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• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

I just wanted to move on to some of the lessons learnt with the Paralympics and the Olympic Games themselves, because it became a bit, in Athens, of shall we say "after the Lord Mayor's show." That was very unfortunate, I think, given the high levels of competitors and the great interest there is in the UK in the Paralympics. Therefore, has any thought been given either to moving the Paralympics to be held before the main Olympic Games, or to go back to where we were and to integrate the two sets of Games, so that they are part...

• 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: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

We will part on that issue, because I think most people in London, especially in the suburbs, do not regard themselves as being necessarily Londoners. They would regard themselves as living in particular parts, a network of villages. To move on to another issue, which I think is significant in this whole thing, there are a substantial number of businesses in the area that is supposedly to be regenerated that are going to be displaced and that are basically going to go out of business, with a great loss of business at the time and, potentially, loss of jobs in...

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Yes, thank you. I think it is interesting that there is deep suspicion outside the parts of east London, and we have already heard that there is deep suspicion in parts of east London, as well. Actually, all this is an attempt by you as Mayor to regenerate the east part of London, and it is a very complex way of doing it. Therefore, the issue is all the new build and all the redevelopment is going to take place in east London, and the question then should be why should not those people that are going to benefit from...

• 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.