London’s newly elected Mayor Boris Johnson is tightening the purse strings of London 2012 organizers by scaling down plans for a hospitality venue at the Beijing Summer Games that will promote the 2012 Games, including cutting 18 gourmet chefs, and forcing everyone to fly economy.
The Associated Press reports that Johnson chaired his first meeting of the London 2012 board Thursday and issued a statement emphasizing his desire for “tight financial management” of the London Games.
Johnson said, “the Olympic Games are important to London, as is our presence during the Beijing Games, but I want to ensure every aspect is kept under tight financial control. There were some pretty unrealistic things planned which would have cost a lot of taxpayer money, but which would have had marginal value to Londoners”.
Johnson reportedly reduced the number of City Hall delegates traveling Beijing to 10, and downgraded their accommodation. The Mayor and the delegates are also flying economy.
Johnson said he considered scrapping London House, a venture intended to promote London during the Beijing Games, but instead cut 1.2 million pounds from the reported 4.6 million pound cost of London House.
Part of the budget for London House was cut by scrapping plans for 18 chefs trained by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay to fly over to Beijing to cater for visitors and guests, reports the Associated Press.
“We looked at whether it would be viable to abandon plans for London House but found that many of the costs have been committed already. We will do what we can to make it as cost effective as possible in how it promotes London, but will look at other cost savings where we can”, he said.
