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On Time, On Budget, but Was It Wow?

Am I the only person who is frustrated at the wave of negativity in the UK media about the 2012 London Olympics? It has been almost sixty years since the UK hosted a Games, and even then the IOC asked London to host the 1948 games when the world was recovering from six years of carnage and in economic turmoil. Well, the celebrations of July 6, 2005, after the London bid beat Paris' by 54 votes to 50, have long since abated, and we now have general carping and scoring of political points about the eventual cost of staging the Games and who will have to pay. But what about the benefits?

If cleaning up and refurbishing one of London's biggest industrial wastelands and installing a world-class array of sports facilities with a supporting transport infrastructure isn't a Wow! Project, then I don't know what is. Then there is the challenge of the events themselves and the inspiration that having the Games here has already given to youngsters dreaming of their own future sporting prowess. It speaks to a level of ambition that seems to be sadly lacking in many of our public and private enterprises. I recall Tom Peters speaking in London about the Channel Tunnel being THE civil engineering project that he (as an ex civil engineer) would love to have directed. That project went a little over the original budget forecast, too, as I recall!

To transform our flagging businesses and run-down communities will take bold ambition, and a willingness to pitch, win, and deliver projects of vision and magnitude. At the end of the day, the only success criterion that really counts is "Was it Wow?"

Richard King posted this on 02/06/07.

Comments

There is no question in my mind that Olympics 2012 will be wonderful for Britain in every way.

Cynics (especially in Britain) ALWAYS try to undermine things like this. I see it as an opportunity. For once why canâ€™t we just enjoy Britain being a showcase at the centre of the world stage rather than a fringe player? Why the hell do we Brits find it so hard to get excited about such wonderful opportunities?

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 6, 2007 3:08 AM

Indeed Trevor, as an immigant to Britain, I am always amazed at the cynicism and endless complaining that I see. This is without a doubt one of the greatest countries on earth, with many wonderful things going for it. It's why I came in the first place. It really baffles me when the Brits themselves don't get it. Anyway, I think the Olympics will be pretty special for Britain. So there.

Posted by Fredd Kambo at February 6, 2007 3:46 AM

Tom - don't confuse what the tabloid media say with how the people feel over here.

Personally, I'm still hyped about the Olympics coming to London as are all my friends and family.

The tabloid media over here are shocking. When we were on the way to the World Cup, for example, they ran stories that put the team (and individuals) on the edge - not the best preparation.

Negativity is what they do best, and I for one would wish they'd flip things around and get behind our country every now and then, and not just when it suits them politically.

Posted by Stewart Rogers at February 6, 2007 4:03 AM

I fully supported the Olympic bid and I'm delighted we won. I too wish that people would get behind this project and be a whole lot more positive about it. However, I think there's one thing people are missing about the carping that's going on. Forget the people who simply moan about the cost - whatever country won, there were always going to be naysayers and people who think it's not a proper use of funds.

I think that a lot of the concern is about the fact that we were promised the project had been costed in more detail than any other project and yet the estimated bill keeps rising. Many people are concerned that if we don't know how much it will cost, can we be sure it will all be built on time or are we going to be like so many other hosts who are still finishing off the wiring and bolting down the seats the day before the Opening Ceremony?

At the last review, the Olympic's organising committee gave the UK a pretty good progress report, which unfortunatley was largely overlooked in the hubub about costs. I'd like to see that sort of thing publicised more and I'd like to see the media take a more positive interest: sure, scrutinise and identify where there may be problems but let's celebrate the good points!

Posted by Mark JF at February 6, 2007 6:07 AM

I agree with the above - more positivity for us Brits!!! We have so much to celebrate in the country - rich heritage, music, arts, cutting edge technology, the only place you will get the best of europe and the best of the US, a stable(ish) economy, great weather (ok I might be fibbing just a little bit here! but today is a wonderful crisp, sunny winter day) Personally I feel damn lucky to live here.

I am not a big sports fan but I looking forward to the energy that the games will bring

Posted by PaulH at February 6, 2007 9:14 AM

â€˜This is without a doubt one of the greatest countries on earth, with many wonderful things going for it. It's why I came in the first place.â€™

Wow! - Thanks Fred - it is wonderful to hear you say such nice things about Britain - much appreciated.

Mark - As regards budget projections etc. this is a great example of the absolute folly (crap is a more appropriate word but less polite) of detailed planning. Was anyone naive enough to really believe this project would be accurately estimated however much work went into the planning and then - even more remarkably - come in on budget? My recollection is that most Olympic Games have come in well over budget estimates â€“ I may be wrong and Iâ€™m happy to be corrected. It feels like we have this debate with every Olympics.

I am with you Mark â€“ letâ€™s pressurize our own media to sell the Olympic dream â€“ Fredâ€™s excellent reference for Britain is a wonderful selling point for our country.

How good to hear so many folks so positive about Britain :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 6, 2007 9:21 AM

I can't speak for the Brits on this, but I live in Salt Lake City, where we had the 2002 games. As a flaming lefty and tree-hugger, I was against having the games, at first. However, it gave SLC and Utah in general a chance to push into the 21st Century, instead of staying 50 years behind the times. The value of hosting the games is incredible, it really forces the community to come together and to push forward, together, into the future. While London is certainly not the little backwater that Salt Lake might seem, it is certainly another opportunity for the community to come together and push forward. Congratulations and good luck!

Posted by John Newland at February 6, 2007 10:42 AM

Trevor: you ask if anyone was naive enough to really believe this project would be accurately estimated. Isn't that just another form of the cynicism we're trying to avoid? I, and I think many others, would have a lot more respect for someone who said, "I think this will cost between Â£4 - 7bn, which is a big spread but it depends on these factors..." Of course, it's a remark that will attract a lot of flak but it's got to be better than starting at Â£3bn and periodically ratcheting up the number.

Posted by Mark JF at February 6, 2007 11:13 AM

1. Olympics CAN be profitable - LA Olympics case in point - 2012 efficient & make a $ Billion while at it

2. England richly deserves this renaissance opportunity to enhance & build on fabulous English heritage

3. The Londonistan & Olympics '72 Islam-fascism [Black September perversion] possiblility must be killed early & often

Posted by sean_london at February 6, 2007 11:46 AM

Agree Mark - sorry.

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 6, 2007 12:01 PM

Spot on, Mark. It's the numbers and the glib dishonesty that get people angry. Look behind the moaning and you'll see that very few people are against the Olympics. What they ARE against, on a rather weary "here we go again" basis, is getting fed yet more untruths (as in the story that the figures had been robustly costed) so that a few politicians can win their moment of glory. Most of us want the Games and want them to succeed, but starting with a big lie is not the best basis for a six-year project. (A London ratepayer, whose taxes will be funding a large part of all this)

Posted by Rob at February 7, 2007 2:06 AM

Great Vow Project! As German -living in Berlin -I remember the big waves the FiFa Worldcup 2006 created in our country and showing new sides of Germany. Journalists Roger Cohen and Roger Boyes reported these changes.

Thumbs up for
Olympics 2012,

BR from Germany/Berlin

Albert KLamt

Posted by Albert Klamt at February 7, 2007 3:36 AM

If people quit buying the tabloids the negativity from them would end.

Posted by Tom E. Snyder at February 7, 2007 10:33 AM

I wish the same could be said for the Big Dig in Boston. I'm afraid we're never going to get to a point where its construction is so far in the past that the fiascoes can be forgotten. And is it so WOW! that we would ever say that it's worth the struggles it caused?

Posted by cathy mosca at February 7, 2007 1:30 PM

The '68 Hemisfair in San Antonio was such a project. But, in '69 and beyond it was a nightmare, because most of the buildings were temporary. They were designed in a manner that prevented reuse. Without maintainability and extended lifecycle considerations, it isn't WOW!

Posted by David Locke at February 7, 2007 4:23 PM

Yes, we Brits are a cynical and suspicious bunch, but thats part of what makes our country what it is. The fact that we dont lap up everything that is pumped out by our Government and other institutions is part of what makes us so strong.

Im afraid that the tabloids only reflect the general mood in our society, rather than the other way round, although that mood is not without foundation.

Our last really big project, the millenium dome, was a disaster. What was it, almost a billion pounds spent on what is basically a glorified circus tent. The roof has got more holes than a Swiss cheese.

I think the Olympics will be great for London and the UK. But I just wish the government were not trying to pull the wool over our eyes about the cost. If they could just be honest about it, they would get a lot more respect from the media, and the general public...Go London, go UK!

Posted by David Free at February 8, 2007 10:22 AM

I just noticed that some of these comments are written as if Tom or another American had written the blog post. We've reminded readers a couple of times that the author of the post is shown underneath it, and, as in this case, knowing who the author is can make a difference. Perhaps I have been remiss about making it clear who Richard King is. He's a partner in the UK branch of the Tom Peters Company consultants. In this post, he is speaking from the perspective of a native Brit who lives near London.

Posted by cathy mosca at February 8, 2007 1:07 PM