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Truly sharing Sydney's Olympic Spirit

By Gary Moore - posted Tuesday, 15 August 2000


What is clear from Olympic Budget statements that have been produced by the NSW Government and assessed by the NSW Auditor General is:

  • the capital costs of constructing the Olympic facilities have been largely paid for before the Olympics begin;
  • the NSW Treasurer’s boast, in the May 2000 state Budget speech, that the Olympics have been paid for, every last cent, is patently untrue;
  • the Government, while providing additional spending in some public and human services since 1995, has been unable to keep pace with growing community and consumer demands for health, education, housing and community services;
  • SOCOG’s revenue and expenditure forecasts have been unrealistic, leading to regular budgetary changes and continuing public disquiet; and
  • recurrent costs for Olympic related expenditures are being born by many Government agencies from within their existing Budgets.

Perhaps the major concern is with the future operations, financing and management of the Olympic facilities and venues, which have been constructed.

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As all Olympic facility contracts remain commercial-in- confidence (despite frequent requests for disclosure in the public interest), it is impossible to ascertain the post-Games accessibility and the affordability of these facilities for the community.

It is anticipated that ongoing NSW Budget subsidies will be required, in some guise, to enable the facilities to be fiscally viable in the future. The level of these taxpayer liabilities and the secret deals done, and being done, with private operators is causing much public concern and comment.

Conclusion

There is a rumour (some would say joke) currently during the rounds. It suggest that the Athens 2004 Olympic preparations are about to fall apart. Sydney, because of its purpose-built, high-tech facilities, and newness, will be asked to step into the breach and host the 2004 Games as well.

If such a scenario were to eventuate, how well would we learn our lessons from the past seven years, and make the necessary changes in time. Or would we learn at all?

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About the Author

Gary Moore is Director of the Council of Social Service of NSW.

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