Olympic Park 2012

I don’t want to be cynical, but it strikes me that while we can find c. 16 million pounds* for Sir Fred Goodwin (whose name says it all) the Olympic security budget has a fairly cheap price tag. According to the Press Association:“The Government has pledged to try to keep the policing and security budget for the London 2012 Olympics to £600 million.”

….but let’s focus on the real deal. Sir Clive Woodward (pictured) proposed a £15 million scheme to get UK athletes in training and equip them for successful sporting careers. Despite initial concerns that there was not enough money Andy Burnham (secretary of state for culture media & sport) announced this week that the scheme has now been included in a new partnership, called Team 2012. Funding body UK Sport and the London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) make up the new Team 2012 partnership, along with the BOA and the British Paralympic Association.

The Times gave good coverage to this good news.
“…a modern apprenticeship scheme in an attempt to prevent young athletes from abandoning their Olympic dreams because of a cash shortfall…as employers, sports governing bodies can apply for up to £10,000 for each 16 to 19-year-old. The funding would give young athletes better access to facilities and coaching while offering them academic and vocational qualifications while they train for the Olympics…Six athletes on the apprenticeships programme competed at the Beijing Games last summer, including Rebecca Adlington, 19, who won two gold medals in the swimming pool.”

*for readers who are just returning from Mars … Fred ‘the shred’ lost a record £24bn last year but kept his discretionary pension for life which is around £700 thousand pa