Various people have started emailing us expressing their opposition to the London 2012 Olympics, although not to the concept of the UK participating in and doing well in Olympic Games elsewhere.
They are asking if there is a petition that they can sign.
We will look into the possability of this, especially the e-petition facility offered by the Prime Minister's No. 10 Downing Street website.
This requires at least 300 people willing to provide their names and addresses so that the Cabinet Office can verify a sample of them, in which case the Government is committed to some kind of official response online.
We might be willing to host such an online petition, for submission to the Prime Minister and/or to the International Olympic Committee.
However, we need to look into the Data Protection and Privacy implications (and costs) of collecting online signatures and names and addresses securely - watch this space, and feel free to post comments here.
I think that there should definitely be an petition to register opposition to the bid. It is extremely un-representative to only have a site to show support - this means that the large amount of people who oppose the bid have no voice.
I think that the Olympics 2012 bid is the Countrysides revenge on the Townies, people who live in Council Housing on Council Estates whos chidren attend the local Comprehensive are very unlikely to see their chilren represent Great Britain in Archery, Canoeing, Equestrian, Fencing, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting ( if they did they would be arrested ), Triathlon.
This class divide has gone on for generations, the Olympics is predominantly through out the World for the rich kids.
Sport should be on the basis of ability not affordability.
With our ethic mix we could be the Best in the World at most sports if the class barriers were dropped.
If people outside London support the London bid and the Olympics in 2012, then let them pay for it. We Londoners had no say at aLL over this event, which is bound to overrun and lose money to the tune of millions if not billions. We in London have to pay for that at a time when Labour continues to put up taxes, council taxes rise at unaffordable rates each year tp provide things we don't want and gilt-edged pensions for lazy public sector workers, they ask us to work until we die and no-one can afford to save any money. So if anyone outside London really suports the Olympics, then maybe they can pay my share of council taxes and any subsequent overruns to pay for it.
AS the whole country benefits from the olympics and athletes from all over the country will use the facilities,it's only fare that the cost of this event should be shared by the whole country NOT just London
As the whole country benefits from the olympics and athletes from all over the country will use the facilities,it's only fare that the cost of this event should be shared by the whole country NOT just London
An e.petition opposing the 2012 Olympic Levy has indeed been set up and readers are very welcome to sign up.
My opposition is not to the Games themselves, but to the method of funding.
London council taxpayers have had to endure a 35% increase in council tax over the last five years and the Olympic levy simply adds to that burden.
The petition is set out as follows:
Under a pre-arranged deal with the government, council taxpayers across London are compelled to pay an additional £20 per year (based on an average Band D property) for up to eleven years to raise £625 million towards the total cost of the 2012 Olympic Games.
The average council tax across London has increased by 35 per cent over the last five years and has become a significant financial burden for many thousands of residents.
a) There has been no direct consultation with Londoners regarding the setting of an Olympic levy and we do not consider it fair to impose the charge on London residents alone. The 2012 Games is set to benefit the country as a whole and we submit that the costs, including the ?625 million, should be shared across the country as a whole.
b) Should the staging the London 2012 Olympic Games result in an overspend against budget, we seek absolute assurance that Londoners will not have this deficit added to council tax bills beyond the pre-arranged period.
To view/sign the petition please click on the following link -
http://www.petitiononline.com/2012hra/petition.html or visit our website at http://www.haveringra.org.uk
Clarence Barrett
Chairman
Havering Residents' Association
Upminster
LB Havering
Essex
As the whole country will get the pleasure of watching the Olympics, the whole country should pay towards it. This is most unfair.
Our 2012 Olympic Levy Petition will be presented to Ken Livingstone, with a
copy to the Culture Secretary (Tessa Jowell), on 14th March.
The petition expresses concern over the overall funding arrangements (ie
that only Londoners will pay a levy) and that any budget deficit should not
be added to our council tax bills.
As well as the internet petition, there is also a paper version. Both
versions (currently total @ 4,000) will be combined and presented at City
Hall.
In the last few weeks, I would like to get as many signatures as possible in
support and would be really, really grateful if readers would consider
supporting the petition.
The petition can be viewed and signed by clicking on the following link -
http://www.petitiononline.com/2012hra/petition.html
or
http://www.haveringra.org.uk
Many thanks,
Cllr Clarence Barrett
Chairman
Havering Residents' Association
I feel that the Olympics are simply a huge waste of money that we cannot afford. I have nothing against the many very talented people who take part and their passion, but �9 billion??? Imagine if we put that into the NHS or Schools or the Railways or Poverty worldwide. The idea that we're going to make a profit on it is laughable, and also I do not remember even being given a choice on my country hostig the Olympics- I don't want it, I never wanted it, and I think the majority of the populace feel the same. What will it gain for us?
Until we put the Great back in Britain, the L back in London we should'nt even contemplate spending �10,000,000,000 on a 2 week sporting event.
I will be happy to provide my name and addrss to form the 300 people needed to get a petition going. The Olympic budget and the escalating budget, greed, and, I'm guessing, corruption at the heart of it, must be stopped, and the billions must go to the local communities, not developers and their middlemen.