https://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jun/13/london-2012-olympics-under-budget
So much for predictions that the Games would go over budget.
Back in 2007 the final cost of the Games was estimated to rise to £9.3 billion. The cost is now expected to fall below £9 billion. The government built in a contingency fund of £2.3 billion to cover pre-agreed elements such as security (and the pigs ear that G4S made of that is a separate issue).
With all major projects completed ahead of schedule and within budget, and the few remaining elements of the Games just about finalised, there is still £476 million of government contingency funding still unspent which will be returned to the exchequer.
All this goes to show that these games have been remarkably well organised and all the projects executed with efficiency and cost effectiveness.
Yes, I know the original Games estimate was £2.3 billion, but only the most naive would have believed that could possibly be stuck to. The cost was always going to rise.
But since the doom and gloom merchants of 2007 predicted costs spiralling wildly out of control, it's pleasing to see that we've got here within the revised budget and indeed, the government will have a little cash windfall coming back as well as the financial benefits of much larger than expected crowds coming here to spend their money.
Its even stopped raining and the sun is starting to show its face.
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