London 2012 Olympics

I'm wondering if anyone else has Brit friends who think London getting the 2012 Olympics is a bad thing. The Londoners I know claim their already overblown council tax is going to go up more to pay for a two week event. They say if that much money is available to put in place the infrastructure and buildings necessary for the Olympics, why won't government spend it without the Olympics and improve these things regardless.

Someone mentioned Manchester would have been a better venue as that city has already hosted the Commonwealth Games.

Good points all round but honestly, sometimes I wonder if its just the annoying Brit habit of finding fault with EVERY frickin' thing.

I think it doesn't matter where you are, you can't please everyone. There are plenty of people in BC who don't want the Vancouver olympics and think the money should go into other things.

I think it's a universal truth that people love to moan about stuff. Yay a massive party where everyone's invited to come to your home, pump loads of cash into your economy, and celebrate an ancient tradition with you! But, oh the mess to clean up, and the cost involved. You know what? Parties are necessary to remind the people that there's a reason to live, and not just concentrate on finances all the time.

I've been to the Stratford area of London many times to get the bus to Stanstead Airport - it's a pretty poor area, so on the surface it would seem that these Olympics will be a godsend for the area. But...What happens to the poor people who live there when the regentrification happens and they suddenly can no longer to afford to live there? Where are they meant to go?