[Acrylic-bob]

Generally speaking I was pleased that London won the opportunity to stage the games. Having bailed out the IOC in 1948 it was about time that a city in the UK was given a proper chance to show what it could do.

It always used to be the case that the host city bore the cost of staging the games.

Since London is to be the host city for the 2012 games and since London is going to benefit most from increased tourism, regeneration and the legacy of stadia and other world class sporting facilities I think that it is only fair that Londoners should foot the bill.

I do not think that the organisation of the games should be any concern of central government. And I do not think that funding should be provided by the taxpaying public of the entire UK or that the National Lottery should be required to provide funding, except for offering special draws where the general public can decided whether to participate or not and where the funding can be routed directly to the organisers.