Blair Adds His Voice To 2012 Debate

Prime Minister Tony Blair has added his voice to concerns over the London 2012
Olympics finances by stating that the costs for the Games must be kept ‘under
control’.

Blair gave the 2012 Games his full support stating that the Olympics would be
the ‘greatest sporting event on earth’ but tempered his comments with the
insistence that a tight budge would be central to its success.

The Prime Minister’s comments came during Question Time following media
speculation that placed the budget for the 2012 Games at £10bn.

Prime Minister Blair said the Olympic Delivery Authority will publish its
budget ‘in the next few weeks’.

He commented: ‘Obviously it’s important that we keep the costs properly under
control but I think the Olympics will do an immense amount for London, for the
whole of the country.

‘I think, whether people are youngsters or pensioners or whatever age and in
whatever part of the country, we should be extremely thankful we got the
Olympics, we should make the investment necessary and we should make sure it is,
as we believe it will be, the greatest sporting event on Earth in 2012.’