Out of control

IF medals were awarded to those countries whose infrastructure projects exceeded predicted budgets, Great Britain would already be guaranteed Olympic gold next summer. As such, today’s National Audit Office report, warning that the 2012 Games are in danger of exceeding their budget, needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness.

The £9.3bn budget is approximately three times the cost that Lord Coe, once of Sheffield, and Tony Blair predicted when they successfully persuaded the International Olympic Committee to invite athletes from across the globe to London. Yet, while the latest financial fears are attributed to ever-changing security appraisals, it is clear – if the NAO is to be believed – that “rigorous action” is now required to control costs.

Leaving aside the separate discussion about whether Lord Coe has put sufficient measures in place to ensure that the whole country benefits from this celebration of national pride and sporting excellence, security is paramount – and the damage to Britain’s reputation would be incalculable if one lapse endangered the safety of competitors and spectators alike. There is a cost-effective solution. Rather than hiring security guards, could members of the Armed Forces – the people entrusted with safety at Wimbledon – be deployed at Olympic venues?

That said, many will share the NAO’s incredulity that the transport plan for next summer, and the financial ramifications, has still not been finalised six years after the 2012 Games were awarded to London.

Such poor planning is why most people believe that the Olympics will exceed the £9.3bn budget and place Britain’s public finances under greater strain. With David Cameron hoping the Olympics will lift the nation’s spirits, he must take every step possible to ensure that they are remembered for sporting deeds rather than their profligacy.