Is GB capable of hosting the Olympic Games successfully?

With the news that 3,500 troops are being brought in to cover the shortfall in security for the Olympic Games (due to failure of G4S to recruit and train sufficient numbers), the M4 still being closed due to the cracked bridge, and daily reports of problems on the Underground, does anybody else wonder if the logistics of hosting might come back to bite us on the behind?

Mary, I've been thinking that ever since London was awarded the Games! Living in London, we were always concerned that we would end up paying for them for years to come and as the magic date approaches, we are now beginning to dread it even more. The lucky ones are going to escape the capital completely (I know several who have second homes abroad and that's where they are going) and people like me who are fortunate to have a job which allows it will be working from home. The transport system can't cope as it is, I shudder to think what it will be like with an extra 1m people a day.

I was chatting to a French lady on the train to work the other day and I said I wished Paris had won the bid. She laughed and said the Parisians are delighted we won - and that they didn't pay high enough bribes so they knew they wouldn't get it. Someone's going to do very well out of this - but it ain't the locals!

It will be fine. I take it a few people have been to Athens ? Well if they could cope anyone can. I go to Sydney and trust me the transport there is pants, poor road links, no decent underground..again it was fine. People were saying Beijing wouldnt cope and it was fine.
I dont think many people will be using the M4 to drive to the Olympics, it will all be public transport. Mind you becasue of the games 6 billion has been spent upgrading the UK road system which wouldnt have happened otherwise.
Of course it will be hectic for a few weeks but we should welcome that, it will be a real buzz ande Im convinced a huge success.

I think it will tend to be "alright on the night" despite all the scares. Threats of disruption fro terrorists or other activists bother me the most - I think the infrastructure will holdup though

It will be devastating if there is some kind of huge terror attack, not only would it ruin these games but probably put a cloud over all future events.

I have to admit to being one of the people who didn't want the games, and was sick when we actually won them. I still suspect that the only reason we won, was to punish us (As everyone hates us) The world economy was about to explode, so why not let the Brits pick up the tab. Thats point 1.

Point 2 is because the way our government, councils are inept at doing anything constructive, in a simple manner. They obfiscate, fudge and only do things for themselves. There was no thought put into big questions about border security, internal security, visitor security, islamic terrorism. These things were only looked at after we won the bid. Our security services were left to start planning, whilst at the same time the country nears going broke and all services are cut. Transport was looked at as it formed part of the bid, but the way it's been organised is a joke and will be a huge fiasco when something goes wrong. I have seen many of the logistics plans for this event, as it's my job. i and my of many fellow logisticians know there'll be trouble, even though a couple of outside companies have been drafted in to sort it out. I'm actually down there this weekend for the boxing, so will experience some of the problems first hand, and thats before it even starts.

Point 3 and I'm sick to death of the profiteering by hotels and any other service providor down there. I'm sick to death of watching all the worlds polluters/bent banks/unhealthy fast food advertising their products alongside the Olympic logo, because they are proud sponsors. I'm sick of the way these sposors are able to dictate which credit card or burger is allowed in the events.

Point 4 I'm not shocked at all by the inept way the ticket allocation software worked. The way the people were shafted and the amounts of money that left some bank accounts. The way it was easier to purchase tickets on-line from an overseas outlet or the way the Olympic committee were selling tickets on the black market. So I'm also not surprised that thousands of tickets are now being given to schools and the armed forces because nobody wants them. Who wants to pay over £60 to watch a lesbian weightlifter ffs.

Point 5, The whole thing is for the south and besides a few northern companies who have provided specialist services, the whole thing is just for down there. There will be nothing for the vast majority of the country in terms of legacy. And I have no doubt that the legacy for down south will be screwed up, as its already started to be, in terms of the battle for the stadium.

However, I have no doubt that the opening ceremony will be a massive success because we in this country exel in this sort of thing. The organisers will do the best job they can, but worry that external forces will make us look bad. That could be computer crashes, transport fiasco, border entries, even a terrorist event.

You miserable old git Doc

Doc You want to try living and working in London! We'd rather it was being held "oop north".

And you've forgotten to add in the weather. This could be the wettest Games ever with some events even cancelled.

I'm sure it will be fine.

Horror stories of an extra 1m people a day using the tube are greatly exaggerated. The tube handles millions of people a day, and London deals with massive influxes of tourists every summer, not to mention loads of concerts and sporting events at big venues like Wembley. We are much better coped to deal with this than previous host cities. ok it will be extra busy for 2 weeks but so what.

Britain is good at hosting events, look at Euro 96 and the Manchester Commonwealth games in 2002.

I can't stand the northern whingers who are jealous that the games are in the south. London is the capital of this country, it's one of the world's greatest cities, and is the only possible location with the venues, prestige and cultural activities worthy of hosting the Olympics. Cities like Birmingham and Manchester are provincial backwaters.

LP is right about the rain though. Oh dear!

I don't think I'd sleep easy if I was living in one of those tower blocks with a missile launcher on the roof!

Hopefully all the security will deter any plans for terrorism.

I'd rather have a missile launcher on my roof than run the risk of it being attacked by terrorist aircraft. As someone living and working in London, I'm all for as much security as possible. The alternative scenario just doesn't bear thinking about.

Well, I think we would all agree that the answer to my original question was a resounding "Yes"