'There appears to be little evidence of any benefit to tourism of hosting an Olympic Games, and considerable evidence of damage.' Findings of the European Tour Operators Association 2006 Report and Updates from 2008 and 2009.

The Roman elite knew something about wooing the public with games and parades and their example has its modern imitators. Now that the Olympic ‘heroes’ have had their parade and the politicians have done their best to bask in their reflected ‘glory’ perhaps we can remember the cost of this spectacle to a population greater than that of Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city. The Beijing Olympics were the most destructive on record. According to the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions' Beijing report they resulted in the removal of one and a half million Chinese. While other human rights issues have been reported in the media this particular outrage passed almost unremarked by politicians, journalists and sports commentators alike during the Games.

Don't laugh, they're already measuring up Trafalgar Square and writing the lyrics.