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• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Damian Hockney (AM): Elements of this argument, to me, I am sorry to say, appear to be completely weird. Mayor, you mentioned the point that Olympics have broken even or made a profit since Montreal, but the reality is the Greek finance minister only two weeks ago blamed the Greek deficit, in part, upon the losses made at the Olympic Games. Then Mike (Lee), you made a point just 60 seconds later that the IOC does not want a re-run of Athens. The point about this is it is to do with money. It is to do with the fact...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Could you ask them to put one in about that?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Mike (Lee), the point about that is that it is simply not the case. The number of people in that survey who said, "We will pay nothing," was 40%. Now, those people said, "We will pay nothing towards an Olympic Games in London terms." You cannot say that those people are supportive. I might have argued the question at the time, if I had been asked. I would have said, "Yes, I would like to see them in London," but if somebody then started asking about my support, on the basis of the costs that are unspecified or that we...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

This is the problem with a supranational, international body telling us what to do, so it is unaccountable, like the EU, I guess "our other interest"

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

And the Eurovision Song Contest. No, I am a supporter of the Eurovision Song Contest, having sung in the song for Europe, but I will not go into that.

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Maybe he can join you instead. I think the only point - I just want to finally make a point under this particular section - is that these figures do need to be made clear, surely. Do you not agree? The public in London do need to be on side. We would love to support the Olympic Games for London, but until and unless there is proper consultation with the people of London, they do not trust. If you look at what has happened in Scotland with the Scottish Parliament or the Dome, there is a general feeling - and...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

And the Eurovision Song Contest. No, I am a supporter of the Eurovision Song Contest, having sung in the song for Europe, but I will not go into that.

• Reference: 2004/0359-1
• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

We are told that the Olympics will cost the London council taxpayer 38p a week. The MORI poll that the GLA had conducted last year shows that 76% of Londoners would not be prepared to pay that amount. Does this not show that support among Londoners is neither as strong nor as deep as you pretend?

• Reference: 2004/0360-1
• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

If you are so confident that the Olympics will be supported by the majority of Londoners, do you agree that we need a referendum with full costings to clear the matter up once and for all?