Last time we had the Olympics in London in 1948 the total cost came to £732,268 - and after taking income from tickets and stuff, the organisers ended up making a modest profit of £29,420, £9000 of which was taken by the Inland Revenue. No sponsorship deals with the likes of Coca Cola etc. were involved- and none were needed.

Prices have gone up since then of course - that £732,268 would now be equivalent to £23 million.

The way this whole thing has mushroomed and been exploited is ridiculous and rather degrading. Degrading to the whole idea of the Olympics.