep saying, politicians should never be entrusted with major projects. They are unskilled, inept, incompetent and venal; they are of little use to man nor beast.
On October 9 he sent a letter, repeating his concerns, to Jowell and copied it to Livingstone and Lord Coe.
Jowell refused to discuss its contents, and ordered him to resign.
The public, and the IOC, have been seriously misled by Labour over these increasingly expensive Games. Unfortunately it will be the public who carry the can for them, rather than the politicians who got us into this mess.
Mr Lemley claims that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and London Mayor Ken Livingstone repeatedly ignored his warnings that the budget for the event was spiralling out of control.
He also claims that his warnings over the chemical contamination of the Olympic sites were dismissed, because "all they wanted to hear was good news".
It is reported that Mr Lemley was forced to resign after he sent Tessa Jowell a letter warning that the construction of the Olympic sites faced such serious delays, that the Games might have to be scaled down.
Mr Lemley claims that:
- He told the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and Tessa Jowell before he was hired that there was a serious contamination problem at site chosen for the Games.
- His warnings that the budget seriously under-estimated clean-up costs were ignored.
- His agency was pressured to hide huge sums that should have been added to the budget.
- The Government knew back in May that the Olympics faced an extra £1BN VAT bill, but hid the fact from the public.
"It said all the management costs were underestimated dramatically, by several hundred per cent. These numbers have been known for months by everybody and if Tessa Jowell hasn't told the Prime Minister, she wasn't doing her job. It's a swamp. There is misrepresentation of the situation."
On the subject of contamination Mr Lemley was equally outspoken:
"A blind man could see there was a huge environmental problem. I thought it was highly likely they underestimated. I talked to Tessa Jowell's senior people, Jeff Jacobs and his assistant, almost on a daily basis about this."
The question that we should be asking of our "respected" and "competent" government is why did they choose a site contaminated with scrapyards and hazardous waste from factories which produced items such as; soap, matches, ink, dyes, paraffin, rubber, creosote, fertiliser and varnish.
Seemingly there is even a radiation issue, plus a few unexploded bombs!
Quote:
"They now know there are drums of radioactive material buried at the site and they never had that in their estimates.
In the spring, I learned it was highly likely there was unexploded Second World War ordnance in the ground and I said: 'I'm not going to put a pile-driving crew out there with unexploded bombs.' I wanted trenches dug so people could understand what was going to have to be done to clean the ground up and then the contractors could price it."
Mr Lemley found that his views were not welcome:
"At Olympic Board meetings, I was never invited to speak. Tessa attended with Ken Livingstone and Seb Coe and British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan. All they got was good news."
As I keep saying, politicians should never be entrusted with major projects. They are unskilled, inept, incompetent and venal; they are of little use to man nor beast.
On October 9 he sent a letter, repeating his concerns, to Jowell and copied it to Livingstone and Lord Coe.
Jowell refused to discuss its contents, and ordered him to resign.
The public, and the IOC, have been seriously misled by Labour over these increasingly expensive Games. Unfortunately it will be the public who carry the can for them, rather than the politicians who got us into this mess.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Over Budget and Overdue
In another example of the gross mismanagement and incompetence that is plaguing the organisation and planning of the 2012 London Olympics, the new plans for a "slimmed-down" Olympic aquatics centre have been unveiled that show a budget overrun of £25M and a completion date that is three years late.
When the designs were first submitted last year, Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, reportedly claimed that "a change in the specification had almost doubled the costs, which is simply unacceptable".
Despite that attempt to rein in the costs, the budget is still going to overrun by £25M.
To add to the Olympics misery Jack Lemley, the Olympics chief who resigned over the spiralling costs, accused Jowell of "mud slinging". This is based on reports that Jowell, whose husband faces criminal trial in Italy, secretly told MPs that Lemley was too sick to continue in his job.
Jowell had allegedly said that he had suffered a stroke and that he "fell asleep in meetings".
Lemley was in fact being treated for an irregular heartbeat, just like Tony Blair's "minor problem" in 2004.
When he resigned, Lemley said:
"The costs are going to go up on an exponential basis and I'm just not going to be part of that."
Jowell, needless to say has let it be known, via a spokesman, that she disputes Lemley's claim:
"We are not aware that she had any conversations in which she said what you are describing."
Politicians are not fit to run a brothel, let alone organise a multi billion pound event such as the Olympics.
When the designs were first submitted last year, Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, reportedly claimed that "a change in the specification had almost doubled the costs, which is simply unacceptable".
Despite that attempt to rein in the costs, the budget is still going to overrun by £25M.
To add to the Olympics misery Jack Lemley, the Olympics chief who resigned over the spiralling costs, accused Jowell of "mud slinging". This is based on reports that Jowell, whose husband faces criminal trial in Italy, secretly told MPs that Lemley was too sick to continue in his job.
Jowell had allegedly said that he had suffered a stroke and that he "fell asleep in meetings".
Lemley was in fact being treated for an irregular heartbeat, just like Tony Blair's "minor problem" in 2004.
When he resigned, Lemley said:
"The costs are going to go up on an exponential basis and I'm just not going to be part of that."
Jowell, needless to say has let it be known, via a spokesman, that she disputes Lemley's claim:
"We are not aware that she had any conversations in which she said what you are describing."
Politicians are not fit to run a brothel, let alone organise a multi billion pound event such as the Olympics.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Rats in a Sack
It is a rare event indeed when I find myself agreeing with a Liberal Democrat. However, I am more than amused and in agreement with the description by Don Foster (Liberal Democrat Culture spokesman) of the politicians involved in the Olympics planning debacle as being like "rats in a sack"
A very fitting description indeed!
Foster has called upon the Labour Party to stop fighting "like rats in a sack" over the funding of the 2012 Olympics in London, and to "shut up" until the final budget is sorted out.
Hah! If only politicians could be made to shut up!
Foster's call came after a particularly shambolic week, in which Ken Livingstone (mayor of London) and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell publicly disagreed over the budget for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Foster has correctly identified that public confidence in the Olympics is "ebbing away", and that the country would face "serious difficulties" if the in-fighting didn't end soon.
Quote:
"This is nonsense arguing going on. We have got two different Government departments, we have got Ken Livingstone, we have got the Leader of the House, all acting like rats in a sack fighting each other. This isn't what it should be about".
Adding:
"Nobody knows where we stand and confidence in our ability to deliver the Olympics is sadly ebbing away when it is going to be absolutely fantastic. We should be celebrating it and I wish people frankly would shut up."
Quite rightly he is calling for a proper budget, which should be independently audited and presented to Parliament and the people. However, this budget should have been prepared and audited prior to the bid being put forward for the Games. That way we would have had a say as to whether we really wanted the Games or not, rather than having them foisted on us as a fait a compli.
As Foster says:
"If confidence ebbs away at the rate it is doing at the moment then I think we are in serious difficulties."
Never leave large scale projects in the hands of politicians, they are not capable of running them without allowing their own egotistical self interest to take priority.
A very fitting description indeed!
Foster has called upon the Labour Party to stop fighting "like rats in a sack" over the funding of the 2012 Olympics in London, and to "shut up" until the final budget is sorted out.
Hah! If only politicians could be made to shut up!
Foster's call came after a particularly shambolic week, in which Ken Livingstone (mayor of London) and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell publicly disagreed over the budget for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Foster has correctly identified that public confidence in the Olympics is "ebbing away", and that the country would face "serious difficulties" if the in-fighting didn't end soon.
Quote:
"This is nonsense arguing going on. We have got two different Government departments, we have got Ken Livingstone, we have got the Leader of the House, all acting like rats in a sack fighting each other. This isn't what it should be about".
Adding:
"Nobody knows where we stand and confidence in our ability to deliver the Olympics is sadly ebbing away when it is going to be absolutely fantastic. We should be celebrating it and I wish people frankly would shut up."
Quite rightly he is calling for a proper budget, which should be independently audited and presented to Parliament and the people. However, this budget should have been prepared and audited prior to the bid being put forward for the Games. That way we would have had a say as to whether we really wanted the Games or not, rather than having them foisted on us as a fait a compli.
As Foster says:
"If confidence ebbs away at the rate it is doing at the moment then I think we are in serious difficulties."
Never leave large scale projects in the hands of politicians, they are not capable of running them without allowing their own egotistical self interest to take priority.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Taxpayers Screwed
As befitting the arrogant incompetence of those who are mismanaging the London 2012 Olympics, Tessa Jowell (whose husband is facing criminal trial in Italy) broke the news to parliament yesterday that the Olympics costs were overrunning and that the taxpayer would be making up the shortfall.
Tessa Jowell, Secretary for Culture Media and Sport, finally had to come clean to the world that the costs were out of control.
Jowell, like all politicians, does not like being caught out; therefore it was a pleasure for many to see her squirm (one must take one's pleasure when one can).
However, this is small compensation for the fact that the British taxpayer (or rather more accurately the London taxpayer) will have to foot the bill for this unwanted white elephant.
Jowell said that she could not rule out funding the shortfall with a further raid on the National Lottery, or by increasing the contribution made by London's council-tax payers.
The original budget of £2.375bn has now been derided as a "fag packet" calculation, and Jowell conceded that the current figure is more like £3.3bn.
This figure is of course nonsense, as the real costs are likely to exceed £8BN.
Why do the organisers keep trying to hide the truth from people?
Answer: because they are incompetent and venal.
Jack Lemley knew the score when he resigned, he saw very clearly that the costs of clearing the toxic waste from the site selected to hold the Olympics would be astronomical.
Why did the organisers choose a toxic dump to hold the Olympics on?
Did they tell the IOC this when they made the bid?
Anyone care to spill the beans on that?
Jowell did her best to blame everyone and everything else for this shambles; rising costs on construction inflation, the doubling of steel prices and a revised figure for public transport links serving the Games site near Stratford. Rather oddly the the original bid figure did not include the £400M cost of hiring the international project management consortium CLM.
Jowell warned that there were further "potential liabilities"; the costs of Olympic security £1BN, the extent of a contingency fund within the budget and a VAT bill of £250M
None of these were in the original budget.
The fact remains a budget is meant to take into account all of the costs.
The organisers have failed, and should be removed from their positions of responsibility.
Whether that happens or not, it is clear that the taxpayers will be screwed as a result of this shambles.
Tessa Jowell, Secretary for Culture Media and Sport, finally had to come clean to the world that the costs were out of control.
Jowell, like all politicians, does not like being caught out; therefore it was a pleasure for many to see her squirm (one must take one's pleasure when one can).
However, this is small compensation for the fact that the British taxpayer (or rather more accurately the London taxpayer) will have to foot the bill for this unwanted white elephant.
Jowell said that she could not rule out funding the shortfall with a further raid on the National Lottery, or by increasing the contribution made by London's council-tax payers.
The original budget of £2.375bn has now been derided as a "fag packet" calculation, and Jowell conceded that the current figure is more like £3.3bn.
This figure is of course nonsense, as the real costs are likely to exceed £8BN.
Why do the organisers keep trying to hide the truth from people?
Answer: because they are incompetent and venal.
Jack Lemley knew the score when he resigned, he saw very clearly that the costs of clearing the toxic waste from the site selected to hold the Olympics would be astronomical.
Why did the organisers choose a toxic dump to hold the Olympics on?
Did they tell the IOC this when they made the bid?
Anyone care to spill the beans on that?
Jowell did her best to blame everyone and everything else for this shambles; rising costs on construction inflation, the doubling of steel prices and a revised figure for public transport links serving the Games site near Stratford. Rather oddly the the original bid figure did not include the £400M cost of hiring the international project management consortium CLM.
Jowell warned that there were further "potential liabilities"; the costs of Olympic security £1BN, the extent of a contingency fund within the budget and a VAT bill of £250M
None of these were in the original budget.
The fact remains a budget is meant to take into account all of the costs.
The organisers have failed, and should be removed from their positions of responsibility.
Whether that happens or not, it is clear that the taxpayers will be screwed as a result of this shambles.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Olympian Tax Bill
As ever with Olympic projects, never ever trust the original budget submitted by those keen to win public support for hosting the Games.
The 2012 London Olympics are no such exception, as it turns out that some £250M in VAT payments were "forgotten" in the original budget submission.
Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary whose separated husband faces trial in Italy for fraud, came clean to the Commons and said that London's initial budget did not include the 17.5% cost of VAT on the construction of the venues and infrastructure.
The Treasury, never knowingly shortchanged on tax revenue, needless to say offers no hope of reprieve from this humiliation for the Olympic planners; it claims that its hands are tied by European law, and that the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will have to pay the additional tax bill.
However, Hugh Robertson the shadow sports spokesman said that he had been given a personal "cast iron assurance" about six months ago by Ms Jowell in a corridor of the House of Commons that VAT would be waived on building the Olympic facilities.
Never ever trust Olympic budgets!
Ms Jowell claims that London's bid documents did not include VAT on the construction of venues for 2012, because the ODA had not been established and its legal status could not be anticipated.
Ever heard of contingency budgets Tessa?
In true weasel style, so typical of a politician, she then attempted to avoid responsibility by claiming that London's plans had been endorsed by a cross-government group and issues in relation to VAT were not identified as an issue at that point by the Treasury or by departmental accounting officers.
Mr Robertson said:
"The government is the author of its own problems by not being clear and transparent about the costs of the Olympics. The DCMS thought it had an agreement with the Treasury, but Gordon Brown played hardball and it unravelled. I am sure a solution will be found, but only after causing damage to the Olympic games. It is not doing the Olympic process any good."
Don't trust Olympic budgets, or the politicians who put them together.
The 2012 London Olympics are no such exception, as it turns out that some £250M in VAT payments were "forgotten" in the original budget submission.
Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary whose separated husband faces trial in Italy for fraud, came clean to the Commons and said that London's initial budget did not include the 17.5% cost of VAT on the construction of the venues and infrastructure.
The Treasury, never knowingly shortchanged on tax revenue, needless to say offers no hope of reprieve from this humiliation for the Olympic planners; it claims that its hands are tied by European law, and that the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will have to pay the additional tax bill.
However, Hugh Robertson the shadow sports spokesman said that he had been given a personal "cast iron assurance" about six months ago by Ms Jowell in a corridor of the House of Commons that VAT would be waived on building the Olympic facilities.
Never ever trust Olympic budgets!
Ms Jowell claims that London's bid documents did not include VAT on the construction of venues for 2012, because the ODA had not been established and its legal status could not be anticipated.
Ever heard of contingency budgets Tessa?
In true weasel style, so typical of a politician, she then attempted to avoid responsibility by claiming that London's plans had been endorsed by a cross-government group and issues in relation to VAT were not identified as an issue at that point by the Treasury or by departmental accounting officers.
Mr Robertson said:
"The government is the author of its own problems by not being clear and transparent about the costs of the Olympics. The DCMS thought it had an agreement with the Treasury, but Gordon Brown played hardball and it unravelled. I am sure a solution will be found, but only after causing damage to the Olympic games. It is not doing the Olympic process any good."
Don't trust Olympic budgets, or the politicians who put them together.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Jack Lemley Quits London Olympics
Jack Lemley, the US businessman who is chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority responsible for the London 2012 Olympics, has quit his post.
This is a blow to the Games, as he had promised to see through London's preparations for the 2012 Olympics.
The Olympic Delivery Authority was set up by the Government to build the venues and infrastructure necessary for the Games.
It is assumed that the Olympics organisers are "pissed off" with Lemley's decision to quit. It is not clear as to why he has suddenly decided to go. However, it is well known that plans for the development of the Olympic stadium have been dogged by bitter rows between Richard Caborn, the sports minister, and Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London.
Livingstone insists the stadium should be a temporary 80,000 seat arena which can be scaled back to a 25,000 seat athletics ground after the Games, whilst Caborn wants the stadium to be converted into a football stadium which could be used by West Ham.
Lemley had a four year contract (2006-2010). He cites business reasons, and the need to concentrate on his US construction interests for his decision.
Quote:
"I am keen to return to the helm of my international construction consulting firm in America, which is increasingly busy with major contracts. I have every confidence that London will stage a superb Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and leave a legacy that the country can be proud of."
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said:
"Jack has played a significant role in getting us to this point and helping ensure that Games and legacy are planned together. I am grateful to him for all he has done and wish him well in the future."
The search is now on for a replacement.
This is a blow to the Games, as he had promised to see through London's preparations for the 2012 Olympics.
The Olympic Delivery Authority was set up by the Government to build the venues and infrastructure necessary for the Games.
It is assumed that the Olympics organisers are "pissed off" with Lemley's decision to quit. It is not clear as to why he has suddenly decided to go. However, it is well known that plans for the development of the Olympic stadium have been dogged by bitter rows between Richard Caborn, the sports minister, and Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London.
Livingstone insists the stadium should be a temporary 80,000 seat arena which can be scaled back to a 25,000 seat athletics ground after the Games, whilst Caborn wants the stadium to be converted into a football stadium which could be used by West Ham.
Lemley had a four year contract (2006-2010). He cites business reasons, and the need to concentrate on his US construction interests for his decision.
Quote:
"I am keen to return to the helm of my international construction consulting firm in America, which is increasingly busy with major contracts. I have every confidence that London will stage a superb Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and leave a legacy that the country can be proud of."
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said:
"Jack has played a significant role in getting us to this point and helping ensure that Games and legacy are planned together. I am grateful to him for all he has done and wish him well in the future."
The search is now on for a replacement.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The Definition of Freedom
In an earlier article on this site a few days ago, I noted that Tessa Jowell (Britain's Olympics Minister) when visiting Beijing gushed that she had received a positive response when she raised the issue of press freedom with her counterpart Mr Liu.
Quote:
"He gave me a clear assurance that he would support unimpeded movement of accredited and non-accredited journalists to report not just on the Games but on China."
Seemingly she was talking bollocks.
Beijing activists are up in arms about China's proposed new controls on foreign news agencies, which give the government's Xinhua News Agency control over distribution within China of news, information and other services from foreign agencies. Xinhua said it would delete items deemed to violate national unity or social stability.
These new controls quite clearly fly in the face of what Jowell was claiming only a few days ago.
Sharon Hom, executive director of Human Rights in China, said in a statement:
"These measures are an authoritarian attempt to control news and information dissemination and the access of China's users to uncensored news and information."
Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement:
"These new regulations on the distribution of foreign news are a step backward."
Hom said that the new regulations would deprive Chinese society of information needed to address corruption and social problems.
A Paris based group, Reporters Without Borders, said that the regulations might violate China's commitments to the World Trade Organisation.
The European Union said that it would take them up at human rights talks with China in October.
So much for the words and promises of Jowell!
Quote:
"He gave me a clear assurance that he would support unimpeded movement of accredited and non-accredited journalists to report not just on the Games but on China."
Seemingly she was talking bollocks.
Beijing activists are up in arms about China's proposed new controls on foreign news agencies, which give the government's Xinhua News Agency control over distribution within China of news, information and other services from foreign agencies. Xinhua said it would delete items deemed to violate national unity or social stability.
These new controls quite clearly fly in the face of what Jowell was claiming only a few days ago.
Sharon Hom, executive director of Human Rights in China, said in a statement:
"These measures are an authoritarian attempt to control news and information dissemination and the access of China's users to uncensored news and information."
Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement:
"These new regulations on the distribution of foreign news are a step backward."
Hom said that the new regulations would deprive Chinese society of information needed to address corruption and social problems.
A Paris based group, Reporters Without Borders, said that the regulations might violate China's commitments to the World Trade Organisation.
The European Union said that it would take them up at human rights talks with China in October.
So much for the words and promises of Jowell!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Press Freedom At The 2008 Olympics
The Beijing 2008 Olympics organisers have promised that the media will be allowed to move freely around China.
That at least is what Britain's minister for culture media and sport, Tessa Jowell, is saying.
The promise has been given by Liu Qi, the head of the organising committee. In the event that the promise is honoured, it would mean a drastic change in the current restrictions imposed on journalists in China. Correspondents are frequently detained by police, and sent back to Beijing when they try to cover sensitive stories in the provinces.
Jowell, who is visiting Beijing as UK Olympic minister, claims that she received a positive response when she raised the issue with her counterpart, Mr Liu.
Quote:
"He gave me a clear assurance that he would support unimpeded movement of accredited and non-accredited journalists to report not just on the Games but on China."
As with all political promises, parts of it are unclear; eg whether this new openness would apply only for the duration of the Olympics, or be permanent.
Jowell went on to say:
"I believe that once we establish freedom in this way, even after the delegates and the athletes have gone home, China won't reverse it and the Games will have a lasting legacy of opening China to the world."
The proof of the pudding, as the old saying goes, is in the eating.
That at least is what Britain's minister for culture media and sport, Tessa Jowell, is saying.
The promise has been given by Liu Qi, the head of the organising committee. In the event that the promise is honoured, it would mean a drastic change in the current restrictions imposed on journalists in China. Correspondents are frequently detained by police, and sent back to Beijing when they try to cover sensitive stories in the provinces.
Jowell, who is visiting Beijing as UK Olympic minister, claims that she received a positive response when she raised the issue with her counterpart, Mr Liu.
Quote:
"He gave me a clear assurance that he would support unimpeded movement of accredited and non-accredited journalists to report not just on the Games but on China."
As with all political promises, parts of it are unclear; eg whether this new openness would apply only for the duration of the Olympics, or be permanent.
Jowell went on to say:
"I believe that once we establish freedom in this way, even after the delegates and the athletes have gone home, China won't reverse it and the Games will have a lasting legacy of opening China to the world."
The proof of the pudding, as the old saying goes, is in the eating.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Olympic War Breaks Out
Politicians are never shy when trying to claim credit for something, and attach their names to what they perceive will be a success; in truth they are seeking a monument to their personal and political ambitions.
The London Olympics in 2012 offers such a monument, and both the Tory and Labour Parties have been working hard to ensure that their names are associated with this event.
The Labour Party, under the guidance of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, exploited the Olympics repeatedly in its local election campaign. She cited the Games in a campaign email, a speech and a party election broadcast.
Needless to say, the voting public were not so easily swayed, after all the Games are costing a small fortune in increased council taxes; Labour received a total "drubbing" in the polls.
Now the Tories are making vociferous complaints about the "betrayal" of the cross-party consensus on the Games, and the use by Labour of the Games for its own ends.
A cynic might observe that is now exactly what the Tories are doing, by making such vociferous complaints.
The London Olympics in 2012 offers such a monument, and both the Tory and Labour Parties have been working hard to ensure that their names are associated with this event.
The Labour Party, under the guidance of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, exploited the Olympics repeatedly in its local election campaign. She cited the Games in a campaign email, a speech and a party election broadcast.
Needless to say, the voting public were not so easily swayed, after all the Games are costing a small fortune in increased council taxes; Labour received a total "drubbing" in the polls.
Now the Tories are making vociferous complaints about the "betrayal" of the cross-party consensus on the Games, and the use by Labour of the Games for its own ends.
A cynic might observe that is now exactly what the Tories are doing, by making such vociferous complaints.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The London Levy
The row over the levy being imposed on Londoners to pay for the 2012 Olympics is heating up.
Lord Sebastian Coe, head of the London Olympics, has entered the row.
He has written a letter to Bexley Council leader Councillor, Chris Ball. In the letter Lord Coe stressed that Londoners' cash is not being used to build Olympic facilities.
Bexley has been the heart of a campaign opposed to the council tax levy imposed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone for the next 10 years, to help meet the bill for the 2012 Games.
A petition is being raised to oppose the levy, which will be taken to Downing Street.
The campaign claims the levy is unfair because it is making Londoners help pay for the Games and underwrite any losses, while the benefits will be felt across the country.
Lord Coe claims that Londoners' cash will be used to finance improvements to London's infrastructure, and provide a legacy for present and future generations of Londoners.
Quote:
"We have to plan now for the type of community which will be living in the area in 25 years.
We need to plan the infrastructure, the utilities and the telecommunications now if we are to have a modern, diverse and integrated community for our children and their children."
The anti levy spokesman, John Flunder, retorted saying that Lord Coe had not said anything Londoners did not already know.
Quote:
"The infrastructure of east London was already earmarked for development whether or not London won the Olympics.
But Londoners have also been committed to share any losses from the Games with the Lottery.
And Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has refused to cap London's contribution, so we are facing an unknown bill at the end of the Games."
As often noted, the Olympics are not about sport but about money.
Lord Sebastian Coe, head of the London Olympics, has entered the row.
He has written a letter to Bexley Council leader Councillor, Chris Ball. In the letter Lord Coe stressed that Londoners' cash is not being used to build Olympic facilities.
Bexley has been the heart of a campaign opposed to the council tax levy imposed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone for the next 10 years, to help meet the bill for the 2012 Games.
A petition is being raised to oppose the levy, which will be taken to Downing Street.
The campaign claims the levy is unfair because it is making Londoners help pay for the Games and underwrite any losses, while the benefits will be felt across the country.
Lord Coe claims that Londoners' cash will be used to finance improvements to London's infrastructure, and provide a legacy for present and future generations of Londoners.
Quote:
"We have to plan now for the type of community which will be living in the area in 25 years.
We need to plan the infrastructure, the utilities and the telecommunications now if we are to have a modern, diverse and integrated community for our children and their children."
The anti levy spokesman, John Flunder, retorted saying that Lord Coe had not said anything Londoners did not already know.
Quote:
"The infrastructure of east London was already earmarked for development whether or not London won the Olympics.
But Londoners have also been committed to share any losses from the Games with the Lottery.
And Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has refused to cap London's contribution, so we are facing an unknown bill at the end of the Games."
As often noted, the Olympics are not about sport but about money.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Chaos Threatens British Olympics
The 2012 Olympics in London are, according to some, being threatened by the chaos at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Dame Sue Street, permanent secretary at the department, left amid accusations that she clashed with Tessa Jowell, culture secretary.
Dame Sue was questioned by Sir Gus O'Donnell, cabinet secretary, as to whether Ms Jowell had breached the ministerial code by failing to declare a $600K gift received by Mr Mills from an Italian source in 2000.
The Cabinet Office said that it was "appalled by the suggestion that Sue Street left for any other reason than her desire to pursue other goals".
Hugo Swire, shadow culture secretary, accused the culture department of trying to "bury this news" by announcing it on its website on a Friday afternoon during the Easter recess.
Quote:
"This is just the latest proof of the chaos and disarray in Tessa Jowell's department. Criticism of licensing, confusion over gambling, delays over Wembley, let alone the problems caused by Ms Jowell's personal position - all point to the chaos enveloping her department.
With her top civil servant jumping ship, very real questions are now raised [about] the ability of Tessa Jowell's department to [stay] focused on delivering the 2012 Olympics."
Dame Sue Street, permanent secretary at the department, left amid accusations that she clashed with Tessa Jowell, culture secretary.
Dame Sue was questioned by Sir Gus O'Donnell, cabinet secretary, as to whether Ms Jowell had breached the ministerial code by failing to declare a $600K gift received by Mr Mills from an Italian source in 2000.
The Cabinet Office said that it was "appalled by the suggestion that Sue Street left for any other reason than her desire to pursue other goals".
Hugo Swire, shadow culture secretary, accused the culture department of trying to "bury this news" by announcing it on its website on a Friday afternoon during the Easter recess.
Quote:
"This is just the latest proof of the chaos and disarray in Tessa Jowell's department. Criticism of licensing, confusion over gambling, delays over Wembley, let alone the problems caused by Ms Jowell's personal position - all point to the chaos enveloping her department.
With her top civil servant jumping ship, very real questions are now raised [about] the ability of Tessa Jowell's department to [stay] focused on delivering the 2012 Olympics."
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Children's Olympics
In a bid to enthuse the children of Britain, and their parents, about the 2012 London Olympics the government has set up a children's Olympics.
The first event will be held in Glasgow between 7th-10th September, it will feature sports such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, who has recently hit the headlines for other matters, said:
"This will be a fantastic celebration of sport for young people, and a real legacy for generations."
Other cities will be encouraged to hold similar events to Glasgow, which will receive £1.5 million from the Millennium Commission.
The first event will be held in Glasgow between 7th-10th September, it will feature sports such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, who has recently hit the headlines for other matters, said:
"This will be a fantastic celebration of sport for young people, and a real legacy for generations."
Other cities will be encouraged to hold similar events to Glasgow, which will receive £1.5 million from the Millennium Commission.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
London Hogs The Limelight
The British government has just woken up to the fact that, unless it acts now, the money it is pumping into the London 2012 Olympics will be gobbled up by London based firms and foreign owned companies.
Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister and culture secretary, is now trying to bring other UK businesses onboard. She is trying to stimulate them to bid for the £3.3BN state spending on the event.
The government panic is as a result of a report issued by PwC, last month, that said that the games could leave the regions about £2.8BN worse off than if another country had staged the event.
On what do they base this rather dubious conclusion I wonder?
Ms Jowell, ever mindful of the ongoing moans form the regions that London gets all the money, said that the government would be "proactive and aggressive" in encouraging regional involvement.
Quote:
"We are absolutely determined to see the benefits diffused around the country."
It seems to me that if the businesses outside of the capital do not have the nounce or the drive to do this for themselves, then they are probably not up to the job of providing goods and services for the Olympics.
Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister and culture secretary, is now trying to bring other UK businesses onboard. She is trying to stimulate them to bid for the £3.3BN state spending on the event.
The government panic is as a result of a report issued by PwC, last month, that said that the games could leave the regions about £2.8BN worse off than if another country had staged the event.
On what do they base this rather dubious conclusion I wonder?
Ms Jowell, ever mindful of the ongoing moans form the regions that London gets all the money, said that the government would be "proactive and aggressive" in encouraging regional involvement.
Quote:
"We are absolutely determined to see the benefits diffused around the country."
It seems to me that if the businesses outside of the capital do not have the nounce or the drive to do this for themselves, then they are probably not up to the job of providing goods and services for the Olympics.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Banker Wins Top Olympics Job
Those of you who doubt that the Olympics is desinged to make money, rather than to promote sport, should note the fact that yesterday Paul Deighton was appointed to head the London 2012 Olympics Organising Committee.
He is currently chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs's European business.
Deighton will have responsibility for the running of the Olympics project, and was selected from a broad range of high-calibre applicants.
Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, said that Deighton was "the right person to lead the London Olympic Games organising committee on its mission to produce an outstanding Olympic Games for the athletes and youth of the world in 2012".
Deighton will start in early 2006, and end his 23 year career at Goldman.
He is worth an estimated £100M.
Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, said:
"Paul will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the task of planning and then staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012".
He is currently chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs's European business.
Deighton will have responsibility for the running of the Olympics project, and was selected from a broad range of high-calibre applicants.
Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, said that Deighton was "the right person to lead the London Olympic Games organising committee on its mission to produce an outstanding Olympic Games for the athletes and youth of the world in 2012".
Deighton will start in early 2006, and end his 23 year career at Goldman.
He is worth an estimated £100M.
Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, said:
"Paul will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the task of planning and then staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012".
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Olympics Boost Tourism
The British government said that it believes that the 2012 London Olympics could boost Britain's tourist industry by 25%.
Culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, said that she believed that annual tourism revenue could rise from $130BN to $173BN by 2012.
However, that may require some serious work on the infrastructure; most notably the appalling public transport system in the UK.
Not that this will matter too much to the current government, as they will be out of office by 2012 anyway.
Culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, said that she believed that annual tourism revenue could rise from $130BN to $173BN by 2012.
However, that may require some serious work on the infrastructure; most notably the appalling public transport system in the UK.
Not that this will matter too much to the current government, as they will be out of office by 2012 anyway.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Change in Gun Law Mooted
The British government has started to talk about relaxing gun laws, in order to help the shooters prepare for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Sports Minister Richard Caborn is to meet Patrick Johnson, secretary of the British Shooting Sports Council, later this week.
Special permission has been given for shooting to be staged in 2012, but Britain's top competitors are currently forced to do most of their training in Switzerland.
The anti shooting legislation, banning most types of handguns, was introduced after the Dunblane massacre in 1996 when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 schoolchildren and a teacher.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said:
"In the seven years between now and 2012 we will obviously keep this under review. But we would be reluctant to argue that we move from the legislation for which we know there is a lot of public support for good reason."
Sports Minister Richard Caborn is to meet Patrick Johnson, secretary of the British Shooting Sports Council, later this week.
Special permission has been given for shooting to be staged in 2012, but Britain's top competitors are currently forced to do most of their training in Switzerland.
The anti shooting legislation, banning most types of handguns, was introduced after the Dunblane massacre in 1996 when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 schoolchildren and a teacher.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said:
"In the seven years between now and 2012 we will obviously keep this under review. But we would be reluctant to argue that we move from the legislation for which we know there is a lot of public support for good reason."
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