Olympics: London 2012 construction costs $147M each month
Associated Press
LONDON — About $147 million is being spent every month on construction for the 2012 London Olympics despite the economic downturn.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said Wednesday about 64 percent of the $13.8 billion budget for the games would come from the government and 11 percent from London taxpayers. She said there would be no more public money.
"There is no more money and, as I have said before, we are on time and on budget," Jowell said. "The budget is identified and remains the same now as it did when I made the revised budget."
Jowell said hosting the Olympics would still be a positive thing for London despite the huge cost and funding difficulties during the global financial crisis.
"The Olympics is essentially economic gold at a time of economic need," she said. "A shot in the arm for investment."