The Olympic torch was greeted at Buckingham Palace on the final full day of the torch relay
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are joined by 40 children from the Team GB Ambition Programme as they wait for the London 2012 Olympic Torch at Buckingham Palace.
It's all very well to say that the Olympics are going to bring money in and that it's called commerce but where has all this money being generated gone? It's all stayed firmly in London. We keep being told that the Olympics will benefit everyone but all the employment and extra facilities and therefore extra cash is staying firmly in the capital. What about the rest of us who paid towards this, where is our share of the spoils? I personally cannot see that the foreign visitors will spend anywhere near enough to compensate us for the huge cost of this, most countries that hold the Olympics end up making a loss on it. At a time when we clearly cannot afford it this makes no sense at all. I have nothing against the Olympics as a competition/event even though I am not into sport and don't watch it. What I do object to is our country paying for them when we cannot afford to support our disabled people or pay our nursing staff a fair wage. Everyone is entitled to an opinon but those of you who keep telling us "moaners" to shut up might want to think for minute. Fair enough if you support the games, good for you. But would you like to pay extra to cover the share those of us that don't support it have had to pay? The games themselves are fine, I just don't see why I should pay for them when even I can see that we can't afford them and they shouldn't have come here.
a) Buildings - being built by British contractors or sub contractors - materials supplied by? British industries employing and paying? British people.
b) Advertising/ marketing... Ok bad choice because it is totally c*** but.. employing and paying? British people.
c) Torches - made in Britain, employing and paying. British people.
d) Tourism - thousands of people coming over with foreign currency - staying in British accommodation, eating, drinking, tourist attractions... employing and paying? Yup British people
Long winded but you get the idea. If the Olympics and tourists are spending the money in Britain then someone in Britain is getting paid for it. It's called commerce.
I can't believe the negativity in these comments. I think the games are a great thing for this country. I stood in the pouring rain to see the Olympic Torch and I volunteered to be a Games Maker, but was not successful. However, I was given a ticket for one of the rehearsals. Not much of a compensation, you might think, but I was vey proud to be one of the first people to see this ceremony that the world will be watching tonight - it cost me nothing and I could not afford to buy a ticket, but was proud to be there, along with 62,000 other volunteers, ambassadors and ordinary people proud to be part of it.
As for the money staying in London, so it should. They have paid greatly for this event and they should reap the rewards. There are events taking place all around the UK, so it will be spread around anyway.
I would like to see this country get behind the games, stop whingeing and think themselves lucky to be living is a country that can offer so much, if you only look for it, instead of knocking it at every opportunity!?!?!?!?!?!?
Have we forgotten about the wonderful china and souvenier makers in the UK - Just a few suggestions ... Pottery - Wedgewoods? Crystal - Waterford? Glass - The Glassblobbery? - all UK based businesses that would have been proud to have been making souveniers for London 2012
If we are so proud to have the olympics why not show off the talent of the craftsmen and women in the UK not keep farming everything out overseas because it costs a few pence / pounds less to make - surely if it was made in the UK and the visitors see the quality of the products people will start using UK firms for these things and then maybe our workforce will increase and manufacturing prices can start to reduce.
I know the torch was made in the West Midlands and im extremely proud and pleased this happened - imagine the uproar if it wasnt tho!
However that being said - I do think that we shouldnt have even been bidding for the Olympics 7 years ago, there were signs that the economy was heading for a very deep resession, and although the govt says that they are costing less than we are expected to re-coup that money should have been ploughed into other services that need them - if we were in a stable economy and able to afford it without any cuts else where then yes i agree its a very good thing for us to have here.
People are going to say I'm sure that we had already spent however much on the bid, but once the materials have been drawn up, they could have been put in storage (for want of a better word) until a more country finacially suitable time.
People also will no doubt say - think of the jobs that have been created from having them - yes they have - but how temporary? construction jobs on stadiums - how many of the staff will be laid off now the projects have been finished? Marshalls - they are only temporary contracts. What sort of employment is that ?? UNSTABLE thats what.
And Finally ....
Security - a shambles - G4S - staff should have been trained and ready MONTHS ago
Tickets - I'm lead to beleve they were printed in the USA ?!?! Another item that could have been and should have been printed and produced in the UK
I know its too late so do much about anything now - we've had 7 years to prepare and its not the great job i know we could have done !!
Feel sorry for blue flame (shutthegates) who wrote the message about the royal family
for once can you not be PROUD to be BRITISH (thats if you are) and show the world what
we are all about (not just trouble and riots) and if you don't like living here you can always
(as your password suggests) shut the gate and never come back!!!!!
BRIAN ANTONY WHAT A ****, TELL ME WHAT YOUR COMMENT HAS TO DO WITH THE OLYMPICS. F..K OFF AND GO TO A SITE THAT DEALS WITH YOUR SUBJECT,AND LEAVE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
MSN, WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT? I HAVE CONTACTED YOU BEFORE, ABOUT THESE LONELY BIKERS, HEART BROKEN MEN AND WOMEN, AND NOW BISEXUALS, WHAT NEXT TRANNIES, , PHAEODPHILES.
CMON MSN, WEED OUT THIS CRAP AND DUMP IT IN THE BIN WHERE IT BELONGS.
I WILL BE WATCHING FOR AN IMPROVEMENT, LOOK OUT.
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Torch relay highlightsGallery250662293
Team GB's Olympic gold medal rivalsGallery250669131
Who should light the Olympic flame?GalleryThe Olympic torch was greeted at Buckingham Palace on the final full day of the torch relayThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are joined by 40 children from the Team GB Ambition Programme as they wait for the London 2012 Olympic Torch at Buckingham Palace.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch relay
Palace handoverThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry watch Wai-Ming hand over the London 2012 Olympic torch to John Hulse during a visit to Buckingham Palace.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch
John HulseMr Hulse is a mountain rescuer from north Wales who is carrying the Olympic torch after a request from Prince William.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch relay
Royal cheerThe young royals watch on as the Olympic torch is carried through the grounds at Buckingham Palace.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch
More from the final day of the Olympic torch relayThe final full day of the Olympic torch relay saw the flame pass through London.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Sir Clive WoodwardFormer England rugby boss Sir Clive Woodward carries the Olympic flame in Camden at the beginning of day 69 of the London 2012 Olympic torch relay.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Sir Bruce ForsythSir Bruce Forsyth was Torchbearer 131. He carried the Olympic flame through Kensington and Chelsea.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Joanna Lumley and Jennifer SaundersThe Ab Fab duo Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders carry the Olympic flame on the torch relay leg between Lambeth and Kensington and Chelsea.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
David WalliamsDavid Walliams carries the Olympic flame on the torch relay leg between Islington (London Borough) and the City of London. The comedian, writer and actor is Torchbearer number 024.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Ade AdepitanOlympic medalist and TV presenter Ade Adepitan (Torchbearer 046) carries the Olympic flame on Millennium Bridge during day 69 of the London 2012 Olympic torch relay.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay, olympics, london 2012
Lewis MoodyEx-England rugby union captain Lawrence Dallaglio (left) hands the Olympic torch over to ex-England rugby union captain Lewis Moody.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Lawrence DallaglioFormer England rugby international Lawrence Dallagio (Torchbearer 108) carries the Olympic flame on the torch relay leg through Kensington and Chelsea.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Robert SwanellChairman of Marks and Spencer Robert Swannell carries the Olympic flame past the Museum of London as the torch makes its way through the City.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2torch relay. olympics, london 2012
Downing StreetPrime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha welcome Olympic torchbearer Kate Nesbit to Downing Street.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch
Regent StreetThousands of people gather and cheer under the flags on Regent Street, to watch the torch relay.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch
Oxford CircusThe Olympic torch is carried through a very busy Oxford Circus on the final full day of the torch relay.topThis field has been disabled for Gallery V2olympic torch
