The IOC is visiting London today
for a progress check-up on 2012. I’m sure that the amount of money spent will not be a problem, if that is what the IOC is looking for.
The Olympic logo, unveiled a few days ago, is a perfect microcosm of the London Olympics itself: of how prices of any undertaking balloon unbelievably when someone else’s money is paying for it, and how ‘national’ projects provide the grimmest examples. Like the National Stadium at Wembley, which has ended up costing £ 800 million of semi-public money, in contrast with the beautiful (and £40 million) Stadium of Light at Sunderland. OK, twice the capacity, at 20 times the price.
The PR-spin government which the UK has been inflicted with these many years, are the ultimate enthusiasts for throwing uncounted billions of (other people’s) money at the Olympic project. Then tens of millions are spent on ‘consultants’ to advise on how to minimise further cost overruns! The London Olympic will feature in future project management textbooks as one of the worst budgeted and cost-managed project of all time. Like Eurotunnel, but at least you can travel through a tunnel.
For now, back to the logo. It debuted with a video, hastily withdrawn since it reputedly caused epileptic seizures; and evidently devised by hairy videographic-survivors of the 70’s when flashing darting coloured lines and streaks were cool. (I used to program similar things on my first graphics-capable PC). The logo reminded some of ‘two rhomboids bonking’ and drew objections from Jewish groups because its angularity was slightly but disturbingly reminiscent of a swastika. See for instance
It was ages before I even twigged that it was an arty rendition of the digits 2-0-1-2. Mr. Blair, needless to say, thinks it’s fantastic. And the cost – wait for it - £400 000 or nearly 6 million Rand/N$ - a logo ? [Query: if the Olympic logo costs half a million pounds, what will the built from scratch Olympic Stadium cost? No, of course we can’t use Wembley]. Commentators in the ad industry said that young designers could have done the same job for £ 10 000. What a snip! Depends on the customer again. If a disadvantaged young people’s sports club wanted a new logo, paying for out of their own money, they probably could get one done for £ 100. But a National project, where national Prestige is at stake (and National funds are available)? Ah then, add a factor of 400 thousand percent!
The Olympic logo, unveiled a few days ago, is a perfect microcosm of the London Olympics itself: of how prices of any undertaking balloon unbelievably when someone else’s money is paying for it, and how ‘national’ projects provide the grimmest examples. Like the National Stadium at Wembley, which has ended up costing £ 800 million of semi-public money, in contrast with the beautiful (and £40 million) Stadium of Light at Sunderland. OK, twice the capacity, at 20 times the price.
The PR-spin government which the UK has been inflicted with these many years, are the ultimate enthusiasts for throwing uncounted billions of (other people’s) money at the Olympic project. Then tens of millions are spent on ‘consultants’ to advise on how to minimise further cost overruns! The London Olympic will feature in future project management textbooks as one of the worst budgeted and cost-managed project of all time. Like Eurotunnel, but at least you can travel through a tunnel.
For now, back to the logo. It debuted with a video, hastily withdrawn since it reputedly caused epileptic seizures; and evidently devised by hairy videographic-survivors of the 70’s when flashing darting coloured lines and streaks were cool. (I used to program similar things on my first graphics-capable PC). The logo reminded some of ‘two rhomboids bonking’ and drew objections from Jewish groups because its angularity was slightly but disturbingly reminiscent of a swastika. See for instance
It was ages before I even twigged that it was an arty rendition of the digits 2-0-1-2. Mr. Blair, needless to say, thinks it’s fantastic. And the cost – wait for it - £400 000 or nearly 6 million Rand/N$ - a logo ? [Query: if the Olympic logo costs half a million pounds, what will the built from scratch Olympic Stadium cost? No, of course we can’t use Wembley]. Commentators in the ad industry said that young designers could have done the same job for £ 10 000. What a snip! Depends on the customer again. If a disadvantaged young people’s sports club wanted a new logo, paying for out of their own money, they probably could get one done for £ 100. But a National project, where national Prestige is at stake (and National funds are available)? Ah then, add a factor of 400 thousand percent!
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