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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